WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee has scheduled a meeting on the Russia sanctions bill for Monday. A procedural vote on the Russia sanctions bill is likely later in the week.

The legislation, formally titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, cleared the Senate with an 86-11 vote. The bill is named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Under the proposed law, the president may impose tariffs of up to 100% on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. China and India are among the countries subject to potential tariffs under the bill.

The text provides exceptions for nations that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and are taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. The White House may also waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that such action serves the national interest.

Beyond economic measures targeting energy buyers, the legislation includes sanctions on Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It also expands U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

The bill includes an extension of certain sanctions on Iran. President Donald Trump asked the Senate to add Iran to the bill during its consideration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the House to pass the bill in a social media post on X. "And this is a very important historical moment for the United States. The bill must be passed, voted on, and supported," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also addressed the executive branch directly regarding future policy choices. "Beyond that, strong decisions from the U.S. Administration are important. Personal decisions by President Trump. I very much hope we will see that," Zelenskyy said.

Three House Democrats issued a joint statement regarding the bill before the Rules Committee meeting. Rep. Gregory Meeks is the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Richard Neal is the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Don Beyer is the senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee.

"In the meantime, the President has ample authority to expand sanctions on those fueling Russia’s war machine, including those targeted by this bill, and we renew our call on him to do so without further delay," the statement from Reps. Gregory Meeks, Richard Neal, and Don Beyer read.

Why It Matters

The legislation moves through the House after securing broad bipartisan support in the Senate, where it passed by a vote of 86-11. The bill combines tariff authority against major Russian energy customers with targeted sanctions on leadership and financial infrastructure, aiming to restrict revenue streams for the Russian state.

The inclusion of waiver provisions allows the president to certify that suspending certain restrictions serves the national interest, creating a mechanism for executive flexibility within the statutory framework. The extension of Iran sanctions reflects legislative adjustments made at the request of President Donald Trump, linking separate foreign policy objectives within a single measure.