US senator urges House to pass Senate-approved Russia sanctions bill targeting top energy importers

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut urged the House of Representatives on Sunday to pass a Senate-approved bill imposing sweeping sanctions on Russia, calling the situation in Ukraine a “moment of extreme urgency.”

The Senate passed the legislation, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, by an 86-11 vote on Aug. 7 before its August recess. The bill would allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas, excluding countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia while taking steps to reduce those imports. It also includes measures to target oligarchs, financial institutions, and the shadow fleet supporting Russia’s war effort .

Blumenthal, a Democrat, emphasized Russia’s economic strain in an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” stating that President Vladimir Putin faces a looming deficit of $125 billion—5% of Russia’s GDP—and a 14% interest rate on national debt. “His economy is on the verge of major crisis,” Blumenthal said .

The bill had stalled in Congress since April 2025 amid shifting U.S. policy under President Donald Trump. It gained momentum after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11; Graham had championed the measures alongside Blumenthal and secured White House support before his death. The revised version scaled back an earlier proposal for a blanket 500% tariff on imports from countries buying Russian energy, instead focusing on the top five purchasers .

Blumenthal, who visited Kyiv last week for Ukraine’s Independence Day, said he had urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage with House representatives, as Zelensky had done with senators before the Senate vote. “I’m very hopeful that he will because he’s Ukraine’s strongest advocate,” Blumenthal said. He added that the bill was the result of negotiations with the White House, the U.S. Trade Representative, and lawmakers from both parties .

The House reconvenes on Aug. 31 after a five-week recess, but the bill’s prospects remain uncertain. Some House Democrats have expressed concerns about granting the president additional powers, though Blumenthal defended the measure as carefully negotiated and narrowly constrained .