Congress has handed President Trump a new tool to squeeze countries that keep buying Russian energy. The House on Wednesday approved a sanctions bill 262–159, sending to Trump's desk legislation that lets him slap tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian oil and gas or on governments helping Moscow dodge existing penalties, the Hill reports. The measure, which also extends sanctions on Iran, is the first major bipartisan Ukraine-related bill since April and the capstone of a push led by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who courted both parties and the White House before his death in July
Most Republicans and a smaller bloc of Democrats backed the plan, but many Democrats balked at giving Trump more tariff powers, though the caucus strongly supports Ukraine. It passed with 203 Republicans and 58 Democrats in favor, plus one independent. It was opposed by seven Republicans and 152 Democrats.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against the legislation. "Life is way too expensive in the United States of America," he said. "Why in the world would this Congress or the People's House give this president unfettered authority to visit more tariffs on the world that will have an adverse economic impact on the American people?"
- Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer took the opposite stance. "If we fail to pass this bill, there will be cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv," he said, per the AP.
Supporters said the tariff authority is narrow and aimed at draining revenue from Vladimir Putin's war machine, with advocates calling the bill a clear signal that Washington intends to keep tightening the economic vise on Russia. "For too long, Putin has bankrolled this devastating war with money and resources from countries willing to look the other way, and today, that ends," House Speaker Mike Johnson said. The legislation, called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, sailed through the Senate last month in an 86-11 vote.
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