Beyer, Meeks Reiterate Concerns on Senate Passage of Russia Sanctions Bill

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, and Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement upon Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:

"While we do not doubt the good intentions of our Senate colleagues' work on the Sanctioning Russia Act, the fundamental concerns we've previously stated about this bill have not been addressed with its Senate passage. This bill's sanctions still contain the broadest possible waiver authority for President Trump, who already has the power to impose these sanctions on Russia under U.S. law but has refused to do so.

"What the bill does grant, however, are sweeping new tariff authorities that the president could weaponize with abandon, as he has repeatedly done in the past. President Trump just last month recklessly imposed new 50% tariffs on our closest trading partner, Canada; there is no reason to believe he would not use the even larger tariffs authorized by this bill in a manner similarly harmful to our alliances and Americans' wallets.

"We welcome our Senate colleagues' urgent effort to support Ukraine and punish Russia for its continued illegal war, but this bill would not achieve those goals. Instead, it would allow President Trump to dodge holding Russia accountable and impose yet more tariffs in his destructive trade wars, leaving Americans to foot the bill.

"Though the Paul-Wyden amendment to strike the dangerous tariff authorities failed, the vote total demonstrates that continued refinement of the Sanctioning Russia Act is imperative before it can be sent to the president's desk. We will continue to seek a path forward that remedies this bill's flaws, and we remain ready to negotiate expeditiously with Congressional colleagues to achieve our common objectives. But the current text is unacceptable."