House passes Russia sanctions, sending bill named for Lindsey Graham to Trump's desk — SkimNews
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- The House passed the Russia sanctions bill 262-159 on Wednesday, sending it to President Trump's desk after the Senate had approved it 86-11 in August.
- The legislation targets Russian officials, companies, and financial institutions helping fuel the war, with the stated aim of forcing Putin to end the invasion of Ukraine.
- The bill grants the president authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil and natural gas — specifically naming China and India — the provision that split the Democratic caucus.
- Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) warned the tariff clause lets Trump designate 'basically any country' as a sanctions evader with 'no guardrails or oversight, and no expiration.'
- Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) framed support as 'a moral issue,' arguing Congress must 'cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace.'
- Seven House Republicans joined most Democrats voting against the measure, with 58 Democrats ultimately crossing over — a reflection of the growing GOP fracture over Ukraine policy.
- The legislation is named in memory of Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who helped negotiate Trump's support for the package.
Why it matters: Trump gains authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on China, India, and other top importers of Russian oil and gas — with Democrats warning there are 'no guardrails or oversight, and no expiration.' The bipartisan sanctions framework masks a significant expansion of presidential tariff power that 58 Democrats and 7 Republicans voted against.
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