The United States House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill for sanctions against Russia and Iran, which has now been sent to President Donald Trump. The measure was approved by a vote of 262 to 159. This 61-page bill, which was passed in the Senate last month by a vote of 86 to 11, is named the "Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act."
Purpose of the Bill and Its Impacts
The bill specifically targets the Russian energy sector and penalizes the largest buyers of oil and gas from the country. The law allows the President to impose tariffs on goods from sanctioned countries, including China and India. The main goal of this bill is to reduce Russia's financial revenues in line with the war in Ukraine that began in 2022.
Read more: The U.S. Supreme Court Strikes at Trump and Republicans Ahead of Midterm Elections
Details of Tariffs and Sanction Targets
This bill recognizes significant new powers under which tariffs of up to 100 percent can be imposed on third countries that purchase substantial amounts of Russian energy. This change offers a more balanced approach compared to the previous 500 percent tariff. Additionally, this bill allows the Trump administration to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports for national security reasons if China continues to purchase Russian oil.
The bill also targets Russian government officials, oligarchs, some of their family members, and Russian financial institutions. At Trump's request, this package also expands sanction powers to reduce funding for Iran's arms and energy sectors.
Some senior Democrats in the House of Representatives criticized the bill, expressing concerns about granting extensive tariff powers to Trump. However, these concerns ultimately did not prevent the bill's passage. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, stated, "I have always supported the Russia sanctions bill."
Daniel Balson from the Ukraine advocacy group described the passage of this bill as a "historic moment" and said, "This bill sends a clear message to Putin: as long as he continues to inflict suffering in Ukraine, Congress will continue to impose consequences."
Read more: FBI Released New Details About the Attempt on Trump's Life · House Moves Toward Passing Broad Sanctions Against Russia Named After Lindsey Graham
