On September 14, 2023, the House Rules Committee of the United States approved a bill for tougher sanctions against Russia and Iran by a vote of 7-3. This action has cleared a significant hurdle for a potential vote in the House this week, but has revealed deep concerns among Democrats regarding the expansion of the President's tariff powers.
Details of the Sanctions Bill
This bill, known as the "Russia and Iran Sanctions Act," is named in honor of former Republican Senator Lindsey O. Graham, who supported this action before his passing. The U.S. Senate passed the bill in August by a decisive vote of 86-11, and it is now under consideration in the House. The House version has been introduced by Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas and Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, along with other bipartisan supporters.
Read more: Iranian Commercial Ship Sinks Near Qeshm Island
Challenges and Presidential Powers
This bill faces additional hurdles in the House, where Democrats are particularly concerned about provisions that grant President Donald Trump broad powers to impose tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy or assist Moscow in circumventing sanctions. McCaul warned the committee that "Putin is watching" and emphasized the necessity of sanctions to target the financial networks supporting Russia's war efforts.
The bill also extends sanctions related to Iran, which are set to expire at the end of the year, and targets financing for Iran's energy and arms sectors. McCaul stated that Russia and Iran cannot be seen as separate challenges, as they have joint military collaborations.
If passed, this bill would allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and natural gas and countries accused of helping Moscow evade sanctions. Democrats consider these powers too broad and are concerned that this may raise prices for American consumers.
Democratic Response and Amendment Proposals
Gregory Meeks, Democratic Representative from New York and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, supported the need for more pressure on Russia but criticized the bill in its current form. He believes that the President already has broad powers to sanction Russia, and this bill primarily expands the President's control over tariffs.
Meeks and other Democrats proposed amendments to the bill, including the removal of secondary tariff provisions, limiting the President's powers to waive sanctions, and clarifying that the European Union cannot be considered a single "country" for tariff purposes. They also called for increased military funding for Ukraine.
The committee rejected the Democrats' proposals. Hoyer, a Democratic supporter of the bill, also called for changes to identify potentially sanctionable countries but refrained from completely eliminating the tariff mechanism.
These disagreements highlight a larger dilemma for House Democrats; many support stronger actions against Russia and continued support for Ukraine but are also opposed to the unchecked use of presidential tariff powers.
Read more: Houthi Developments and the Risk of a 10 Percent Decrease in Maritime Oil Trade · Ningbo Container Loading Index Report on September 11, 2026
