The US Senate on Friday approved a bill to punish Russia and countries buying its petroleum exports over the invasion of Ukraine, by a large bipartisan margin. The measure, renamed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act in honor of the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham, passed 86-11. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican opponent, joined by 10 Democrats.
Key provisions of the bill
The bill imposes new sanctions and visa bans on Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, and top military commanders, as well as tariffs of up to 500% on Russia's exports. It also allows President Donald Trump to impose levies of up to 100% on goods from countries that are the top five importers of Russian oil and gas.
The proposal was a top priority for Graham, who spent the final days of his life working to advance it. After his sudden death last month at age 71 following a trip to Kyiv, party leaders agreed to move the bill through the chamber to honor his legacy as an ally of Ukraine. The Senate took the first step last month on the day of Graham's funeral, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watching from the chamber.
Bipartisan support and criticism
Darline Graham, the late senator's sister who was appointed to his seat, said: "This bill forces those primary countries keeping Russia's economy afloat to make a simple yet critical choice – a choice between doing business with America or buying cheap Russian energy." She added: "This legislation tells Russia's customers that the United States of America will not sit by while they fund Putin's assault."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: "By imposing steep sanctions that will further drain the Kremlin's war chest, Congress is delivering an important reminder to Putin and his allies that this is a losing war and authoritarianism will never go unchallenged. I urge Trump to use these sanctions to hit Putin where it hurts. Continuing to appease Putin won't work."
Some Democrats warned the bill would give Trump new tariff powers. Senators Rand Paul and Ron Wyden offered an amendment to strip some tariff authority, but it was rejected 32-64. Wyden, who voted against the bill, said: "This bill gives him so much discretion that Trump can ultimately decide what countries to tariff, or what countries to exempt. And he can modify tariffs at his will. Trump can pick and choose even more countries to tariff every 180 days, but there is no mechanism in this bill for Congress to roll back these tariffs. If Congress passes this bill, members will be condoning the tariff chaos of the last year and a half – and inviting more."
Representatives Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer warned the bill contains "sweeping new tariff authorities that the president could weaponize with abandon, as he has repeatedly done in the past." Noting Trump's recent 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, they said: "We welcome our Senate colleagues' urgent effort to support Ukraine and punish Russia for its continued illegal war, but this bill would not achieve those goals. Instead, it would allow President Trump to dodge holding Russia accountable and impose yet more tariffs in his destructive trade wars, leaving Americans to foot the bill."
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, which may consider it after returning from recess at the end of August.
