Senate to Vote on Graham's Russia Sanctions Bill Tuesday
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- U.S. Senate scheduled a procedural vote Tuesday on sweeping Russian energy sanctions legislation, with lawmakers timing the vote as a tribute to the bill's author, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the day of his funeral.
- The bill, now titled the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," seeks sanctions on Russian officials and stiff tariffs on China, India and other countries to cut their dependence on Russian oil and gas.
- If enacted, the bill would grant Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major consumers of Russian energy — including India, Japan and some EU countries — and leave it to his discretion to lift them.
- Trump endorsed the measure after asking that sanctions on Iran be added, which they were as the U.S. war against Iran enters its sixth month; the bill also includes a provision preventing a lapse in sanctions authority restricting funding for Iranian energy and weapons.
- Democrats broadly support the sanctions but have raised concerns about the tariff authority and potential higher import costs, with Rep. Gregory Meeks calling it a "massive backdoor authority for President Trump to impose more tariffs" that could hit European allies.
- Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington for Graham's funeral and to meet with Trump, as a bipartisan group of lawmakers — including Graham's sister Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to his South Carolina seat on an interim basis — announced the agreement to advance the bill.
- Graham announced shortly before his death on July 11 that he and Trump had agreed to finally move the bill forward, more than a year after it was originally introduced.
Why it matters: The bill hands Trump up to 100% tariff authority over countries like India, Japan and EU members that buy Russian energy — a sweeping trade weapon that Democrats warn could directly target European allies, threatening to fracture the bipartisan coalition behind the sanctions even as the legislation is being rushed through on the emotional momentum of Graham's funeral.
