Shaheen Urges Congress to Pass Graham's Russia Sanctions Bill — SkimNews
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- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Sunday urged Congress to pass the Russia sanctions bill in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday evening from a "brief and sudden illness" per his office.
- Graham, alongside Shaheen, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Sen. Roger Wicker, announced White House support for the Russia sanctions legislation on Friday — just two days before Graham's death — after reaching agreement with the Trump administration on the bill's text.
- The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 previously proposed 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas and had 85 co-sponsors in the Senate before Graham's passing.
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Graham was "as enthusiastic and exuberant as I've ever seen him" in their final conversation and called passing the sanctions bill "a fitting tribute."
- Rep. Mike Turner said on CBS's "Face the Nation" there were "more than a veto-proof number" of senators behind previous Russia sanctions legislation and that with White House support, "this bill could be on the president's desk this week."
- Rep. Michael McCaul announced he will introduce a House companion bill on Russia sanctions this week.
- Shaheen described Graham as "a tireless advocate for America's indispensable global role" focused on supporting Ukraine, noting the two were together at the NATO Summit just days before his death.
Why it matters: With 85 Senate co-sponsors and White House support secured Friday, the Sanctioning Russia Act has its clearest legislative path yet — and Graham's death is being framed by colleagues as the catalyst to finally pass it. Rep. Turner said the bill could reach the president's desk this week, putting 500% tariffs on Russian energy buyers within reach.
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