“I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day. I know he would be so proud.
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The Senate Passes the Russia and Iran Sanctions Bill 86-11 and Names It for Lindsey Graham a Month After He Died — "This Is a Big Effing Deal," Blumenthal Says, Quoting Graham's Last Words to Him
August 7, 2026
On August 7, 2026, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 86-11, breaking a stalemate that had lasted more than a year and handing the late South Carolina Republican a posthumous version of the bill he had spent years failing to move. The measure imposes primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and the financial network sustaining its war in Ukraine, targeting the "shadow fleet" of shell corporations and repurposed maritime infrastructure along with Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members and financial institutions. It authorizes tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest importers of Russian crude and natural gas by volume — in practice China and India — and extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, renewing sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors that were set to lapse at the end of the year. The bill had been blocked for months by the White House's unwillingness to accept binding sanctions authority. It moved only after a bipartisan group — Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Darline Graham Nordone (R-S.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) — announced an agreement on July 28, seventeen days after Graham died at 71 at his Capitol Hill home. They said there was "no greater way to honor" his legacy. Blumenthal, a co-author, told the floor: "I'm not even going to try to channel my inner Lindsey Graham, except to say, as he said to me in some of his last words, 'This is a big effing deal.'" Graham's sister Darline Graham Nordone — appointed to his seat on Trump's recommendation — said he "believed that this was the most consequential piece of legislation that he had ever led." Not everyone was satisfied. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) forced a vote on an amendment limiting Trump's tariff authority under the bill; it failed 32-64. On the House side, Foreign Affairs ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) warned that the final text "still contain[s] the broadest possible waiver authority for President Trump, who already has the power to impose these sanctions on Russia under U.S. law but has refused to do so," and Meeks said he opposed "handing President Trump a Trojan horse for tariff authorities he has repeatedly abused." The House is expected to take the bill up when members return from summer break on August 31.
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40 Statements
“If he were here today, he would be jubilant about our bill's passage — and already thinking about the next one. … Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly.
“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. … [The bill] gives the Administration every tool in the toolbox to help bring this war to a just end.
“The manner in which this bill has been written doesn't require the President of the United States to impose sanctions on Russia. … There are so many loopholes written into the bill, I believe, that it's very unlikely that the sanctions relief contemplated in the legislation will ever see the light of day. … I cannot support the bill.
“I applaud the House of Representatives for coming together to approve this consequential sanctions package. For more than four years, the purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas have provided Vladimir Putin with the means to carry on his vicious assault against Ukraine. … These sanctions target the financiers of the Russian war economy, forcing them to pay a heavy price if they continue to do business with the Kremlin. I urge President Trump to sign this legislation into law immediately and to use its authorities to the fullest extent.
“To Vladimir Putin — we have your number. And to Ukraine — you are not alone. … China and India, you better clean up your act, buy your oil and gas somewhere else.
“Every dollar Russia earns through illicit energy sales is another dollar Putin can use to buy drones, missiles and weapons to kill innocent Ukrainians. [This bill will] help cut off that revenue, force Putin to the negotiating table by increasing pressure on Moscow and strengthen Ukraine's hand … [Its passage is] a fitting tribute to Lindsey and his commitment to a free and secure Ukraine.
“Today, 262 members of the House voted not just for Ukraine, but for freedom and democracy.
“Today, we took a step to redeem our pledge to Ukraine to support their sovereignty and their democracy. No more standing by and rationalizing your behaviors, no more allowing Ukrainians to be killed every night.
“End this war, get out of Ukraine, focus on rebuilding your shattered international reputation and your destroyed economy.
“Ukraine's national security is directly linked to America's national security.
“These countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin's aggression.
“Yes they will be able to say 'we stood with Ukraine,' in the immediate aftermath. But when Donald Trump hits our allies with new tariffs and waives sanctions on Russia, the propaganda victory for Putin will be lasting, and the damage will be embedded in U.S. law.
“We're going to pay close attention to the administration and to see what they're going to do with these new powers.
“We're going to get done tomorrow. At least that's the least we could do. We've got to do more.
“Putin is watching. … Without leverage on Mr. Putin, he'll never come to the negotiating table. … We believe that it will put enough economic pressure on Mr. Putin to finally come to the table. … Putin wants nothing more than for this bill to fail, and it plays right into his hands.
“I'm here to speak in opposition to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act -- a deeply flawed bill. … American families will pay the costs of this bill. Vladimir Putin will not. … The president already has the power to impose every single sanction or other form of transaction prohibition authorized by this bill. … Let's work to find a compromise that properly punishes Russia for its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, while protecting the American people from reckless, inflationary tariffs.
“When you can do sanctions on a country, that's significant. But what's particularly significant are secondary sanctions on countries that are actually buying oil or financing the regime in Moscow. … [Asked whether he was confident Trump would sign it:] Absolutely.
“If we do not pass this bill, there will be great joy in the Kremlin and great devastation in Kyiv.
“House Democrats are rock solid in our support for Ukraine, but the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act would do more harm than good. … [It would] dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia. … [These flaws would] raise Americans’ prices while undermining support for Ukraine in the long term.
“The person who was telling me about writing the amendment also thought that Trump would still hate it, because he and [White House trade adviser Peter] Navarro want carte blanche tariff authority.
“The Senate is not superior to the House. We both pass bills, so we should be discussing both bills and making a determination what would be the best bill to support Ukraine.
“You look at the mess we have with Canada, and how many allies we've pissed off because of stupid tariffs, and the impact on consumers—he just can't be trusted.
“It risks providing tariff and sanctions authority to Donald Trump and his administration that we believe they will abuse.
“I have serious concerns with the legislation.
“We need to end that war. The war in Iran must be brought to an end, not just for the sake of the Middle East, but also Ukraine, so that we can provide everything that Ukraine needs.
“I was exhilarated and inspired because Ukraine has turned the tide.
“The main point here is Putin is unserious about peace because he doubts we are serious about supporting Ukraine. And he has every reason to think it because the administration has vacillated.
“This kind of sanctions bill, throttling the flow of revenue to his war machine could undercut completely his ability to wage this brutal, murderous war.
“It is a moment of extreme urgency, for the reason that Putin may try to escalate, but also because Putin is on his heels economically.
“Zelenskyy heartily and readily agreed to make the case for its passage.
“Putin understands only force. And the Russia sanctions bill is a sledgehammer that can have the kind of force Putin understands.
“We’re happy to receive and process that.
“Ukraine is now the largest conflict, literally, since World War II in Europe.
“He believed that this was the most consequential piece of legislation that he had ever led.
“I’m not even going to try to channel my inner Lindsey Graham, except to say, as he said to me in some of his last words, "This is a big effing deal."
“He supports it. It has taken some time to gain his support, but now that we have it, we need to move forward as quickly as possible to stand with Ukraine.
“I oppose handing President Trump a Trojan horse for tariff authorities he has repeatedly abused.
“This bill’s sanctions still contain the broadest possible waiver authority for President Trump, who already has the power to impose these sanctions on Russia under U.S. law but has refused to do so.
“This bill’s sanctions still contain the broadest possible waiver authority for President Trump, who already has the power to impose these sanctions on Russia under U.S. law but has refused to do so.