Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Congress sends new Russia sanctions bill to Trump's desk The legislation was named for the late South Carolina Republican. It gives the president authority to impose tariffs on top importers of oil and natural gas from Russia, such as China and India. Politics House passes Russia sanctions, sending bill named for Lindsey Graham to Trump's desk September 16, 20266:30 PM ET By
Sam Gringlas
The U.S Capitol is photographed Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Mariam Zuhaib/AP hide caption
Congress is sending a Russia sanctions bill to President Trump's desk after the package cleared the House on Wednesday. The legislation, which passed 262 to 159, split lawmakers in both parties.
The package is intended to put pressure on the Russian economy with the aim of forcing President Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine. Thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The sanctions target Russian officials, companies and financial institutions helping fuel the war.
"This is a moral issue that requires moral courage," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. "I want us to be able to say that we did everything possible to end this war. That we understood the threat. That we had the courage to do what was right — to cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace."
The legislation also gives the president authority to impose tariffs on top countries importing oil and natural gas from Russia, such as China and India. The tariff authority was a sticking point for many Democrats who opposed the measure, citing fears that Trump could gain a new avenue to levy tariffs on nations of his choosing.
"This bill has a loophole that would allow him to define basically any country as a facilitator of evading Russian sanctions," said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va. "He could then hit them with tariffs of up to 100%, with no guardrails or oversight, and no expiration."
A man walks between stands displaying portraits of fallen Ukrainian fighters, which have been set up at St Sophia Square in the center of Kyiv on Sept.15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Fifty-eight House Democrats joined with most Republicans to advance the legislation, which passed the Senate in a more bipartisan 86-11 vote in August. Seven Republicans joined most Democrats voting to block the measure in the House, with U.S. support for Ukraine having emerged in recent years as a fracture in the GOP caucus.
The legislation is named in memory of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who helped negotiate Trump's support for the package.
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.
Sponsor Message
Become an NPR sponsor