WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. During his remarks, Senator Wicker honored Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who worked tirelessly to advance freedom and weaken dictators. Senator Wicker urged his colleagues to continue that work by voting to pass this legislation.
“The Lindsey Graham sanctions bill will advance the cause of freedom, and it will combat Vladimir Putin’s war machine,” said Senator Wicker “It will go after Vladimir Putin, his inner circle, and the shadow fleet they use to evade sanctions.”
Read the full speech below, as delivered:
A number of us gathered today, as we’ve already heard, at the National Cathedral for Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral, and in a few moments we will vote to advance a bill that Lindsey Graham made possible.
During the past few days, we have heard a number of stories about Lindsey Graham’s many idiosyncrasies. His endless energy, he’s been called the “energizer bunny,” his quotable jokes, his non-quotable quips, his one-of-a-kind personality. We also remember his steadfast love for freedom and his intolerance for tyrants.
The bill that we will vote on in a few moments reflects those aspects of his personality. I have suggested that it is his greatest political achievement.
It took a senator like Lindsey Graham to bring this bill so far—in this environment, with these stakes. He brought together so many parties. It seems he did this almost through the sheer force of will. I have seen that drive for 32 years since we came to Washington together as freshmen in 1994.
Again I say, this could turn out to be Lindsey Graham’s greatest policy achievement.
The Lindsey Graham sanctions bill will advance the cause of freedom, and it will combat Vladimir Putin’s war machine. It will go after Vladimir Putin, his inner circle, and the shadow fleet they use to evade sanctions. It will hold accountable those who purchase the most Russian oil and gas. It also will take aim at China’s investments in Russian weapons production, and it will maintain sanctions pressure on Iran.
These policies will save human lives. They will pave the way for even more impressive battlefield achievements from Ukraine. The Ukrainians have been resourceful from day one. For four years, the freedom fighters have managed to stand against a country four times the size of theirs.
And today, Ukraine is using long-range strikes to take the war to Russia. I hope to meet with President Zelensky, of Ukraine, soon. He regularly refers to these strikes as long-range sanctions. Let’s give Ukraine even more sanctions, even more tools to fight back against the dictator Putin.
This bill will be a moral achievement, Mr. President. It is a clear statement about the aggressor in Russia and the nation he is attacking.
Ukraine targets facilities in Russia used to wage war. On the other hand, Vladimir Putin targets apartments, neighborhoods, churches, and corner stores.
As Ukraine defends its homeland, Vladimir Putin callously sends the sons of Russia into bloodshed.
He is not persuaded by appeals to human rights. I have made no secret of my complete disgust for the dictator Vladimir Putin and for his many war crimes against the Ukrainian people throughout this unprovoked conflict.
If we have learned anything about the Russian despot Vladamir Putin over the course of this war, it’s that the slaughter of civilians and even his own Russian troops give him no pause. His soulmates are the dead dictators of the previous century, Mr. President.
Pol Pot, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin. Vladimir Putin’s name deserves to be stated among those desperate war criminals. He disregards human life, but he does prize the strength of his war machine. For this, Putin relies on his energy sales – and that’s what we’re getting to with this bill.
This legislation will help curtail those energy sales. It will put maximum economic pressure on Vladimir Putin—this is the one thing, apparently the only thing, he understands.
President Trump and President Zelensky have long extended the hand of peace. Time and again, Putin has answered with more violence, more destruction, and more innocent Ukrainian and Russian lives snuffed out.
Lindsey Graham understood Putin’s calculation, and he wrote a bill to hit Putin where it hurts. We’ll have a chance to act on that bill today. I expect an overwhelming majority vote in favor.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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