The Senate-passed Russia sanctions bill, named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), has hit a wall in the House, with Democratic opposition and a lack of urgency from Republican leaders leaving its fate uncertain. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has not indicated any plan to bring the measure to the floor in the first days back from recess, while senior House Democrats have raised alarms over provisions granting President Trump tariff powers that the Supreme Court has limited. Libertarian-leaning Republicans, such as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), also object to codifying existing sanctions and expanding blacklists.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told The Hill that he was briefed on a plan to bring the bill to the floor the week of Sept. 14, after Congress returns from a Labor Day recess. He argued that the break would allow time to persuade hesitant members. “The Senate passed this 86-11, so it’s hard to believe there’s pushback. This is Congress’s opportunity to take a stand, and it would be wrong to make perfection the enemy of good,” Bacon said. While he conceded some GOP colleagues are “weak on Russia,” he largely blamed Democratic resistance for the delay.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus, acknowledged Democratic concerns but pointed to Republican divisions. “We don’t control the floor, and this isn’t on the floor because Republicans are fighting amongst themselves. So I think that’s the most important point here. We do have concerns, but it doesn’t appear that this is ready to go because Republicans have concerns among their conference,” he said. A congressional aide described the bill as “dead again,” reflecting the uncertainty.
Ukraine is closely tracking the bill’s progress. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian president’s commissioner for sanctions policy, is meeting with House lawmakers this week to push for passage. “Things are moving in the right direction. I am holding meetings, hearing strong support, and working to address the questions and concerns that lawmakers may have about the bill,” Vlasiuk said in a statement. His advocacy comes as Russian missile attacks intensify, with Ukrainian children returning to school, many in underground classrooms.
The Graham bill was conceived in April 2025 as a way to leverage Trump’s affinity for tariffs to support Ukraine. It would allow the president to impose duties up to 100 percent on the top five countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas, or those aiding Moscow in evading sanctions. The measure stalled in the Senate for a year and a half as Trump sought to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After Putin rejected ceasefire calls and Ukraine regained battlefield momentum, Graham announced a breakthrough with the White House in July. His sudden death that month galvanized senators to pass the bill in his honor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who hosted Graham in Kyiv days before his death, met with U.S. lawmakers in July to advocate for the bill. “It’s not only about money, how to stop Russia financing this war, but it’s also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people,” Zelensky said.
While European officials publicly back the bill, some EU members privately worry the text does not shield the bloc from Trump’s tariff enthusiasm. The bill includes exemptions for countries reducing Russian energy reliance or buying only small amounts of Russian exports. However, Democrats argue Trump already has sufficient authority to sanction companies, individuals, and oil tankers funding Russia’s war effort.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed to Trump’s recent actions—refusing to condemn Russian attacks, inviting Russia’s foreign minister to the G20 summit, and sending the CIA director to Moscow—as evidence he is not serious about supporting Ukraine. “So for me, I’m not going to just give the president authority that he doesn’t have. Because at every opportunity, he’s trying to circumvent tariffs [on Russia],” Meeks said. He and four other senior Democrats have issued a statement opposing new tariff powers.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), another senior Foreign Affairs member, remains undecided but voiced strong reservations. “You wage foreign policy with the president you have, not the president you wish you had. And if we had anything close to a sane president, I’d be for the bill. But I can’t close my eyes to who’s in the White House,” he said.
As the House returns, the bill’s path remains unclear. With Democratic concerns over tariff authority and GOP infighting, the measure’s future could hinge on whether leaders can bridge the divide. Meanwhile, European ministers have protested Russia’s G20 invite, adding diplomatic pressure. Ukraine’s supporters hope the bill can still pass, but the clock is ticking.
