Congressional Russia sanctions bill debate

The House was expected to give final approval to a major Russia sanctions bill -- named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who championed it for over a year before his death -- sending it to President Trump's desk after the Senate passed it in a bipartisan vote in August. The measure imposes mandatory sanctions on top Russian officials including Vladimir Putin, along with Russian oligarchs, state-owned enterprises and foreign firms supporting Russia's defense industry. But it also grants the administration sweeping new tariff authority, letting it impose levies of up to 100% on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, including China and India; US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would set the final tariff level, a provision supporters call a built-in guardrail but which critics on both sides of the aisle worry hands Trump broad new trade power just ahead of the midterms.

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As it ran

17 September 2026

• What are all the sanctions Iran is under? Al Jazeera

16 September 2026

• Congress on track to approve major Russia sanctions bill that could hand new tariff powers to Trump CNN
• Some Republicans privately fear Russia sanctions bill will give Trump too much power on tariffs CNN
• Congress Clears Russia Sanctions Bill, Sending It to Trump New York Times