This is what happened.
The U.S. Senate took a major step Tuesday toward advancing one of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s most important legislative priorities, approving a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill just hours after lawmakers and world leaders gathered in Washington to honor the longtime South Carolina Republican.
In a decisive 86-12 vote, senators approved a procedural motion on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, moving the legislation one step closer to final passage. The bill, renamed in Graham’s honor following his death, reflects an issue he spent years championing during his Senate career.
The overwhelming bipartisan support underscored the lasting influence Graham held in Congress and highlighted continued concern among lawmakers over Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Vote That Carried Special Meaning
Many senators attended Graham’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral earlier in the day before returning to Capitol Hill for the historic vote.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the timing felt especially fitting.
She told colleagues that, in typical Lindsey Graham fashion, he somehow managed to bring the Senate together around one of his biggest priorities even after his passing.
Britt added that while Graham was no longer physically present, his leadership and legacy remained deeply felt throughout the chamber.
What the Bill Would Do
The legislation is designed to dramatically increase economic pressure on Russia by targeting the oil and natural gas exports that continue generating revenue for the Kremlin.
If enacted, the bill would expand sanctions against:
- Russian government officials.
- Major Russian banks and financial institutions.
- Wealthy Russian oligarchs and members of their families.
- Individuals and businesses accused of helping Russia finance its war.
- The so-called Russian “shadow fleet” used to move oil while avoiding existing sanctions.
The proposal also strengthens sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons industries.
Supporters argue that cutting off these financial resources would make it more difficult for Russia to continue its military campaign.
Trump Would Receive New Tariff Authority
The legislation would also give President Donald Trump expanded authority to impose targeted tariffs on imports from countries that continue purchasing large amounts of Russian oil or natural gas or help Russia evade international sanctions.
To limit unintended economic consequences, the proposal restricts that authority to the five largest importers of Russian energy and the five countries considered most involved in helping Russia bypass sanctions.
Lawmakers said the measure was carefully crafted to pressure Russia without unnecessarily harming America’s allies.
One of Graham’s Final Priorities
Although Graham originally introduced the legislation last year and quickly secured bipartisan backing, lawmakers delayed moving the bill while President Trump pursued diplomatic efforts aimed at negotiating an end to the conflict.
Just one day before his death on July 11, Graham announced he had reached an agreement with the White House to allow the legislation to move forward.
At the time, he expressed confidence that the sanctions package would eventually become law and said he believed it could help bring the war closer to an end.
According to Britt, Graham once described the sanctions bill as the most significant piece of legislation he had ever led during his decades in the Senate.
She called that remarkable given his lengthy record of accomplishments and said the bill reflected Graham’s long-held belief in America’s policy of “peace through strength.”
Bipartisan Support Continues to Grow
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut praised the legislation, saying it sends a clear signal that the United States intends to keep increasing economic pressure on Russia.
Following the vote, Blumenthal said Graham believed America had a responsibility to stand alongside Ukraine and argued that the Senate’s action honored that commitment.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also supported advancing the measure, saying it demonstrates continued resolve against Russian aggression.
Blumenthal expressed confidence the legislation now has strong momentum as it heads toward consideration in the House of Representatives.
He also argued that lawmakers intentionally focused the bill on countries purchasing large amounts of Russian energy rather than America’s allies, specifically pointing to China and India as major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Zelensky Visits Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington to attend Graham’s funeral and met separately with President Trump at the White House before speaking with senators on Capitol Hill.
Before the Senate vote, Zelensky thanked lawmakers for moving the legislation forward, calling additional sanctions an important show of support for Ukraine.
He said stronger economic pressure on Russia would send an important message to both Moscow and America’s allies while encouraging the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky also remembered Graham as “a true friend of Ukraine,” noting the senator had visited Kyiv only days before his passing.
The Ukrainian president later watched part of the Senate proceedings from the gallery and applauded lawmakers as the bipartisan measure advanced.
A Lasting Legacy
For many senators, Tuesday’s vote represented more than another foreign policy debate.
It marked the continuation of one of Lindsey Graham’s defining legislative efforts and demonstrated that, even after his death, the South Carolina senator’s influence continues to shape decisions on Capitol Hill.
With overwhelming bipartisan backing and support from the Trump administration, the sanctions package now moves closer to becoming law—bringing to life one of Graham’s final wishes and cementing another chapter in his long Senate legacy.