Key facts
- The U.S. House of Representatives will begin considering a Russia sanctions bill next week.
- The bill has already passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 86 to 11.
- The legislation is named for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
- The bill would impose mandatory sanctions on top Russian government figures, oligarchs, and state-owned enterprises.
- It also includes provisions for up to a 100% tariff on top purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including China and India.
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will determine the final tariff levels.
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to begin considering a comprehensive Russia sanctions bill next week, a legislative effort championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill, which has already passed the Senate with significant bipartisan backing, aims to impose stringent measures against Russia's war machine and its enablers.
The Senate approved the bill on a 86-to-11 vote, a move that followed over a year of painstaking negotiations. The legislation targets key Russian figures, including President Vladimir Putin, oligarchs, and state-owned enterprises. It also includes provisions for substantial tariffs, potentially up to 100%, on major purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, with the US Trade Representative to set the final levels. Exemptions are available for countries importing less than 15% of Russia's total natural gas exports and actively reducing their reliance on Russian gas.
Senator Graham was instrumental in securing White House support for the bill, with colleagues viewing its passage as a fitting tribute to his legacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the Senate vote, stressed the bill's importance as a signal to Europe and a means to disrupt Russia's war financing.
Representatives Joe Wilson, Steny Hoyer, and Michael McCaul, among others, have introduced the companion legislation in the House, emphasizing the need to counter despotic threats and support Ukraine's sovereignty. They highlighted Graham's dedication to the cause and his ability to foster bipartisan cooperation.