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Richard Blumenthal Urges House to Approve Russia Sanctions Bill to Weaken Vladimir Putin's War Machine

Richard Blumenthal urged the House of Representatives to approve a Senate-passed sanctions bill aimed at weakening the economic position of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bill, titled The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

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Richard Blumenthal noted that the bill was the result of bipartisan negotiations and passed the Senate with a margin of 86 to 11. The measure provides the president with authority to impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs and financial institutions while cracking down on the shadow fleet. The bill's prospects in the House remain uncertain, as some Democrats have expressed concerns regarding the increased authority granted to the president. Richard Blumenthal highlighted the economic crisis facing Russia, noting a looming deficit of $125 billion and an interest rate of 14% on the national debt. He also shared that during a recent visit to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested that the Russian sanctions bill be a top priority for the U.S. Congress.

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