Overview
- The Senate approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by an 86–11 vote on Aug. 7, delivering broad bipartisan backing before the bill moved to the House.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal has urged House members to act now, calling the moment of pressure on Russia an "extreme urgency" as Kyiv reports renewed strikes and battlefield escalation.
- Ukraine's sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk arrived in Washington to press House lawmakers to pass the package and to explain how measures would target Russia's energy revenue and sanctions‑evasion networks.
- Key provisions pair expanded targeted sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, banks and the so‑called shadow fleet with a new presidential tariff authority that allows up to 100 percent duties on the top five buyers of Russian energy while including waiver and carve‑out language.
- House passage is uncertain because influential Democrats and some industry groups warn the tariff power could raise costs for U.S. importers and consumers and give the president broad discretion, and House leaders have not scheduled a floor vote.