Russia sanctions bill Senate passage sends Graham measure toward House

The Russia sanctions bill Senate vote has cleared the chamber, according to CNBC, which reported an 86-11 final approval of legislation named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The measure would impose sanctions on Russian leaders and energy-related targets, and authorise tariffs of up to 100% on specified major purchasers of Russian oil or gas. It now requires House action before it can be sent to President Donald Trump.

The final-vote report follows an earlier 86-12 Senate procedural vote on July 28. ABC News and Politico described that tally as an advance toward final passage rather than approval of the measure itself. The distinction accounts for the differing vote totals in accounts of the legislation's Senate progress.

The bill is titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died last month, had led the underlying effort with Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat. Lawmakers renamed the package in Graham's honour after his death, Politico reported.

What would the Russia sanctions bill do?

Reporting by CNBC, ABC News and Politico says the proposal would target Russian political leaders, oligarchs, financial institutions, the energy sector and the so-called shadow fleet used to transport Russian oil. It would also extend certain sanctions on Iran, including restrictions affecting its weapons and energy sectors.

The tariff element is aimed at countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas. CNBC reported that it would allow tariffs of up to 100% on countries among the five largest purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas, including China and India. ABC said the authority would also cover the five leading countries that assist evasion of energy sanctions. The reporting describes the scope differently, so the final legal wording cannot be established from these accounts.

Separately, Politico reported that the revised measure expanded the Russian entities subject to mandatory sanctions and granted the president broad waiver authority. The White House supported the revised package, according to Politico and ABC.

What happens after the Senate vote?

The House must approve the measure before it can reach the president. CNBC reported that the House was in recess until September, while ABC said the chamber was out until August 31. Either way, the House had not acted when those reports were published.

Its consideration may draw debate over presidential tariff powers. Senator Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat who voted against the bill, told CNBC that she supported sanctions on Russia but objected to the discretion the proposal would give Trump over tariffs. Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York and Don Beyer of Virginia expressed similar concerns, CNBC reported.

The proposal has nonetheless drawn broad bipartisan support. Earlier reporting from Axios and Politico put its Senate backing at more than 60 cosponsors, and recorded the 86-12 procedural vote after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met senators on Capitol Hill.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.