Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement following the House vote on the Lindsay O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act:

"I am committed to stopping Russia’s brutality against Ukraine. So, from the beginning, I have said that I would have supported a version of this bill that forced Donald Trump to actually place more sanctions on Russia and prevented him from using fresh tariff authorities to go after our partners and allies. It is regrettable that House Republicans and the Senate refused to engage and improve the bill, place more guardrails on its tariff authorities, or mandate sanctions in the bill to be implemented. What passed the House today will give President Trump sweeping new tariff authorities he can abuse, as he has done before, to bring yet more economic harm on the American people.

"President Trump already has all the authorities to impose the Russia sanctions in this bill, but he has refused to do so—and has even lifted existing Russia sanctions as recently as this morning. Given his actions, there is no reason to believe this bill will do anything to help Ukraine, and every reason to believe it will result in more Trump trade wars. I want nothing more than to be proven wrong and see President Trump implement this bill as its proponents intend. But, in the likely event he doesn't, I will do everything in my power to make sure Congress holds him to account, the American people do not get further crushed by his inflationary tariffs, and that Ukraine receives real support."