Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, Honors Lindsey Graham

Before his passing, Lindsey Graham was a prominent advocate for imposing new sanctions on Russia in Congress. The South Carolina Republican played a significant role in advancing legislation that was approved by the Senate last Friday.

The GOP-led Senate successfully passed a bipartisan bill focused on sanctioning Russia. This legislation was championed by Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death last month at age 71. The bill passed with a vote of 86 to 11 and aims to damage the Russian economy to end the war initiated in 2022 when President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. This conflict has tragically claimed thousands of civilian lives.

The bill targets top Russian leaders and introduces severe penalties for countries purchasing oil and natural gas from Russia. It grants President Trump the authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy, including nations like China and India. Additionally, the measure extends sanctions against Iran.

Shortly before his death, Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced an agreement with the White House to back the bill. Following his death, Graham’s Senate colleagues decided to name the legislation in his honor.

“My late brother Lindsey was a foreign policy and national security expert. He was also a peacemaker determined to end the conflict in Ukraine,” said Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in Senate floor remarks before the vote. She was appointed to complete the rest of her brother’s term. “The war against Ukraine is funded primarily by revenue from Russia’s energy sales,” she continued. “Without these profits, the capability to fund the war would be significantly hindered. This legislation targets Putin’s key weaknesses.”

The bill will still require approval from the House before reaching President Trump for signing. Trump has indicated his support, as has House Speaker Mike Johnson. However, the Louisiana Republican might face challenges, as some House Democrats express concerns about granting additional tariff authorities to Trump.