House Stalls Senate-Passed Russia Sanctions Bill Over Tariff Powers

The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed a Russia sanctions bill 86-11, but the legislation has stalled in the House of Representatives due to partisan and internal Republican divisions. The bill, sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal and the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would authorize Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, as well as nations aiding Moscow in evading Western sanctions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has not scheduled a floor vote and indicated the bill is unlikely to reach the floor before the November 3 midterm elections. While Representative Don Bacon suggested a potential vote the week of September 14, opposition remains high. House Democrats, led by Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, oppose granting the president expanded tariff authority. Some Republican libertarians and business groups, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, also object to the bill's potential to trigger widespread tariffs and increase gasoline prices.

Ukrainian presidential commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk is actively lobbying House lawmakers in Washington to pass the measure. Vlasiuk argues that the tariffs are essential to prevent sanctions evasion by countries like China and India, asserting that the Kremlin currently possesses enough resources to continue its military campaign for at least six months. President Volodymyr Zelensky also advocated for the legislation during meetings in July, describing it as a critical signal of support for the Ukrainian people.