Senate advances Russia sanctions bill following death of Lindsey Graham

On the day of his funeral, the U.S. Senate voted 86-12 to advance a Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The bill, a tribute to the hawkish Republican's legacy, targets Russia's energy revenue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Washington for the services, attended the vote to show support. Graham, 71, died from an aortic dissection shortly after a trip to Kyiv.

Graham's aortic dissection death

• ▪Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died at age 71 on July 11, 2026, from an aortic dissection
• ▪Lindsey Graham died shortly after returning to Washington from a trip to Kyiv, where he had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Funeral service details

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the memorial services in Washington
• ▪President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a eulogy at a funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral
• ▪Funeral ceremonies for Lindsey Graham began in Washington on July 28, 2026, with a service in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Graham's political relationships

• ▪In a pre-funeral interview, President Trump said his relationship with Graham became a "great friendship" and that Graham was "like a member of the family."
• ▪Lindsey Graham was a foreign policy hawk, a fierce defender of Ukraine, and a prominent supporter of Israel
• ▪Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to serve the remainder of his Senate term and is running for a full term
• ▪The legislation, named for Lindsey Graham, also extends sanctions authority aimed at Iran's energy and weapons sectors at President Trump's request
• ▪Vice President JD Vance credited Graham with saving the 2018 Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh
• ▪Once a critic who called Donald Trump a "race-baiting bigot," Graham later became one of the president's most stalwart allies
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the Senate vote in person and thanked lawmakers for advancing the bill
• ▪The bill allows the U.S. President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas
• ▪On the day of Graham's funeral, July 28, 2026, the U.S. Senate voted 86-12 to advance a Russia sanctions bill he championed

Joint Base Charleston renaming

• ▪The U.S. Air Force is taking steps to rename Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina in honor of Lindsey Graham
• ▪Lindsey Graham served in the Air Force as a lawyer and retired from the Air Force Reserves as a colonel in 2015

South Carolina memorial services

• ▪A public service was planned at First Baptist Church of Columbia, followed by a private family burial in Pickens county
• ▪Memorial services in South Carolina were scheduled for the day after the Washington events, including an F-16 flyover in Columbia