Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
Latest action (Sep 18, 2026) — No: 119-111.
This bill is not what it was
It passed the House as SEED Act. The Senate then struck its text and put different legislation in its place on Aug 7, 2026. The text that came back is Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The bill number did not change, so the committee report, the sponsor and the record of who backed it all still refer to the original.
Replacing a bill's text this way is legal and common enough to have a name — a legislative vehicle. We flag it because nothing in the official record does.
What it does
Congressional Research Service, Aug 7, 2026This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia, extends an Iran-related sanctions law, and expands a tax deduction for teacher expenses to include early childhood educators.
For example, under the bill, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons (individuals and entities) such as the Russian president and certain Russian military commanders. The President must also increase the rate of duty up to 100% ad valorem (i.e., relative to the value) on all goods imported into the United States from a country that was among the five largest importers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas if such country knowingly makes new purchases of such products after enactment of the bill.
The bill prohibits (1) the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product; (2) U.S. persons from making new investments in Russia or purchasing Russian sovereign debt; and (3) trading the securities of Russian government-owned, -controlled, or -affiliated entities on U.S. national securities exchanges.
The bill extends through 2031 the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which requires the President, with some exceptions, to impose sanctions on certain persons engaged in specified transactions related to Iran's energy sector or Iran's efforts to acquire or develop certain weapons.
The bill expands eligibility for federal tax deductions of certain educator expenses to early childhood educators providing educational or childcare services to those under age 6.
Face Value
as passed the SenateHow much of this bill its name accounts for.
- Every bill starts at100
- Nothing counted against it: one area of law, and short enough that length doesn't register.
Face Value measures reach, not honesty. A big bill can be accurately named, and a low score is not an accusation — it means the contents reach further than any short title could describe. Count it yourself ↗ How this is worked out
What Congress did
4 recordedof the Billdecisive vote
Senate · Aug 7, 2026
Whether the bill passes the Senate. This is the vote most people mean.
On in the Senate Amendmentsdecisive vote
House · Sep 16, 2026
Whether the House accepts the changes the other chamber made. This is often the vote that finally settles a bill.
On on the
Senate · Jul 28, 2026
Whether to end debate on whether to start debating it. Needs 60 senators; failing here kills the bill without a vote on the bill.
On the
Senate · Jul 29, 2026
Whether to start debating it at all. Not a vote on the bill itself.
Discussion
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