Signal US Senate Passes Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill Named for Late Sen. Lindsey Graham

Summary

The US Senate passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill on August 7, 2026 by an 86-11 vote, authorizing punishing tariffs on China, India, and other top buyers of Russian oil and gas, along with extended Iran sanctions, Bloomberg reported. The legislation, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in his honor. The package places mandatory sanctions on top Russian government figures including President Vladimir Putin, as well as Russian oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and foreign companies supporting Russia's defense industrial base. The bipartisan bill allows the president to impose tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. The bill next requires a House vote, but the House is on recess until September, delaying final passage despite the Senate's overwhelming bipartisan support.