WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are introducing the No Oil Profits for Enemies (NOPE) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and restore congressional oversight of U.S. sanctions on Russia. This bill aims to prevent Russia from profiting off ongoing hostilities with Iran. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) cosponsored the bill.

“By easing sanctions on Russia, Donald Trump is bankrolling Putin’s war in Ukraine and helping Iran target American troops in the Middle East. This is a betrayal of our servicemembers, our allies, democracy, and everything we have stood for as a country,” said Senator Gallego. “By restoring and strengthening congressional oversight on Russian sanctions, this bill would make sure the U.S. stands on the side of democracy, stops recklessly bankrolling our adversaries, and keep the pressure on Russia to end its illegal war.”

“Putin’s unprovoked, violent invasion of Ukraine is the largest land war in Europe since World War II. As the United States works to promote peace and end the bloodshed, it’s important that any effort to ease sanctions on Putin and his cronies be reviewed by Congress to ensure accountability,” said Senator Grassley.  

“Lifting sanctions on Russia should require approval by Congress, so elected representatives can stop a misguided President from fueling Putin’s savage war machine. Removing these oil sanctions now is nonsensical and unacceptable, providing valuable relief to Russia when we should be ratcheting up pressure on its ailing economy. The NOPE Act assures Congressional scrutiny before the President squanders our valuable economic leverage,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“Putin is an indicted war criminal, and he should be held accountable for his deliberate bloodshed in Ukraine. Easing sanctions on Russia would only prolong its unprovoked, illegal assault. Congress must help ensure that Putin feels the consequences of his actions,” said Senator Wicker.

“Russia’s prolonged war against Ukraine and decision to provide military assistance to Iran, including intelligence about the locations of U.S. forces, should be met with a strong U.S. response—not the easing of sanctions. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen congressional oversight of any decisions by the Administration to lift or waive sanctions on Russia,” said Senator Kaine.

CAATSA, enacted during the first Trump Administration in 2017 on a bipartisan basis, requires the President to submit a report to Congress before taking any action that significantly alters foreign policy toward Russia. That submission triggers a 30-day congressional review period, during which the Administration may not implement the change absent a joint resolution of approval.

However, CAATSA’s review framework only covers sanctions that were in place at the time of enactment. The vast majority of Russia sanctions — those imposed in response to the full-scale 2022 invasion — are not currently covered.

The NOPE Act would close this gap by:

  • Bringing all sanctions issued under Executive Orders addressing the national emergency continued by the President on April 10, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 15523) within CAATSA’s Section 216 congressional review framework. Before any such sanction can be lifted, waived, or modified, the Administration must notify Congress and allow a 30-day review window.
  • Treating any U.S. licensing action affecting Russian energy as a “licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy” under CAATSA § 216(a)(2)(A), thereby subjecting it to the same congressional review requirement.  

“Razom for Ukraine strongly supports Senator Gallego’s legislation to strengthen CAATSA and restore robust congressional oversight of U.S. sanctions on the Kremlin. By ensuring that all post‑invasion sanctions and energy licenses face rigorous review until Russia ends its war and pays for the destruction it has caused, this bill sends an unmistakable message: the United States will not quietly ease pressure on Putin while Ukraine is still under attack. This approach keeps U.S. policy aligned with our values and with Ukraine’s survival,” said Oksana Barchuk, Associate Director of Government Affairs at Razom for Ukraine.

“The atrocities Russia is committing against the faithful in the occupied territories are a stark reminder that Ukraine is defending not territories, but the people and communities that live there – and the fundamental values and rights they share with us, Americans: the right to practice religion free of persecution, the freedom of speech, the right to pursue happiness. Those very values are what Russia really seeks to stomp out with its full-scale invasion, as it already has in its own country and in the parts of Ukraine occupied in 2014. The U.S. has the means and the moral imperative to help Ukraine defend these values – and certainly, to stop helping fill up the war coffers of a hostile state attempting to snuff them out. The Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act is a bill that’s not only morally and practically sound, but one that honors the spirit on which the United States was built,” said Marianna Tretiak, Chair of the Board of Directors at American Coalition for Ukraine.

Read a one-pager of the bill HERE.

Read the full bill text HERE.