The House of Representatives has passed legislation imposing stringent sanctions on Russia, which has been sent to President Donald Trump’s desk, in memory of the late Republican Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham.
The proposed Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 aims to target the leadership of Russia, its banks, and the oil “shadow fleet.” It requires Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, and up to 500% on goods from Russia. This legislation passed the Senate with a vote of 86-11 on August 7, but the House did not show the same level of support.
The House vote concluded with 262 in favor and 159 against.
Speaker Mike Johnson expressed previously that he hoped for “bipartisan consensus” on the bill, stating he would only advance it if it received backing from the White House, although he mentioned that there were concerns among some Republicans.
“There should be bipartisan consensus,” he noted. “It ought to be a suspension-level vote that can garner over two-thirds support. But, it’s crucial to ensure that Democrats will join us, and we need to build consensus.”
I also asked Johnson about whether the Russia sanctions bill will hit the floor next week.
“I hope so. I mean, there should be bipartisan consensus,” Johnson said, pointing to Democratic opposition to the bill. Democrats have opposed the legislation over concerns it cedes…
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that Republicans were not entirely unified about the bill during discussions.
“We’re still working through it. We want to bring it forward, but the timing hasn’t been decided yet,” Scalise commented. “We still have some people to consult about it.”
Several neoconservative senators, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, and Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch, were in favor of the legislation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the bill a “great tribute” to Graham.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others in his party pointed out that the bill would grant Trump new tariff powers. Democratic leaders, including Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks and Ways and Means ranking member Richard Neal, criticized the bill, claiming it would create “more harm than good” by giving Trump additional authorities.
“House Democrats are firmly behind Ukraine, but the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act could cause more damage than benefit,” they stated. “The bill would significantly broaden presidential tariff powers while not mandating sanctions on Russia, both of which are unacceptable. These issues could lead to increased prices for Americans and undermine long-term support for Ukraine.”
They continued, “We continue to pursue bipartisan negotiations to draft a bill that could gain strong support in both chambers and fulfill our commitment to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the president already has the authority to expand sanctions on those who are fueling Russia’s war efforts, including those targeted by this bill, and we urge him to act without further delay.”
Republican Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky indicated he might vote against the legislation.
“I haven’t seen it. I haven’t heard about it. All I can say is that in my 14 years, I’ve never voted to sanction a sovereign nation,” Massie mentioned to Politico in late August.
The bill is expected to primarily target China and India since they are the largest purchasers of Russian energy. While the Senate included Iran at Trump’s request, the impact of sanctions on Iran may be minimal, given the extensive sanctions already imposed on it by the U.S. over the years.
BRICS, an alliance of 11 nations that includes China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa, has criticized these Russian sanctions. This alliance is seen as a key strategy for Russia to circumvent Western sanctions and lessen dependence on the U.S. dollar for international trade. Though many nations have reacted against Russia, a significant portion of the global population and emerging economies have opted to stay neutral or even strengthen ties with it.
Countries like Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia joined BRICS in early January 2024, indicating the growth of the alliance, which now constitutes around 40% of the global GDP.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a co-sponsor of the bill, urged the House to pass it during an interview on August 30, citing an “urgent moment.”
“It’s a critical time, especially considering that Putin might attempt to escalate the situation. He’s also facing economic difficulties,” Blumenthal remarked on “Face the Nation.” “This type of sanctions bill, which stifles revenue to his war apparatus, could significantly weaken his capacity to continue this brutal conflict.”
Graham initially proposed the bill on April 1, 2025, but it had stalled for over a year as the Trump administration sought more waiver authority regarding the sanctions and tariffs. Graham’s sister, Republican Senator Darline Graham from South Carolina, reintroduced the bill on July 16.
The late senator was an advocate for substantial taxpayer funding for Ukraine, even referring to it as “the best money [the U.S. has] ever spent” in a statement from May 2023. This led to a backlash from Russian officials, prompting an arrest warrant for Graham. He had previously called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2022.
