Russia sanctions bill faces hurdles in Senate despite renewed push after Graham’s death

Russia sanctions bill faces hurdles in Senate: l Timing and Tariff Concerns Delay Progress Sandego.net – The Russia sanctions bill faces hurdles in the

Senate Hurdles for Russia Sanctions Bill

Timing and Tariff Concerns Delay Progress

Sandego.net – The Russia sanctions bill faces hurdles in the Senate as lawmakers debate whether to prioritize it amid competing legislative priorities. Bipartisan support for the measure has been tested by concerns that it could expand presidential tariff authority beyond what Democrats consider appropriate. The legislation gained momentum after Senator Lindsey Graham’s death, but questions about timing and content have created uncertainty about its path forward.

With the Senate approaching its August recess, some members worry that focusing on a continuing resolution for government funding could crowd out other important legislation. Republican Senator John Kennedy told CNN that the chamber might spend its remaining weeks solely on short-term funding rather than advancing multiple bills simultaneously.

“I think we are pissing away our chance to pass the Graham sanctions bill while we have the votes, and may well be pissing away our chance to pass the crypto bill, because we’re going to spend all of our time on the CR,” Kennedy explained.

Democratic Senators Question Tariff Powers

Senator Elizabeth Warren has emerged as a vocal critic of the bill’s tariff provisions, arguing that the measure could give President Trump too much flexibility in trade policy. Warren, who has long advocated for stronger penalties against Russia, said she wants to ensure the legislation doesn’t create new problems while solving old ones.

“I’ve been saying for a year and a half we need tougher sanctions against Russia. That’s very, very important. But Donald Trump has shown what he will do with broad tariff authority. Heck, he’s shown what he’ll do even if he doesn’t have authority,” Warren said after a hearing with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Warren indicated she would support delaying the Russia sanctions bill if amendments addressing her concerns are added. Her position reflects broader Democratic unease about the balance between sanctioning Russia and limiting executive power over trade.

Bill Details and Negotiated Terms

The proposed legislation targets multiple categories of Russian entities, including President Vladimir Putin, wealthy oligarchs, state-owned companies, and foreign corporations that support Russia’s military operations. The bill would allow tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, with Greer determining the final rates.

Countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s total natural gas exports would receive exemptions if they show efforts to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. The original version of the bill included minimum tariff rates of 500% with narrow exceptions. After more than fifteen months of negotiations, the final version reduced those rates and gave Greer implementation authority instead of the president.

Additional Voices of Caution

Senator Mark Warner expressed support for Russian sanctions but said he delayed co-sponsoring the legislation until he received clearer information about the tariff provisions. Warner noted that getting straightforward answers about the bill’s trade components had been challenging.

“I support Russia sanctions, but I’ve held off, you know, co-sponsoring the legislation until I get more clarity on that,” Warner said. “It’s amazing that, you know, I’m trying — to get a clear, concise answer on that has been a little bit of a challenge.”

Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, warned that expanding tariff authority could create a troubling precedent. Wyden said Trump’s primary policy goal is tariffs and expressed concern that the president might prioritize trade measures over sanction enforcement.

“I think it would set a very ominous, you know, precedent. Donald Trump wants one thing in terms of policy, and that’s tariffs. And I don’t think he’s going to follow through on the sanctions, and I think he’ll be all in with respect to tariffs, and it will set a very dangerous precedent,” Wyden told CNN.

While Wyden supported addressing Ukrainian concerns, he questioned whether the current approach properly balances sanction enforcement with tariff authority. The Russia sanctions bill faces hurdles as senators weigh these competing priorities before the August recess.