House Schedules Vote on Russia Sanctions Bill
Bloomberg reported on September 11 that the House intends to vote next week on a broad Russia sanctions package that the Senate recently approved with wide bipartisan backing. Under the bill, President Donald Trump could levy 100% tariffs on the five countries importing the most Russian crude and natural gas, plus the five most active in helping circumvent energy sanctions. China, India, and Turkey are presently the biggest buyers of Russian energy. The House will use a regular procedure that needs only a simple majority to pass it.[S1]
Some House members have objected to the bill, worried that it widens the president's tariff authority and could push oil prices higher. Even so, after returning from a Republican retreat, House leaders decided to press ahead, noting that the measure still has backing from both parties and the White House. Meanwhile, retail groups and the US Chamber of Commerce fear the legislation hands the White House new legal justification for sweeping tariffs. Business coalitions responded by drafting a letter asking congressional leaders to revise the bill's language.[S1]
After more than two years of work, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act cleared the Senate by a lopsided 86-11 margin. Yet when lawmakers came back from their summer break, the bill was left off the House's near-term voting calendar, putting the prominent measure in real danger of stalling indefinitely before the congressional elections. House Republican leaders showed scant appetite for scheduling it, and Speaker Mike Johnson would not say whether a vote would happen.[S1]
Senate Passage and House Rules Committee
On August 7, the Senate approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in an 86-11 vote. The measure takes aim at Russian officials and entities, and at the "shadow fleet" of ships Moscow uses to dodge oil-delivery sanctions—revenue that fuels both the economy and the war in Ukraine. It empowers the US president to levy tariffs of as much as 100 percent on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas and from countries judged to be aiding sanctions evasion. It would also renew the Iran Sanctions Act for another five years.[S2]
House leadership says the Rules Committee will take up the legislation on September 14. A senior Republican congressional aide told RFE/RL that Republicans think they have enough votes to move it forward. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has urged bipartisan backing for the bill. Democrats, however, are resisting, contending that its tariff provisions hand Trump too much power and that it does not compel the administration to sanction Russia.[S2]
In a joint statement, Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Richard Neal of Massachusetts argued the bill would cause more harm than good. They said it would greatly expand presidential tariff authority without requiring sanctions on Russia, and warned the provisions could drive up prices for Americans and weaken support for Ukraine. The bill lets the president impose the sanctions but does not oblige him to. Neal added that what is needed is bipartisan legislation that holds Russia to account without exposing Americans to higher costs.[S2]
Democrats are calling for bipartisan, bicameral talks on the legislation, which was negotiated and passed overwhelmingly in the Senate. They further contend that Trump already possesses ample authority to sanction Russian companies, individuals, and vessels that finance the war. Even with House Democratic resistance, Republicans want to advance the bill through regular order, which means Johnson must secure strong backing from his own party to clear procedural hurdles before a final House vote. Supporters counter that the tariff authority is exactly what gives the measure its potential force.[S2]
