On Friday, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly advanced a bipartisan Russia sanctions measure, backed by late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), that could impose sweeping economic penalties on Moscow and countries that continue to buy Russian energy.
Senate Advances Russia Sanctions Bill
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 seeks to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine by targeting Russian oil buyers and officials, according to CNBC.
The Senate passed the bill 86-11, sending it to the House, which is in recess until September.
The bill would impose tariffs of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, a key source of funding for Moscow’s war effort.
Russia Sanctions Bill Gives Trump Too Much Tariff Power
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) was among the lawmakers who opposed the measure, saying she supports sanctions on Russia but believes the bill gives President Donald Trump too much authority to impose tariffs.
"It provides too much room for him to do things that are unpredictable and that actually harms the situation," Hirono told the publication.
Graham was among the leading voices in Congress calling for tougher action against President Vladimir Putin and countries helping sustain Russia’s war effort.
The South Carolina Republican argued that the legislation would give the Trump administration additional leverage to force Moscow to negotiate and end the conflict.
After the vote, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters on Capitol Hill that Graham "would be proud of what we’ve done."
Blumenthal had worked with Graham on the legislation before his death.
Lindsey Graham’s Russia Sanctions Legacy
Graham died July 11 following a brief and sudden illness.
Once a prominent Trump critic during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Graham later became one of Trump’s strongest Senate allies and a leading advocate for tougher Russia sanctions.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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