The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Russia sanctions bill Wednesday evening, sending it to President Donald Trump for signature. The legislation, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, aims to penalize Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The bill would grant Trump authority to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on the world's top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas. China and India are specifically named as targets, reflecting Russia's reliance on oil sales to fund its war.
The measure also imposes new sanctions on Russian leaders, officials and financial institutions while expanding existing sanctions against Iran.
The House vote was 262-159, following strong Senate approval last month of 86-11. Both votes showed significant bipartisan backing.
Three House Democrats—Gregory Meeks of New York, Don Beyer of Virginia and Richard Neal of Massachusetts—opposed the bill, arguing it grants Trump excessive tariff authority without mandating Russia sanctions. "We cannot grant the president more tariff power that we know he will abuse," Meeks said on the House floor Wednesday.
The three lawmakers warned the tariff provisions "would raise Americans prices while undermining support for Ukraine in the long term."
Republican supporters framed the measure as essential leverage against Russia. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who collaborated with the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the bill, said it would force Putin to negotiate.
"When we look back at this moment in time, I want to be able to say that we used all the tools available to end this war, that we understood the threat, that we had the courage to do what was right, to stand up, to cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace," McCaul said.
A White House official confirmed Trump intends to sign the legislation into law.
