House Sends the Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Bill to Trump as Most Democrats Vote No Over Tariff Power

The Issue

The House voted 262 to 159 Wednesday to send the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, H.R. 5334, to President Trump. The Senate had already passed the sanctions text 86 to 11 on August 7 by writing it into a House tax bill that had passed by voice vote in April, so Wednesday's vote to accept the Senate version was the last step before a signature. Republicans voted 203 to 7. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the bill "strengthens economic sanctions against the Russian government, its financial institutions, and the foreign governments that aid Russian aggression against Ukraine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas" and gives "the Administration every tool in the toolbox." Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), who carried it, called it "one of Sen. Graham's final wishes." Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), who holds her late brother's seat, thanked Trump "for diligently collaborating with Congress." The seven Republican no votes were Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Keith Self, Warren Davidson, Andy Harris, Tom McClintock and Ralph Norman.

Democrats split 58 to 152 over the tariff power inside the bill. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) voted no: "I cannot support legislation that fails to mandate sanctions on Russia. While giving Donald Trump additional Tariff authority that he will use to raise costs on everyday Americans." Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) said the bill lets the president impose tariffs "of up to 100% on other countries." Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN): "Voted NO." Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, James Clyburn and 54 other Democrats voted yes. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME): "Every barrel of Russian oil sold on the global market is funding for Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine." Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA): the bill "is not perfect, but to end this conflict, we must turn off the spigot of Russian fuel sales."

Verifiable Claims:

• The legislation strengthens economic sanctions against the Russian government, its financial institutions, and the foreign governments that aid Russian aggression by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas - stated by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)
• The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 262 to 159, fulfilling one of Sen. Graham's final wishes - stated by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)
• The bill fails to mandate sanctions on Russia while giving Donald Trump additional tariff authority - stated by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
• The bill hands the President broad new authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on other countries - stated by Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)
• The bill includes a version of the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, extending key Iran sanctions authorities - stated by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
• Trump already has the authority to put more sanctions on Russia but refuses to, and this bill won't change that - stated by Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)

Opinions & Characterizations:

• "With House passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, House and Senate Republicans are placing maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin and the Russian war machine. For too long, Putin has bankrolled this devastating war with money and resources from countries willing to look the other way, and today, that ends." - Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)
• "We will always stand with the Ukrainian people until victory is won. But I cannot support legislation that fails to mandate sanctions on Russia. While giving Donald Trump additional Tariff authority that he will use to raise costs on everyday Americans." - Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
• "The House Faces Its Churchill vs. Chamberlain Moment on Russia. Last week I stood in Kyiv among burned-out Russian tanks, where Ukrainian officials walked me through how the war is going. For every four ballistic missiles Russia builds, we are producing only one Patriot interceptor to shoot them down. Cutting off the money that pays for those missiles is one of the few tools we have to help close it." - Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
• "We must target Russian leaders who are pushing this war on Ukraine. It's why I supported the Sanctioning Russia Act and why I'll continue to provide support until they're free." - Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
• "Every barrel of Russian oil sold on the global market is funding for Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine. Knowing this, I voted today to provide new tools to cut off the oil revenue that's greasing Russia's war machine, including new sanctions and tariffs on the top buyers of Russian energy." - Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME)
• "The Russia sanctions bill Republicans put on the floor today will do nothing to hold Russia accountable. Instead, it gives Trump broad authority to expand his reckless tariffs. Voted NO." - Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
• "Today is a monumental day for peace. This legislation was deeply important to my brother, Lindsey, and I'm grateful that it achieved such a wide coalition of support on the House floor. I would also like to thank President Trump and his team for diligently collaborating with Congress on this legislation." - Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC)
• "Today, I voted NO on the Lindsay O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act as it grants President Trump incredibly broad authority to impose tariffs and does not include necessary safeguards to ensure Trump uses these new tariff authorities to end the war. Trump has repeatedly abused tariffs to exact revenge for petty grievances." - Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
• "Tonight, I voted for even harsher sanctions on Russia. Every bomb we can stop Putin from buying is an innocent Ukrainian life we can save." - Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)
• "The House has PASSED the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which will give President Trump the economic firepower he needs to deal a fatal blow to Putin and his war machine and end this conflict once and for all. Lindsey would be beyond proud that the United States stood tall today." - Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)
• "Today, I voted no on Republicans' Russian sanctions bill because we need a clean bill that punishes Russia for its illegal operations in Ukraine, not one that hands President Trump even MORE sweeping tariff authority." - Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)
• "Today, the Congress has taken a historic step and found the courage to show the world what America can and will do to defend freedom. I urge the President to sign this bill quickly to secure Ukraine's victory and Russia's defeat. Slava Ukraini." - Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
• "Let's be clear: I stand with Ukraine and against Russia's brutal war. However, I can't vote for a bill that hands Donald Trump sweeping new tariff authority that he will undoubtedly abuse and hurt my constituents even more. Ukrainians deserve a clean bill." - Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO)
• "I voted YES today on the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. Vladimir Putin is a dictator and a thug, not a friend of the United States. If Ukraine falls, the danger does not stop at its borders. Moldova and other neighbors would be next." - Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
• "The Russia sanctions bill does nothing to truly punish Russia. Instead, it would give Trump more power to put tariffs in place unilaterally. Trump already has the authority to put more sanctions on Russia but refuses to. This bill won't change that." - Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
• "Today, the Ukrainian people are asking us again to stand with them as their indispensable ally. The Russian and Iran Sanctions Act is not perfect, but to end this conflict, we must turn off the spigot of Russian fuel sales. In this narrow window before another Ukrainian winter of war, I voted 'Yes' to offer help and hope to the people of Ukraine." - Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
• "No American has done more to help Putin's war in Ukraine than Donald J. Trump. After repeatedly waiving existing Russia sanctions and withholding desperately needed aid to Ukraine, Trump now demands new tariff tax authority for his trade war in a bill falsely dressed up in Ukrainian colors." - Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

TL;DR - The Partisan Split:

The Russia sanctions bill that Lindsey Graham pushed for two years passed the House two months after his death and goes to Trump's desk, 262 to 159. Republicans were nearly unanimous, with only Massie, Roy, Self and four other tariff skeptics voting no. Democrats broke 58 to 152, and the line ran through their own leadership: Jeffries voted no over tariff power of up to 100 percent that Trump can point at any of the top five buyers of Russian oil, while Pelosi, Hoyer, Raskin and Clyburn voted yes to cut off Putin's oil money before winter. The Senate had already passed it 86 to 11, so there is no conference and nothing left but a signature. It was one of the House's last votes before leaving until November 9.