Photo: Tyler Merbler from USA | CC BY 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons
Congress Sends Lindsey Graham Russia-Iran Sanctions And Tariff Bill To Trump
The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, sending the measure to President Trump's desk.[1]
The 262-159 vote included 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent in favor, with seven Republicans opposed.[2] The package would sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow tanker fleet that moves Russian energy.[3] It also authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with a carve-out for countries importing less than 15% of Russia's gas that have cut those imports.[3] The legislation extends sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors at the White House's request.[1]
Sen. Lindsey Graham negotiated the package with the White House over more than a year before his sudden death in July 2026, and he is credited with winning the president's support.[1] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally lobbied senators ahead of the Senate's August passage, a push that helped move the package forward.[3] Earlier in the week two Democrats, Reps. Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Jared Golden, crossed party lines to help Republicans adopt the rule that allowed the House floor vote.[2]
Early coverage highlighted Republican unity and some bipartisan backing for the Graham package.[4] Later reporting shifted to Democratic leaders' warnings that the tariff authority could let President Trump designate countries and impose tariffs without firm guardrails.[5] House Democrats called the tariff language unacceptable and warned it gives the president "unfettered" authority that could be used to waive sanctions and harm allies.[2] Republican backers said the tariff power is the bill's "teeth" and is meant to deter buyers such as China and India.[3] President Trump told the U.N. General Assembly on September 22 that he had signed the law but had not yet imposed the tariffs, and he warned he would use them "if necessary." PBS News
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a 262-159 vote, sending the measure to the president's desk (Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026).
- The bill was sent to President Trump’s desk after earlier Senate passage in August following more than a year of negotiations led by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (President Trump’s desk).
- The package would impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a shadow tanker fleet that moves Russian energy and would authorize the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with a carve-out for countries importing less than 15% of Russia's gas exports that have cut those imports (sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a shadow tanker fleet).
- The legislation formally extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors at President Trump’s request, a concession that helped secure his backing for the package (extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors).
- The House vote breakdown was 262-159: 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent in support, with seven Republicans opposed (262-159).
- House Democratic leaders Gregory Meeks, Don Beyer and Richard Neal warned the bill’s tariff-authority provision gives President Trump broad, potentially “unfettered” authority to designate countries and impose tariffs — a loophole they say could let him waive sanctions, hurt allies and raise U.S. prices (Gregory Meeks, Don Beyer and Richard Neal).
- Republican supporters, including Rep. Michael McCaul, said the tariff authority provides the “teeth of this bill” to deter purchasers such as China and India, and Ukraine’s team views tariffs as harder to evade than sanctions (Rep. Michael McCaul).
- Two House Democrats, Reps. Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Jared Golden, crossed party lines earlier in the week to help Republicans adopt the rule that enabled floor consideration of the bill (Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Jared Golden).
- In his Sept. 22, 2026 U.N. General Assembly speech, President Trump said he had signed the new sanctions bill authorizing up to 100% tariffs but had not yet imposed them, warning he would use the authority “if necessary” (U.N. General Assembly speech).
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally lobbied senators ahead of the Senate’s August passage, a push credited with helping move the package forward (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
September 23, 2026
1:00 PM
WATCH LIVE: Day 2 of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly
New information:
- In his Sept. 22, 2026 U.N. General Assembly speech, Trump said he had signed a new sanctions bill targeting Russia that authorizes him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas.
- Trump told the U.N. that he has not yet imposed those tariffs but warned, 'If necessary, I will have to use them. It's time to stop the killing.'
- He linked his frustration with Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel refineries and Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid to recent volatility in global oil markets as part of the case for the new authority.
September 16, 2026
10:42 PM
House passes Russia sanctions bill, overcoming Democratic opposition
New information:
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a 262-159 vote, with 58 Democrats voting in favor and seven Republicans opposed.
- The bill now goes to President Trump’s desk after earlier Senate passage in August following more than a year of negotiations led by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement after the vote that the 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.'
- The legislation formally titles the package the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' and extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors at President Trump’s request.
- House Democratic leaders Gregory Meeks, Don Beyer and Richard Neal issued a statement on Friday, September 11, 2026, arguing the bill would 'do more harm than good' by expanding presidential tariff authority without mandating Russia sanctions and potentially raising prices for Americans.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on the floor that he would oppose the bill, citing 'so many loopholes' that he doubted the sanctions would 'ever see the light of day.'
- Republican Rep. Michael McCaul argued on the floor that tariffs provide 'the teeth of this bill' and said Zelenskyy’s team views tariffs as harder to evade than sanctions.
- The article notes that the push to move the bill forward gained renewed momentum after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death in July 2026, shortly after returning from Kyiv and announcing a deal with the White House.
10:30 PM
House passes Russia sanctions, sending bill named for Lindsey Graham to Trump's desk
New information:
- NPR reports the House passed the Russia sanctions and tariff-authority package on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by a 262-159 vote, sending it to President Trump's desk.
- The article specifies that 58 House Democrats joined most Republicans in support, while seven Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition.
- NPR emphasizes that the sanctions are aimed at pressuring Russia's economy and that thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- The story underscores Democratic critics' concern that the bill’s tariff provision includes what Rep. Don Beyer called a loophole allowing President Trump to designate almost any country as facilitating Russian sanctions evasion and impose tariffs of up to 100% without guardrails or expiration.
- NPR highlights that the legislation is formally named in memory of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, crediting him with helping negotiate President Trump's support.
10:30 PM
House passes Russia sanctions bill over Democratic objections about Trump’s new authority
New information:
- Confirms the exact House vote tally on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 as 262-159, with 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent in support and seven Republicans opposed.
- Details House Democratic leadership objections, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' floor warning that the bill gives President Trump "unfettered authority" on tariffs and allows him to waive sanctions.
- Provides on-the-record opposition from senior Democrats Gregory Meeks, Richard Neal and Don Beyer, including their prior joint statement that the tariff-authority provision is "unacceptable" and would do "more harm than good."
- Adds Rep. Don Beyer's prediction that supporters will "regret" passage if Trump later waives sanctions on Russia while imposing new tariffs on allies, framing it as a potential propaganda win for Vladimir Putin.
- Notes that procedural passage in the House was enabled when two Democrats, Reps. Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Jared Golden, crossed party lines earlier in the week to help Republicans adopt the rule governing floor consideration.
5:14 PM
WATCH LIVE: House considers bills on Russia sanctions, AI data center costs
New information:
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the House is scheduled to vote on the Lindsey Graham Russia sanctions package after nearly a year of negotiations to secure President Donald Trump's support.
- The bill would impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks, and a shadow tanker fleet that moves Russian energy, and would direct Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with a carve-out for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's gas exports and have cut those imports.
- Rep. Steny Hoyer told colleagues that failing to pass the bill would produce 'cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv,' while Rep. Don Beyer warned that Trump could later hit allies with new tariffs and waive Russia sanctions, turning the law into a long-term propaganda victory for Vladimir Putin.
- Rep. Michael McCaul said the tariff provision is aimed at deterring countries such as China and India from buying Russian energy, while Rep. Gregory Meeks argued that Trump's enthusiasm for tariffs and history with European allies could mean the authority is used more broadly.
- The article notes that Trump ultimately backed the package after it incorporated his push to extend sanctions on Iran, and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally lobbied senators before the Senate passed the bill last month.
September 15, 2026