Graham-Blumenthal Russia Sanctions Bill Clears House Committee Vote

The House Rules Committee approved a bipartisan bill co-authored by senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal aimed at significantly tightening sanctions on Russia, according to The Hill and Yevropeyska Pravda. The bill had previously passed the Senate.

What the Bill Does

The legislation targets countries purchasing Russian uranium and petroleum products by imposing punitive tariff rates on their goods. The goal is to expand economic pressure on Moscow by threatening trade penalties on third-party nations that sustain Russia's energy revenues during the war.

Path to Full Vote

The committee's September 14 approval creates the conditions for a full House floor vote later this week. Speaker Mike Johnson indicated on Monday that he could bring the measure under an expedited procedure — a fast-track process that requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

The bill was co-authored by Graham, who passed away earlier this year, and remains a bipartisan priority for lawmakers seeking to increase economic pressure on Russia amid ongoing peace negotiations.