House passes Russia sanctions bill named for Lindsey Graham

What the House approved

The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Sept. 16, sending it to President Donald Trump. The vote was 262-159, with 58 Democrats joining all but seven Republicans in support.

The Senate approved the measure 86-11 a month earlier. Congress renamed it to honor Graham, the South Carolina Republican who introduced the legislation with dozens of other senators in April 2025 and died on July 11, 2026.

The bill would increase economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. It targets Russia’s energy and defense industries and its “shadow fleet” of tankers used to avoid existing sanctions.

Tariff authority divides lawmakers

The legislation would authorize tariffs of as much as 100% on goods from China, India and other countries to reduce their purchases of Russian oil and gas. It would also extend sanctions on Iran.

Some House Democrats opposed the measure because it gives Trump additional tariff authority that could be used against U.S. allies. They also objected to a provision allowing the president not to impose sanctions if he determines that doing so would not serve the national interest.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the bill’s exceptions could prevent sanctions that would harm Russia and could expose Americans to additional tariffs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Congress to pass the legislation.

China’s foreign ministry reiterated its opposition to sanctions applied beyond a country’s borders without a basis in international law or authorization from the United Nations Security Council.

What happens next

House passage sends the legislation to Trump for presidential action. Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, was appointed to his Senate seat and spoke after the House vote about the measure’s importance to her brother.