House Advances Russia Sanctions Bill, Eyes 100% India Tariff — SkimNews
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- The U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-211 on Tuesday evening (September 15, 2026) to advance the "Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," with two Democrats crossing party lines in a vote the source says "shocked" House Democratic leadership.
- The Lindsey O. Graham-sponsored bill would authorize President Trump to impose 100% tariffs on India and other countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, and would extend existing U.S. sanctions on Iran.
- The Senate passed its version 86-11 on August 7, 2026, referring to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume rather than naming specific countries like India and China.
- Ranking Foreign Affairs Democrat Gregory Meeks opposed the bill, arguing it would give Trump "unchecked authority" to impose tariffs without guardrails.
- The legislation targets Russia's leadership, its energy sector, and the "shadow fleet" of vessels Moscow uses to evade oil sanctions, with the U.S. contending that Russian crude revenue is funding the war in Ukraine.
- The House is expected to hold a final vote Wednesday (September 16, 2026) before breaking for recess Thursday and not returning until November 9, after the midterm elections.
- The American Coalition for Ukraine is hosting its Ukraine Action Summit in Washington to lobby lawmakers for continued support of Kyiv as the sanctions vote approaches.
Why it matters: The bill would give Trump unilateral authority to slap 100% tariffs on India and other Russian oil buyers, reshaping trade relations with major partners. With the House recessing until November 9, Wednesday's vote is the bill's only realistic window — and the two-Democrat crossover signals rare bipartisan momentum on confronting Moscow.
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