Senate Progresses on Russia Sanctions Bill Following Graham's Death

WHO:

NBC News Politics - Trump expressed a desire to add tariffs on Iran to the Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham.

USA Today - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a bipartisan meeting with senators after a closed-door sit-down with Trump at the White House.

USA Today - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended Lindsey Graham's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

USA Today - Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, was appointed to fill his Senate seat and is a lead sponsor of the sanctions bill.

The Washington Post - Sen. Lindsey Graham requested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to promote his sanctions bill during a meeting at the NATO summit in Turkey.

NY Post - Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) expressed sentiments regarding Lindsey Graham's presence in the Senate.

ABC News - Lindsey Graham was involved in negotiating the Russia sanctions package with the White House.

WHAT:

USA Today - The sanctions package allows up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports and 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian energy, like China and India.

USA Today - The Senate's vote on the sanctions bill occurred just hours after Lindsey Graham's funeral service.

USA Today - The legislation gives Trump more power to punish ships that skirt sanctions on Russian energy, referred to as the "shadow fleet."

USA Today - The Democrats who opposed the sanctions package expressed concerns about the tariff provisions delegating too much authority to Trump.

USA Today - The Senate voted 86-12 to advance the Russia sanctions package inspired by Lindsey Graham, with eleven Democrats and one Republican, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, voting against it.

USA Today - The bill was renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026.

USA Today - The legislation provides Trump with new authority to sanction Russian officials, foreign nationals, and financial institutions affiliated with Russia's war efforts.

USA Today - The bill authorizes Trump to impose a 500% tariff on Russian imports and a tariff of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil, petroleum, and natural gas.

USA Today - The Senate is scheduled to leave town on August 7 for a month, requiring several more votes for the legislation to officially pass.

USA Today - The House is away until August 31, which means the legislation must clear the House before being presented to Trump.

The Washington Post - The sanctions bill is referred to as Lindsey Graham’s “sanctions bill from hell” by some U.S. officials.

Fox News - The bipartisan sanctions bill targets Russian oil and gas while adding penalties for Iran, with proposed tariffs of up to 500% and 100% on buyers such as China.

NY Post - The Senate advanced a Russia sanctions bill that had been stalled.

ABC News - The sanctions bill is named after Sen. Lindsey Graham.

WHERE:

NY Post - The event took place in the Senate chamber.

WHY:

USA Today - The Democrats who opposed the sanctions package expressed concerns about tariff provisions that would delegate too much authority to Trump, with Sen. Peter Welch stating, "In effect, this would be a blanket delegation of congressional tariff authority to the executive."

USA Today - Darline Graham stated, "There is no greater way to honor Senator Graham’s legacy than to move forward with this bipartisan agreement."

The Washington Post - The motivation behind Graham's request was to harden sanctions on Russia’s wartime economy.

ABC News - Lindsey Graham had worked to carefully negotiate the sanctions package, indicating a commitment to addressing issues related to Russia.

HOW:

USA Today - The White House confirmed that Trump supports the Senate bill, which also extends sanctions on Iran.

NBC News Politics - Trump expressed a desire to add tariffs on Iran to the Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham.

USA Today - The White House confirmed that Trump supports the Senate bill, which also extends sanctions on Iran.

NY Post - The advancement of the bill occurred just hours after Lindsey Graham's funeral.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 00:16 UTC)

Trump is pushing to add tariffs on Iran to a sanctions bill that already includes significant measures against Russia, with the package allowing for up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports and 100% tariffs on countries like China and India that buy Russian energy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was recently in Washington, attending a bipartisan meeting with senators after a private discussion with Trump at the White House. However, some Democrats have raised concerns about the bill, arguing that it could give Trump too much authority over tariff decisions, with Senator Peter Welch describing it as a "blanket delegation of congressional tariff authority to the executive."

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 22:23 UTC)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham at the Washington National Cathedral, where Darline Graham, Lindsey's sister, was appointed to fill his Senate seat and is now a lead sponsor of the sanctions bill. Just hours after the funeral, the Senate voted on this legislation, which grants Trump increased authority to impose penalties on ships involved in what is known as the "shadow fleet" that bypass sanctions on Russian energy. Additionally, Trump has indicated a desire to include tariffs on Iran within the same sanctions package, though some Democrats have raised concerns about the bill's provisions that could give Trump too much power.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 19:24 UTC)

The Senate has voted overwhelmingly, with an 86 to 12 margin, to advance the legislation now known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, which grants Trump new authority to impose sanctions on Russian officials and financial institutions linked to the war efforts. This bill allows Trump to impose a staggering 500% tariff on Russian imports and up to a 100% tariff on major buyers of Russian oil, petroleum, and natural gas. As the Senate prepares to leave town on August 7 and the House is out until August 31, the legislation must clear both chambers before it can be presented to Trump, who has expressed his support for the bill.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 13:32 UTC)

Senator Lindsey Graham has asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to advocate for his sanctions bill during a meeting at the NATO summit in Turkey. This legislation, dubbed “Lindsey Graham’s sanctions bill from hell” by some U.S. officials, aims to strengthen sanctions on Russia’s wartime economy. Graham's push reflects a broader effort to increase pressure on Russia amid ongoing tensions.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 05:52 UTC)

A new bipartisan sanctions bill has been introduced, targeting Russian oil and gas while also imposing penalties on Iran. The proposed tariffs are striking, with rates reaching up to five hundred percent on certain goods and one hundred percent on buyers like China. This legislation aims to significantly impact international trade dynamics and energy markets.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 04:04 UTC)

The Senate has advanced a Russia sanctions bill that had been stalled, and this legislation is named after Lindsey Graham, who played a key role in negotiating the package with the White House. This significant development took place in the Senate chamber, just hours after Graham's funeral, highlighting the impact of his work on this important issue. Senator Katie Britt expressed her sentiments regarding Graham's presence in the Senate, underscoring the legacy he leaves behind.