The Senate advanced the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on a bipartisan vote, sending a package targeting Moscow's oil-and-gas revenue to the House after more than a year of legislative stops and starts.
The bill caps one of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's biggest fights and carries the backing of President Donald Trump. It advanced days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lobbied lawmakers in Washington — hours after Graham's memorial service — to put a check on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The legislation targets Russia's top financial driver, oil and gas sales, with sanctions against Putin, Russian officials and military leaders; tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports; and tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian energy, including China and India. It also extends sanction authority against Iran that hampers funding for weapons and energy sectors as negotiators seek a Middle East peace agreement, and gives Trump flexibility over when some sanctions provisions take effect or are lifted.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said on the Senate floor: "Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine, and Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think that Lindsey Graham is watching, too."
Democratic support was not unconditional. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., initially held up the package over concerns about granting Trump new tariff authority. After meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday, Warnock backed down after receiving a commitment that the tariff authority applies only to the top five countries purchasing oil and gas exports from Russia.
"We should not have to choose between putting a check on Putin's aggression and putting a check on this president's tariff regime," Warnock said. "That is a false choice, and it is one that I am not willing to accept."
What the Right Is Saying
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposed the tariff provisions, arguing they would push China closer to Russia rather than away from it. He joined Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in initially holding up the package and offering an amendment on the issue.
"These tariffs threaten to undermine America's strategic position in the world," Paul said. "Some naively think that the tariffs will get China to distance themselves from Russia, but it might be the opposite."
"Recent history suggests that they will instead push Russia and China together," he continued. "China is not going to get this 100% tariff and say, 'Oh, we're sorry, we're no longer going to cooperate with Russia.'"
Trump has backed the package, which gives him flexibility over when some sanctions aspects are turned off.
What the Numbers Show
Under the measure, tariffs of up to 500% apply to Russian imports, and tariffs of up to 100% apply to the top five countries purchasing Russian oil and gas exports — a category that includes China and India. Sanctions also target Putin, Russian officials and military leaders directly.
The vote was described as another large bipartisan margin in the Senate, though exact tallies were not reported in initial coverage of the passage.
The Bottom Line
The bill now heads to the House with President Trump's backing, capping a yearlong fight Graham pursued before his death. Zelenskyy lobbied lawmakers for action hours after Graham's memorial service in Washington last week.
What to watch: whether the House takes up the measure as-is or seeks changes, and how Trump exercises the flexibility the bill grants him over when sanctions provisions take effect or are lifted.