U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is backing a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, calling for Congress to complete one of his final major legislative efforts.

Britt (R-Montgomery) joined senators from both parties Tuesday to promote the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, which seeks to increase economic pressure on Moscow and countries that continue buying Russian oil and natural gas.

The proposal would authorize tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy and impose a wider slate of sanctions aimed at cutting revenue flowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

“Putin’s war against Ukraine has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and it must end,” Britt said in a statement supporting the bill.

Britt said Graham considered the legislation one of the most important efforts of his Senate career.

“Lindsey believed that getting this legislation passed and signed into law would be the most consequential thing he achieved in his career,” she said.

Graham spent more than a year working with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and other lawmakers to build support for stronger sanctions on Russia and countries helping finance its invasion of Ukraine.

Days before his death, Graham, Blumenthal, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced that they had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to move an updated version of the legislation forward.

Britt said Graham pushed the proposal until the final days of his life.

“He worked on this tirelessly, relentlessly,” Britt said during Tuesday’s press conference. “He wanted this to happen. He knew it was the right thing to do, and he knew it was what we needed to do.”

“He said this would be the most consequential piece of legislation that he ever had an opportunity to get behind and get to the president’s desk.”

The bill targets Russia’s dependence on energy sales to finance its military operations by increasing the cost for countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and gas.

The updated measure also gives the president authority to waive certain sanctions or restrictions when the White House certifies that doing so is in the national interest.

Supporters argue the legislation would give President Donald Trump a powerful economic tool to push Russia toward ending its invasion while allowing the administration flexibility in applying the sanctions.

The bipartisan group announced Friday that the White House had agreed to move forward with the updated legislation.

“As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” the senators said in a joint statement.

Britt said Tuesday’s gathering also served as a tribute to Graham and the staff who helped negotiate the final proposal.

“Today, as we stand on this stage, we remember him for what he did to get us here,” Britt said. “We thank all of his team for all you did.”

The legislation will need to pass both chambers before reaching Trump’s desk.

Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].