Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes Against New Trump Tariff Powers

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted against the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, Senate Amendment to H.R. 5334, because, despite its name, it fails to mandate tough sanctions on and hands the President sweeping new tariff authorities. “Despite its name, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 fails to sanction Russia, dramatically expands presidential tariff authorities, and represents a threat to Ukraine, to our separation of powers, and to people across the country—which is why I voted against it. “For years, the Ukrainian people have demonstrated remarkable courage and perseverance in their fight for democracy and the preservation of their sovereignty.  I support Ukraine and stand with its people.  I also support tough sanctions that hold Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the corporations and people funding Russia’s war accountable, like the ones proposed by this bill.  But this bill does not actually impose these sanctions.  It leaves these sanctions entirely up to President Trump’s discretion, making them optional without congressional oversight or court review.  Since taking office, President Trump has imposed almost no new sanctions on Russia.  The bill does not require President Trump to impose any additional sanctions on Russia, and he has given no reason to support the idea that he will.  In fact, his actions have demonstrated the opposite. “For the past 19 months, President Trump has already had the power to impose every sanction authorized by this bill on Russia but has chosen not to.  These sanctions are sorely needed to support our Ukrainian allies—and Democrats proposed several amendments to improve this legislation, including to remove the bill’s new tariff authority, authorize military support for Ukraine, and tighten the language so President Trump would have to impose some of these sanctions—but Republicans failed to allow any of these amendments to be incorporated into the bill. “Instead, this legislation grants the Trump administration new tariff authority to impose a 100 percent tariff on any country of its choosing—for as long as it wants, with virtually no guardrails and without congressional oversight.  Since March 2025, Americans have paid more than $350 billion in tariffs the President has imposed solely at his discretion—a staggering cost that will only grow as a result of this bill.  President Trump has already imposed tariffs on nearly every country in the world except for Russia.  The Supreme Court ruled against President Trump’s tariffs, and Congress should not surrender its tariff authority to the executive branch. “Make no mistake: Today’s vote is not simply about Russian sanctions—it’s about giving President Trump unnecessary tariff authority and unconstitutional power at the expense of American workers and families who will bear the cost.  Congress must find a way to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s war of aggression and hold Russia accountable while protecting the American people from a new tariff authority that President Trump is bound to misuse.”