Russia sanctions bill passes House Rules Committee

The House Rules Committee on Monday approved bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing sanctions on Russia amid its war in Ukraine.

The bill , which the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) championed , would allow President Trump to impose penalties on individuals working on behalf of the Russian government to stall peace negotiations with Ukraine, violate a negotiated peace agreement and subvert the Ukrainian government.

The bill would allow Trump to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, certain Russian military commanders and “any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items” to the Russian military.

Under the legislation, Trump would also be able to increase the tariff rate to 500 percent on goods from Russia and countries “that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products.”

The House rules panel passing the measure likely sets up a full floor vote on the bill for later this week, as multiple outlets have reported. The Senate passed the bill via an 86-11 vote last month.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it was “great news” that the House will reportedly vote on the “much-needed” legislation.

“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,” Shaheen said Friday in a statement .

The House is set to depart on a seven-week recess at the close of business Thursday. But Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Monday he could fast-track the Russia sanctions bill via a process that would require a two-thirds majority, Politico reported .

July marked the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, according to the United Nations . Trump has enlisted his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff to broker a peace deal between Russian and Ukrainian officials to no avail.