{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=EAB84A63-C9AC-4F14-97E3-BE0582B221BA", "Graham, Blumenthal Introduce Resolution Calling on Trump Administration to Seize Shadow Fleet Vessels That Transport Sanctioned Russian Oil", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Lindsey Graham", "G000359", "www.lgraham.senate.gov", "graham", "https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) introduced a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to seize ships carrying sanctioned Russian oil. These ships, known as \u201cshadow fleet\u201d vessels, are skirting sanctions and contributing to the illicit financing of the war in Ukraine.\n\nAs the world\u2019s third-largest oil producer, Russia\u2019s cheap oil exports have generated massive amounts of revenue that have been used to fund Vladimir Putin\u2019s aggression against Ukraine. Over the past several months, this shadow fleet has been responsible for transporting between 60 and 80 percent of Russia\u2019s illegal exports.\n\n\u201cWithout a shadow fleet of oil tankers willing to illegally transport cheap sanctioned Russian oil, Putin\u2019s war machine would grind to a halt. Seize the ships. Help stop the war,\u201d said Graham.\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan resolution is an urgent call for action\u2014the Trump Administration must take steps to seize tankers in Russia\u2019s shadow fleet to stop the sales and shipments of oil that fuel Putin\u2019s war machine,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cPutin\u2019s slaughter in Ukraine could be stymied by stopping outlaw vessels from carrying cheap Russian oil to China, India, and others who prop up Putin\u2019s economy. The Administration must act without delay and lead coordinated action to seize these illicit tankers and end Putin\u2019s murderous assault.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Fleet Vessel Resolution:\n\nCondemns the use of shadow fleet vessels to transport sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation and views the transport of such oil as conduct that undermines United States national security interests and sanctions regimes\n\nUrges the Trump Administration to seize shadow fleet vessels transporting sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation\n\nRecognizes that seizing shadow fleet vessels engaged in such transport is a lawful and appropriate measure to take against the Russian Federation\u2019s evasion of sanctions and illicit financing of its war in Ukraine\n\nCalls on allies and partners to also seize shadow fleet vessels transporting sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation\n\nRead the full text of the resolution HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=EAB84A63-C9AC-4F14-97E3-BE0582B221BA"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2444991152733564, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}