Overview
- Supporters surged after Sen. Lindsey Graham won White House backing and the bill picked up more than 60 co-sponsors this week, giving it apparent filibuster-proof support.
- Several Senate Democrats have raised fresh objections that the measure would give the administration broad tariff authority by letting the U.S. Trade Representative set tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
- President Trump demanded the package include new Iran sanctions, and negotiators have added limited, expiring Iran language to try to satisfy that request while talks continue.
- Senate leaders have discussed scheduling a vote next week but face tight floor time because of an impending August recess and competing priorities such as a continuing resolution and key confirmations.
- If passed the bill would combine mandatory sanctions on Russian officials and firms with a tariff tool that critics say could raise U.S. consumer prices and strain ties with major trading partners while backers say it narrowly targets revenue routes for Moscow.