Katie Britt

Republican U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen are pushing forward with a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that has gained momentum in Congress.

In comments Sunday, both lawmakers framed the effort as a fitting legacy to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and as a crucial step for American security after Iranian airstrikes killed two U.S. servicemembers Friday.

“We know the very same people that are funding Russia and funding Putin’s war of aggression are the very same people funding Iran. And front and center in that is China,” Britt said during a recent Fox News Sunday appearance with Shaheen.

The legislation, which now has 62 bipartisan sponsors, aims to target countries purchasing Russian oil and gas that fund Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. It includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders and Russian financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would give the executive branch new economic tools to pressure Russia.

Originally championed by Graham, the project was stalled for a long time as President Donald Trump tried to create a peace deal in Ukraine.

Shaheen suggested that Iran, China and Russia are coordinating against American interests.

“That’s exactly why we need to put more pressure on Vladimir Putin and Russia on the war in Ukraine because we need to shut him down there and shut him down with any help he’s providing to Iran in the Middle East,” she said.

Shaheen, who was traveling with Graham in Turkey for a NATO summit shortly before his death, described his enthusiasm for the legislation.

“He was very enthusiastic about getting White House support for this legislation,” she said, adding that Graham understood the measure as a way to capitalize on Russia’s current vulnerabilities.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called Monday on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the sanctions bill to the floor immediately “in honor of Lindsey,” saying “it will pass overwhelmingly and help our allies in Ukraine,” according to The Associated Press.

Thune said he was “hopeful we can make that happen.”

“It would certainly be an incredible legacy for him if, in fact, we can find a path forward. It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that,” Thune said on CNN.

The House passed a much different bill last month that included more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid for Ukraine as well as making another $8 billion available for Ukraine’s defense through loans.