After the United States Senate passed the Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions bill last week to honor the late congressman, Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) is now proposing a version for the House of Representatives that would include sanctions on Iran.
The bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was introduced last week by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and Rep. McCaul, along with 16 other colleagues. The legislation would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine and extend sanctions that restrict funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
“I can think of no better way to honor Senator Graham’s life and legacy than by passing these tough sanctions, which will help force Putin into negotiations and bring us closer to securing Lindsey’s vision of enduring peace in two critical regions of the world,” Rep. McCaul said.
Last week, the Senate voted 86-11 to pass the legislation, which is nearly identical to the text in the House bill. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) worked on the bill for over a year, gaining the White House’s support before he passed away in July.
But the continued aggression of Russia has been an ongoing issue, and one Rep. McCaul said has hindered efforts to reach a peace agreement.
“As President [Volodymyr] Zelensky told me last month when I visited Ukraine, he is ready for a ceasefire — ready to negotiate, as he has been for years,” he said. “[Vladimir] Putin, on the other hand, consistently defies President Trump and the international community by refusing to come to the table.”
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) also helped Rep. McCaul introduce this bill. He said Congress has an obligation to help “defend democracy” and help Ukraine defeat Putin’s attacks on “liberty and sovereignty.”
“Our legislation goes after multiple sources of Russian war funding, including its oil and gas sectors, shadow fleet, and financial institutions,” Rep. Hoyer said.
Rep. McCaul emphasized how important holding Russia accountable was to Sen. Graham, whom he described as a “national security giant, a statesman of unmatched conviction and a personal friend and mentor.”
“We shared a fundamental worldview: America is strongest at home when it projects strength abroad,” Rep. McCaul said. “That’s why he fought so hard for this bill, which I promised him months ago I would introduce in the House.”
