U.S. House approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump

U.S. House approves sweeping Russia.

Key points

• While 152 voted against it, in all, 58 Democrats broke with Jeffries and voted for the bill.
• The Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill by a vote of 86-11 last month, but momentum slowed in the House.
• General Atomics confirmed second expansion this year, bringing 125 more jobs to Shannon.
• After the vote, a group of Republicans and Democrats from the House and Senate celebrated the vote at a rare bipartisan press conference.
• The bill passed by a vote of 262-159.

U.S. House approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump. By: Kevin Freking, Associated Press – September 17, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Capitol is seen is seen as Senate Republicans work to pass President Donald Trump's bill of tax breaks and spending cuts by his July Fourth deadline, in Washington, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite).

In practice, the bill passed by a vote of 262-159. It represents the most ambitious effort to backing Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House on Wednesday passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian authorities and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine.

In practice, the bill is named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. This person spent more than a year negotiating it. The measure was approved in a 262-159 vote and now heads to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

Meanwhile, the legislation represents the most ambitious effort to backing Ukraine since Trump's return to the White House and would break almost two years of relative gridlock on the matter after a 2024 emergency aid package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing for the bill's passage and created a direct appeal to senators shortly before they passed it last month.

Notably, the measure sanctions Russian authorities, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving. It additionally directs Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.

"These countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin's aggression, " remarked Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. Democrats are divided on the legislation.

Supporters remarked the tariff provisions are aimed at deterring China and India from purchasing Russian energy, but critics of the bill stated they fear Trump will employ the legislation to target allies in the European Union and elsewhere. Americans, they cautioned, would pay the rate for such tariffs through higher rates at the cash register.

"This president has always said he loves tariffs, " remarked Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y. "And we know the history of what he's done with reference to tariffs to our European allies, and our allies everywhere."

Democrats were divided on the bill, despite overwhelming backing in the caucus for aiding Ukraine. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., informed colleagues they can't control what the president does, but they can stand up and declare where they are on the war.

"If we fail to pass this bill, there will be cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv, " Hoyer remarked.

But Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., predicted Ukraine supporters would come to regret voting for the bill.

"Yes they will be able to say 'we stood with Ukraine' in the immediate aftermath, " Beyer remarked. "But when Donald Trump hits our allies with new tariffs and waives sanctions on Russia, the propaganda victory for Putin will be lasting, and the damage will be embedded in U.S. Law."

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, speaking in opposition to the bill, remarked Democrats would continue to backing the Ukrainian individuals until victory is won, "but this bill does not provide a path to secure that."

While 152 voted against it, in all, 58 Democrats broke with Jeffries and voted for the bill. Among Republicans, 203 voted yes while seven voted against it.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., celebrated the vote and highlighted the extra tariff power it provides the president.

"For too long, Putin has bankrolled this devastating war with money and resources from countries willing to look the other way, and today, that ends, " Johnson remarked. Getting Trump onboard has been a long process.

Congress has struggled to ensure the flow of U.S. Funding and munitions to Ukraine as Republican backing for spending billions of dollars more on the effort has waned. Trump routinely derided the Ukraine aid while campaigning for the White House and insisted that, if elected, he would rapidly end the war rolled out by Moscow's February 2022 invasion.

It took Graham essentially a full year to bring Trump on board with the Russia sanctions package. Eventually, Trump offered a nod to the bill after it included his push for a five-year extension of existing sanctions on Iran. Republicans speaking on the House floor in advance of Wednesday's vote were overwhelmingly supportive of the package.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., acknowledged Democratic criticism that tariffs could be applied aggressively on smaller U.S. Allies, but stated it was time to deliver a resounding message to the Kremlin: "End this war, get out of Ukraine, focus on rebuilding your shattered international reputation and your destroyed economy."

For context, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill by a vote of 86-11 last month, but momentum slowed in the House. Republican leadership focused on other priorities, namely bills designed to put Democrats on defense going into the midterms. Meanwhile, a chorus of key Democratic lawmakers voiced alarm regarding the bill's tariff provisions.

Passage of the bill in the House came on the final day that the chamber is projected to be in session for votes before the Nov. 3 elections.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. This person wrote the bill with Graham, remarked he hopes the sanctions will assist force Putin to the negotiating table and end the war.

"To Vladimir Putin – we have your number, " Blumenthal remarked. "And to Ukraine – you are not alone."

Leading up to the vote, Zelenskyy took to social media urging the House to pass the bill. He remarked during war it is sometimes better to "make a not-so-perfect decision than to do nothing."

"And this is a particularly notable historical moment for the United States. The bill must be passed, voted on, and backed, " Zelenskyy stated on X. "Beyond that, solid decisions from the U.S. Administration are significant. Personal decisions by President Trump. I particularly much hope we will see that." Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Regarding the Author(s). Kevin Freking, Associated Press. DC Matthew Daly, Associated Press September 4, 2026.

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In short, U.S. House approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.