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Bipartisan “Hell Sanctions” Bill Targeting Russia’s Trade Partners Stalls in US House
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A major bipartisan bill designed to choke off Russia’s war economy by targeting its foreign trading partners has stalled in the US House of Representatives, Politico reported on August 31.
The bill, nicknamed “sanctions from hell,” passed the Senate with an overwhelming 86- 11 majority after more than two years of development.
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The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act was omitted from the House’s immediate voting schedule as lawmakers returned from their summer recess, placing the high-profile legislation at serious risk of languishing indefinitely ahead of the upcoming congressional elections.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party’s leading voices on defense and a longtime advocate of military support for Ukraine, died on July 11 at the age of 71.
House Republican leadership has shown little momentum toward bringing the measure to the floor, Politico reported. House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx acknowledged that the sanctions package was not even raised during recent leadership meetings, while Speaker Mike Johnson remained noncommittal on whether the bill would receive a vote, citing mounting Democratic opposition as a key obstacle.
A primary driver of the impasse, according to Politico, is widespread Democratic resistance to expanding executive tariff powers built into the bill. The legislation would grant the White House broad authority to levy up to 100% tariffs and secondary sanctions on foreign nations purchasing Russian energy or aiding Moscow’s war effort.
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However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed serious concerns about the framework, warning that it risks granting the Trump administration sweeping discretionary trade tools that Democrats believe will be abused.
As Politico highlighted, that skepticism was echoed in a joint statement by key Democratic committee leaders, including Representative Greg Meeks of Foreign Affairs and Representative Richard Neal of Ways and Means, along with Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren.
The lawmakers argued that the executive branch already possesses ample statutory authority to penalize entities supporting the Kremlin, while centrist Democrats like Representative Brad Schneider voiced institutional objections against transferring congressional authority over trade directly to the White House.
Simultaneously, the measure is caught in deeper Republican divisions over foreign policy and federal spending, according to Politico. National security hawks within the GOP, such as retiring Representative Don Bacon, warned that failing to pass the sanctions would be a major failure.
Conservative members who oppose aid to Ukraine, like Representative Thomas Massie, have signaled indifference or outright resistance. With leadership focused on averting a government shutdown, time is rapidly running out for supporters to secure floor time before Congress adjourns.
As Ukraine braces for an escalated winter energy campaign, Kyiv also continues to await a delayed visit from US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss paths toward peace.
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