WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to approve a comprehensive Russia sanctions bill on Wednesday, completing the legislative path for legislation introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
Titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the measure aims to economically pressure Moscow for its ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the imposition of tariffs as high as 100% on nations that rank among the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, including major buyers such as China and India. Revenue generated from these tariffs would target the financial lifeline funding Russia’s war effort.
The bill also imposes additional sanctions on Russian government leaders, officials, and financial institutions, while broadening existing penalties on Iran. It received strong bipartisan backing in the Senate last month, where it passed with a vote of 86-11.
Despite the overwhelming support, the bill faced criticism from some House Democrats regarding the extent of executive power it grants. Representatives Gregory Meeks, D-New York; Don Beyer, D-Virginia; and Richard Neal, D-Massachusetts, issued a joint statement last week expressing opposition.
While affirming their staunch support for Ukraine, the representatives argued that the legislation would “do more harm than good.” They contended that the bill fails to mandate specific sanctions on Russia and instead dramatically expands presidential tariff authority. According to the lawmakers, these flaws would increase costs for American consumers and potentially undermine long-term support for Ukraine.
I worry this just hands the President unlimited tariff power. Will consumers really pay the price for sanctions that don’t even mandate具体措施?
Great to see Congress finally holding the line. Those tariffs on Chinese and Indian oil buyers should really hurt Putin’s war chest.