US House set to vote on Russia sanctions bill with India tariff risk

The US House is preparing to vote on a Senate-cleared Russia sanctions bill that could also hit India with tariffs. Democrats say it hands Donald Trump sweeping tariff powers even as supporters argue it will squeeze Moscow and aid Ukraine.

In Short

• The measure cleared the Senate last month with overwhelming bipartisan backing
• House Democrats say it grants Donald Trump risky new tariff powers
• The proposal would tighten penalties on Russia and extend sanctions on Iran

The US House of Representatives is set to take up for a vote a Russia sanctions bill that also seeks to impose tariffs on its trading partners, including India. The move comes after the bill was passed by an overwhelming majority in the US Senate last month.

The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 will be taken up by the House Rules Committee on Monday amid strong opposition from Democrats. If cleared by the House, the bill would empower President Donald Trump to impose harsher sanctions on Russia and buyers of Russian oil and gas, and also extend existing sanctions on Iran.

Many House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have opposed the bill, arguing that it would give Trump broad and risky new tariff powers. In a statement on Friday, Democratic Congressmen Gregory Meeks, Don Beyer and Richard Neal said, "House Democrats are rock solid in our support for Ukraine, but the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act would do more harm than good." They added, "This bill would dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia, both of which are unacceptable. These flaws would raise Americans' prices while undermining support for Ukraine in the long term."

The Republican House leadership had earlier dropped the bill from the agenda and planned an early recess ahead of the mid-term elections. It has now been brought back for consideration at the Rules Committee as an emergency measure. Welcoming the development, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, said on X, "Great news that the House will vote on the much-needed Russia sanctions bill." She added, "Ukrainian civilians continue to be killed by Putin's war machine, and this bill hits the Kremlin's coffers hard. Now is the time to pass it and force Putin to the negotiating table."

The bill is now set for consideration in the House after clearing the Senate, with supporters presenting it as a step against Russia and opponents warning that it would widen the US president's tariff powers and affect prices.

With PTI Inputs

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