WASHINGTON -- The US House of Representatives is preparing to take up legislation next week that is intended to impose tougher economic pressure on Russia, setting up what could be a heated fight between Republicans and Democrats over how far Congress should go in expanding President Donald Trump's tariff powers.
The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote. The bill targets Russian officials and institutions as well as the “shadow fleet” of vessels that enable Moscow to evade sanctions on oil deliveries, a key source of revenue for the economy and the war against Ukraine.
It gives the US president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and countries deemed to be involved in sanctions evasion. It would also extend the existing Iran Sanctions Act for five years.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on September 14 to consider the legislation, according to House leadership. A senior Republican congressional aide told RFE/RL that Republicans believe they have the votes to advance it.
“We're fine. The numbers are there if the bill gets through Rules on Monday,” the aide said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) has called for bipartisan support for the legislation. But Democrats are pushing back, arguing that the measure's tariff provisions give Trump excessive authority while failing to require the administration to impose sanctions on Russia.
“House Democrats are rock solid in our support for Ukraine, but the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act would do more harm than good,” Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Richard Neal of Massachusetts said in a joint statement.
They said the bill would “dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia,” warning that the provisions could raise prices for Americans and undermine support for Ukraine. The bill enables the president to impose the sanctions involved but does not force him to do so.
“We need a bipartisan bill that holds Russia accountable without risking higher costs for the American people,” Neal said separately.
Democrats say they want a bipartisan, bicameral negotiation over the legislation, which was negotiated and overwhelmingly approved in the Senate. They also argue that Trump already has broad authority to sanction Russian companies, individuals, and vessels financing the war.
Despite the House Democrats' opposition, Republicans are seeking to move the bill through regular order, meaning Johnson will need strong support among lawmakers from his party to clear the procedural hurdles before the House can vote on final passage.
The legislation's supporters say the tariff authority is precisely what gives the measure its potential force.
Ukrainian sanctions official Vladyslav Vlasiuk told RFE/RL that tariffs could strengthen the impact of sanctions.
“Tariffs are a powerful way to amplify the impact of sanctions,” Vlasiuk said. “Swift passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act is needed, along with other decisive measures to further increase pressure on the aggressor.”
Ukraine's diplomatic representatives in Washington have also urged lawmakers not to let disagreements over the bill's details derail its passage.
At a September 10 briefing hosted by the Bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Washington, Denys Sienik, acknowledged that major decisions require compromise but argued that the legislation would give Washington another tool for pressuring Moscow.
“What message will it send to Ukrainians, and what message will it send to Russia if this does not pass?” Sienik asked.
He said Russia continues to generate substantial revenues from oil and gas while producing weapons and recruiting soldiers for the war. Sienik urged lawmakers to “finish what” Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina who died in July, started.
“Sanctions need to be imposed now. Sanctions must be strong,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X on September 11. “This is a tool the United States has to deprive Russia of its ability to finance the war against Ukraine every day.”
He added that “during a war, it is sometimes better to make a not-so-perfect decision than to do nothing.”
Zelenskyy called on Congress to pass the Graham bill and also urged Trump to take stronger executive action.
