The Senate is one step closer to achieving a top legislative priority of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in a feat that seemed impossible a year ago.
Graham’s legislation targeting Russia with expanded sanctions got a huge boost Tuesday night with senators voting 86-12 to advance it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who a year ago faced waning support in Washington — pitched senators shortly before the vote as to how the bill could force Russia into peace talks and memorialize Graham.
The bill, which has President Donald Trump’s backing, still faces plenty of hurdles in the Senate and House.
With August recess looming, senators have little time to finish passing the legislation — and tackle the rest of their to-do-list — before leaving town. It will require all 100 senators, including the bill’s opponents, to cut a deal to speed up its consideration with amendment votes.
“I think we can start to winnow, hopefully, the list down,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said as he left the floor after the vote, referring to amendments.
Sen. Rand Paul, for example, is working on an amendment to rein in new tariff powers given to the president under the bill. Sen. Ron Wyden also wants a tariff-related amendment and is working with Paul.
Even if it gets through the Senate, there are still hurdles awaiting the legislation in the House. The top Democrats on the Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means panels came out in opposition of the bill earlier this month, as did the New Democrat Coalition.
Rep. Gregory Meeks said in a statement the Senate’s version “misses the moment,” but that he remained “open to negotiating a good faith compromise.” Meeks and Rep. Richard Neal both flagged opposition to the measure’s provisions expanding Trump’s tariff authority.
Still, Tuesday’s vote — capping a day of memorial ceremonies to honor Graham and his alliance with Ukraine amid its war with Russia — might prove pivotal in spurring momentum for the measure.
“I’m very thankful, this bill is so important,” Zelenskyy, who witnessed the vote from the Senate gallery, told reporters Tuesday night. “It’s not only about money and how Russia finances this war. It’s also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people.”
Read also: Zelenskyy finally gets Washington reading from the same playbook
What else we’re watching:
— CORNYN TO MEET WITH BLANCHE: Sen. John Cornyn, a deciding vote on whether Todd Blanche gets confirmed as attorney general, is meeting with Blanche on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to hammer out his concerns. Cornyn, in exchange for his support, is pushing for ironclad modifications to the IRS settlement that created a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and immunized Trump from tax audits. “We need it in writing,” Cornyn said Tuesday night, adding he’d meet with Blanche at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
— VOUGHT MEETS SENATE GOP AS BUDGET PLAN EXPANDS: White House budget director Russ Vought and Trump’s top legislative aide, James Braid are scheduled to speak to Senate Republicans during a weekly lunch Wednesday as the administration eyes dramatically expanding the GOP’s third party-line bill. Thune said Tuesday the White House wants to broaden the budget framework, which comes after the House adopted a slimmer resolution before leaving for recess — putting an already uncertain timeline for the measure further in doubt.
Riley Rogerson and Chris Marquette contributed to this report
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