Congress passes sweeping US sanctions bill targeting Russia

JUST IN: US Congress passes a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia, the first legislation supporting Ukraine to clear Congress in more than two years, sending it to Trump's desk.

262 to 159. Congress just passed its first Ukraine bill in more than two years.

The House sent a sweeping Russia sanctions package to Trump's desk on Wednesday, and this is the chamber that finally got it done. The bill lets the president slap tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries buying Russian energy, think China and India, and it hits Russian officials, banks and that shadow fleet of tankers keeping Moscow's oil moving.

It's named after Lindsey Graham, who championed it for over a year and died suddenly in July before seeing it pass. Zelenskyy personally lobbied senators for it. Fifty eight Democrats broke with their own leadership to vote yes.

And here's what caught my ear. Hakeem Jeffries opposed it, and not because it's too tough. He says the loopholes are so wide the president never actually has to impose anything. So Congress handed Trump every tool in the toolbox. Nothing in the bill makes him pick one up.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.