Revised Russian Sanctions Bill Introduced in Honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham meets with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (not seen) in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 10, 2026. Courtesy of the Presidential Office of Ukraine/www.president.gov.ua/CC BY-NC-ND 4.0A group of senators has introduced a revised version of a sanctions bill on purchasers of Russian oil in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died on the evening of July 11.The sanctions bill, introduced on Tuesday, would impose sanctions on the top five countries that purchase oil and gas from Russia. U.S. lawmakers had worked to pass a bill imposing tariffs on goods from countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, and other exports for over a year. The bill is intended to prevent Russia from using oil and gas sales to continue funding its war against Ukraine.The revised bill, which was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers at a Tuesday press conference, came after some lawmakers expressed concerns that the original sanctions legislation was too broad and could cause economic harm to key U.S. allies. The Trump administration had also expressed concerns that the president would need flexibility to waive sanctions if it was in the nation’s best interest.The updated bill narrowed the implementation of tariffs against the top five purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas, which include China and India. The bill also reduced the tariff proposal from a blanket 500 percent tariff to up to 100 percent. It also included exceptions for countries that import less than 15 percent of their natural gas from Russia and have taken steps to reduce reliance on Russian imports.On Friday, Graham and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) released a statement confirming that they had reached an agreement with President Donald Trump’s administration to move forward with the Russia sanctions legislation.“We are very pleased with this significant progress and expect to roll out the legislation very soon,” the senators said. “As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine.”Graham died on Saturday after returning from Ukraine, before the revised Russia sanctions bill was introduced. He discussed the bill with Trump in a phone call shortly before his death.Unveiling the revised bill at a press conference on Tuesday, Blumenthal said, “It is truly a tribute to Senator Graham that we are at this point.”Blumenthal said the Russia sanctions bill was “part of [Graham’s] legacy” and indicated that he would be in favor of having the bill named after his Republican colleague.Appearing alongside Blumenthal at Tuesday’s press conference, Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said “nobody has done more than Lindsey Graham” for the Russia sanctions bill. She said Graham worked “tirelessly” and “relentlessly” to move the legislation forward in the Senate.On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to “immediately” bring the legislation to the Senate floor in honor of Graham. He said the bill would “pass overwhelmingly and help our allies in Ukraine.”Shaheen, who worked with Graham on the bill, said passing the Russia sanctions bill would be a “fitting memorial.”“There can be no more fitting memorial to Lindsey, his legacy or the causes he fought for than to pass this legislation and realize his long-held dream of an independent and secure Ukraine,” she said.A statement provided by Graham’s office said the senator died on the evening of July 11 after a “brief and sudden illness.” Preliminary findings released by the senator’s team suggested that Graham, 71, died from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister, on Monday to serve as senator until Graham’s term ends on Jan. 3, 2027.