The US House of Representatives on September 16 (US time) passed a large-scale sanctions and tariff bill to increase economic pressure on Russia over the military campaign in Ukraine, transferring the document to President Donald Trump for signing and promulgation, nearly a year and a half after late Senator Lindsey Graham submitted the bill, AFP reported.
The document, now named "Lindsey O. Graham Act on Sanctions against Russia and Iran in 2026" in honor of a South Carolina Republican senator, was passed by the Senate last month.
The House of Representatives passed with a ratio of 262 votes in favor and 159 votes against, when 58 Democratic senators separated from party leaders to vote with all Republican senators, except 7 people.
The law targets Russia's energy and defense industries, along with a "dark fleet" of oil tankers avoiding current sanctions, aiming to strip Moscow of the money it uses to pay for the war with Ukraine.
The document faced opposition because it also empowered Mr. Trump to impose heavy tariffs of up to 100% on China, India and other countries to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, while expanding sanctions against Iran.
This is the most important legislative document related to Ukraine passed by the US Congress since Mr. Trump returned to the White House and his Republican party gained control of both houses of Congress in January 2025.
The bill has faced significant opposition since Mr. Graham and dozens of other senators submitted it in April 2025. It was not until July 2026 that Mr. Trump allowed Republican leaders in Congress to arrange a vote - just days before Mr. Graham suddenly passed away on July 11.
