Graham’s 'bone crushing' sanctions bill stalls in US Congress: Legislation pulled from vote
Photo: Late US Senator Lindsey Graham (Getty Images)
“Bone-crushing” sanctions against Russia pushed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham have run into new problems in the US House of Representatives, Politico reports.
Less than a month ago, a substantial bipartisan majority in the US Senate backed a bill proposed by Lindsey Graham. The legislation would increase sanctions pressure on Russia and its trading partners.
However, the situation in the House of Representatives has proved much more complicated. Republican leaders removed the bill from the list of measures they plan to bring to a vote this week.
After a five-week summer recess, Republican lawmakers returned to the Capitol, but the sanctions bill was effectively not among their priorities.
House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx said the bill was not discussed at all during a meeting of committee chairs.
Asked whether the legislation could go through her committee before being brought to the House floor, Foxx replied, "I have no idea. Nobody’s talking about it."
House Speaker Mike Johnson also declined to give a clear answer about the bill's future. He simply said, "We'll see."
At the same time, Johnson stressed that Republicans have traditionally taken a tough stance toward Russia.
Earlier, in early July, the US Senate passed a bill imposing "bone-crushing sanctions" on Russia and Iran. One of its co-sponsors was the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
The bill calls for primary sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, his inner circle, banks, state energy projects and the shadow fleet, as well as tariffs of up to 500% on direct imports from Russia.
