The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a major Russia sanctions bill, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump's desk despite opposition from top Democratic leaders who warned about the expansion of presidential tariff powers.
The final vote of 262 to 159 occurred on Wednesday, marking the House's last day in session before lawmakers depart Washington for the upcoming Election Day recess. The measure saw 58 Democrats crossing party lines to vote in favor, while seven Republicans voted against it.
The bill, which previously cleared the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in August, was the culmination of over a year of negotiations led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Following its passage, House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the outcome. "This bill sends a powerful message of American unity and gives the administration every tool in the toolbox to help bring this war to a just end, and we are proud to send it to the president's desk," Johnson said in a statement.
Officially named "The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," the legislation grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil or natural gas. It includes exemptions for nations importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia, provided they are taking "significant" steps to decrease those imports. Additionally, the bill targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, government officials, oligarchs, and Russian financial institutions with direct sanctions. At the request of Trump, the bill also extends existing sanctions targeting Iran's energy and weapons sectors. However, it provides the president with waiver authority if he certifies to Congress that doing so aligns with U.S. national interests.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air think tank, China and India currently stand as the largest purchasers of Russian crude oil. While Europe has historically been the primary consumer of Russian natural gas, the European Union has significantly reduced its imports in recent years, while Russian sales to China have increased.
The primary point of contention for House Democratic leadership was the expansion of tariff powers. In a joint statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California explained their "no" votes by asserting that Trump "has shown no willingness to be strong on Russia." They added, "He cannot be entrusted with new powers to impose tariffs that will further raise costs for American families."
Other Democrats raised similar concerns. On Friday, after Republican leaders scheduled the bill, Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Richard Neal of Massachusetts warned that the bill's "flaws would raise Americans' prices while undermining support for Ukraine in the long term." They argued that the president already possesses "ample authority to expand sanctions on those fueling Russia's war machine" and urged him to act without delay. Following Wednesday's vote, Meeks stated he hopes Trump "proves him wrong" by implementing the bill correctly. "But, in the likely event he doesn't, I will do everything in my power to make sure Congress holds him to account, the American people do not get further crushed by his inflationary tariffs, and that Ukraine receives real support," Meeks said.
Republicans defended the legislation by highlighting its endorsement by Ukrainian leadership. Representative Michael McCaul of Texas argued on the House floor: "As we've heard from President Zelenskyy's team, you can evade sanctions — which the Russians have done for years — but you cannot evade tariffs. Tariffs are a powerful way to amplify the impact of sanctions. That's why they are the teeth of this bill."
The bill's path to the floor was not entirely smooth. On Tuesday, a procedural vote narrowly succeeded after a small faction of conservative Republicans withheld their support or voted against it. The measure was saved with the help of two moderate Democrats—Representative Jared Golden of Maine, who is retiring, and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, who is running in a competitive district. Both broke ranks with their party to advance the bill. Golden defended his vote, stating, "This is our last week in session until November. The stakes for Ukraine are too high to let this good bill — which already passed the Senate with overwhelming, bipartisan support — die as a result of a procedural vote." Gluesenkamp Perez, pointing to her constituency, added, "I'll always stand with my community's values."
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.