The Senate‑approved Russia sanctions bill now faces a make‑or‑break showdown in the House, where Democrats warn it hands President Trump excessive tariff power.
Senate Passes Bill, House Hesitates
A bipartisan Senate vote handed President Donald Trump a key authority critics have long decried, and the House is now wrestling with the same provision.
The legislation, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, cleared the Senate after a year‑long fight and cleared the House floor with a narrow bipartisan majority.
Democrats Raise Tariff Alarm
Key Democrats argue the bill grants Trump the ability to impose tariffs on any country aiding Russia’s war, a power they say could be turned against Ukraine.
Rep. Richard Neal, D‑Mass., said, “What we’re not for is giving more tariff authority to this president,” emphasizing the lack of safeguards.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that the bill’s loopholes make sanctions relief “very unlikely” to materialize.
Republican Support Holds
Supporters, led by Rep. Michael McCaul, R‑Texas, argue the measures will choke Putin’s war machine and compel Moscow to negotiate.
McCaul said, “We cannot afford to waste this magic moment,” framing the bill as a test of American strength abroad.
Key Provisions
The bill authorizes up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports and 100% tariffs on the top five nations purchasing Russian energy.
It also gives Trump flexibility to suspend parts of the sanctions, while maintaining authority over Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
What’s Next
The measure now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature, after at least two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez — broke party ranks to aid its passage.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D‑Conn., defended the tariff language, saying any attempt to break the law would be checked by the courts.
