US House introduces bipartisan bill to expand sanctions on Russia

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in the House of Representatives. Led by Representatives Michael McCaul and Steny Hoyer, the legislation is identical to a version previously passed by the Senate with an 86–11 vote.

The bill aims to target Russia’s war economy by striking at key revenue sources, including oil and gas, major financial institutions, and the “shadow fleet” used to evade existing sanctions. Significant provisions include authorizing the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on direct imports from Russia and up to 100% on imports from countries that remain major purchasers of Russian energy or facilitate sanctions evasion.

Additionally, the legislation targets Russian oligarchs, defense-linked businesses, and specific banks such as Sberbank, VTB, and Gazprombank. It also includes a ban on Russian uranium imports. While the bill demonstrates strong bipartisan support, debates in the House are expected to be more contentious than in the Senate, with some lawmakers expressing concerns regarding the potential economic impact of high tariffs on third-party nations.