The House of Representatives passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill Wednesday by a 262-159 vote, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature. The bill, originally spearheaded by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and officially titled The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, expands economic pressure on Russia and allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on top purchasers of Russian oil and gas. It also targets Russian officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions, as well as Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The Senate passed the legislation with bipartisan support in August after over a year of negotiations. Graham had announced a deal with the White House to move forward with an updated version shortly before his death in July. China and India are identified as the largest buyers of Russian crude oil.
While the bill gained momentum after Graham’s death, its passage in the House was met with opposition from some Democratic leaders. They expressed concern that it would expand presidential tariff authorities and that Trump “has shown no willingness to be strong on Russia,” fearing he would use the new powers to raise costs for American families. Some Republicans also opposed the measure, citing concerns about compounded tariffs increasing consumer prices. Despite this, 58 Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill.
The bill allows the president to waive sanctions if he certifies it’s in the national interest of the U.S. The legislation also targets Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to circumvent existing sanctions. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged lawmakers to pass the bill, even watching an early procedural vote from the chamber.
The bill's future now rests with President Trump, who has indicated he will sign it, though his past reluctance to fully embrace congressional restrictions on his foreign policy powers remains a point of contention.
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