The US House of Representatives is set to consider on September 14 a bill aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia, a measure that has opened a sharp dispute between Republicans and Democrats over how far Congress should go in expanding President Donald Trump's tariff powers.
The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote. The bill targets Russian officials and institutions as well as the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers that allows Moscow to get around sanctions on oil exports, a key source of revenue for Russia's economy and its war against Ukraine.
The legislation, known as H.R. 5334, gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as nations considered complicit in evading the sanctions. It also extends existing Iran sanctions law for another five years. Tariffs are essentially import taxes, and applying them to buyers of Russian energy is meant to make continued purchases more costly, squeezing Russian export revenue. The tariff provisions could potentially apply to major purchasers of Russian energy, including China and India, if the president decides to use the powers the bill provides.
Rules Committee to Meet
The House Rules Committee, the panel that sets the terms under which legislation reaches the full House floor, was scheduled to meet on September 14 to take up the bill, House leadership said. A senior Republican congressional aide told RFE/RL that Republicans believe they have enough votes to advance it, saying things were fine and that there would be enough votes if the bill passed through the Rules Committee on Monday.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who has led the chamber since October 2023, called for bipartisan support of the bill.
Democrats Raise Objections
Democrats oppose the bill, arguing that its tariff provisions grant Trump excessive power without obligating his administration to actually impose sanctions on Russia. In a joint statement, Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Don Beyer of Virginia and Richard Neal of Massachusetts said House Democrats remain unwavering in their support of Ukraine, but that the Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act would do more harm than good.
According to the three lawmakers, the bill would sharply expand the president's tariff powers while not making sanctions against Russia mandatory. They warned the provisions could raise prices for Americans and undermine support for Ukraine, since the bill allows the president to impose sanctions but does not require him to do so. Neal separately said Congress needed a bipartisan bill that would hold Russia accountable without risking higher costs for the American people.
Democrats say they want bipartisan negotiations between the two chambers of Congress over the bill, which was already negotiated and passed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate. They also argue that Trump already holds broad authority to sanction Russian companies, individuals and vessels that help finance the war.
Republicans Push Ahead
Despite Democratic opposition, Republicans want to move the bill through under regular procedure, meaning Johnson will need substantial support from within his own party to clear procedural hurdles before a final floor vote can take place. As of September 14, Graham's bill was on the agenda for a Rules Committee meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Washington time. Supporters of the bill say its tariff powers are what give it real potential force.
Ukraine Says Tariffs Would Strengthen Sanctions
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's commissioner for sanctions policy, told RFE/RL that tariffs could strengthen the impact of sanctions. He said swift passage of the Russia and Iran sanctions law was needed together with other decisive measures to further increase pressure on Russia.
Ukrainian Diplomats Urge Passage
Ukrainian diplomatic representatives in Washington have urged lawmakers not to let disputes over details derail the bill. At a briefing on September 10 organized by the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Washington, Denys Sienik, acknowledged that important decisions require compromise but stressed that the bill would give Washington another tool to pressure Moscow.
Sienik asked what signal it would send to Ukrainians, and what signal it would send to Russia, if the bill were not passed. He said Russia continues to earn significant revenue from oil and gas while producing weapons and recruiting troops for the war, and he called on lawmakers to finish what Graham had started. Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina known for his hawkish stance on Russia, died in July.
Zelensky Calls for Strong Sanctions
Zelensky wrote on the social media platform X on September 11 that sanctions needed to be imposed now and needed to be strong, describing it as a tool the United States has to strip Russia, day by day, of the ability to finance its war against Ukraine. He added that during a war it is sometimes better to make an imperfect decision than to do nothing at all.
Zelensky called on Congress to pass Graham's bill and urged Trump to take more decisive action within his own presidential powers.
