Senate moves forward with Lindsey Graham's Russia sanctions bill amid funeral services

Senators are preparing to advance a bipartisan sanctions bill aimed at Russia while funeral ceremonies honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham, who died at 71, will be commemorated in two services in Washington on Tuesday — a public ceremony in the Capitol rotunda and a private service at the National Cathedral — before additional services in his home state of South Carolina.

World leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to attend the Washington events. The Senate is also set to consider Graham’s signature legislation, which imposes extensive sanctions on Russian officials, entities and imports, and adds penalties on countries purchasing Russian energy.

"To quote Senator Graham, ‘It’s a big effing deal. We all did well. We all did good,’" Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said, recalling Graham’s remarks shortly before his death.

Blumenthal said the measure, recently renamed to honor Graham at the request of his sister, newly appointed Senator Darline Graham, represents a significant part of the late lawmaker’s legacy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated the bill, which now also includes sanctions on Iran and a certification mechanism for presidential waiver authority, will face a procedural vote on Tuesday night.

"I hope the motion to get on it will be a very big bipartisan vote," Thune said, adding that a positive outcome could pave the way for final passage.

Republican Representative William Timmons, a longtime friend of Graham, described the senator as singularly focused on public service throughout his career in the military and Congress.