Mike Pence Calls on Congress to Rename Russia Sanctions Bill After Lindsey Graham

Former Vice President Mike Pence urged Congress to rename its Russia sanctions legislation after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. " Pence said Graham viewed Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a defining geopolitical challenge and saw economic sanctions as essential to pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations.

He added that Graham regarded Ukraine as "a frontier of freedom" and consistently pressed both Republican and Democratic administrations to support U.S. allies. Pence also credited Graham with encouraging NATO allies to raise defense spending during the first Trump administration and with remaining one of Israel's strongest advocates in Congress.

The two men first met during the Republican Revolution of the 1990s and later served together in Congress and the Trump administration. Pence described their last meeting at Reagan National Airport. After Graham asked about Pence's son, a Marine Corps fighter pilot, and son-in-law, a Navy fighter pilot, the conversation turned to sanctions.

Graham told Pence to "stay on this" and said, "This is the way we're gonna get this done. " The two parted with a handshake and a hug. Pence said he learned of Graham's death Sunday morning and called the loss deeply saddening.

He said he plans to continue advocating for the sanctions measure.