One of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s final legislative priorities could still become law, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who said passing a bipartisan Russia sanctions package would both strengthen U.S. policy toward Ukraine and serve as a lasting tribute to Graham’s decades of work on national security.

Speaking earlier this month, Thune said he remains optimistic that the Senate will approve the sweeping sanctions bill Graham championed before his death, calling its passage a fitting way to honor the late South Carolina senator’s legacy.

Graham died Saturday at the age of 71. According to a statement from his office, the preliminary cause of death was an acute aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill the Senate seat until voters elect a successor in November.

In the months leading up to his death, Graham had made tougher economic sanctions on Russia one of his top priorities in response to its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Just one day before he died, he met in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm his support for continued U.S. assistance and increased pressure on Moscow.

Following Graham’s death, Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” and praised the senator as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in Washington.

During an appearance on CNN, Thune told Dana Bash that Graham’s sanctions proposal remains a priority for Senate leadership. Asked whether the bill would still receive a vote, Thune replied that he was hopeful.

“I certainly hope that we can get there to do that,” Thune said.

He noted that the White House had worked closely with Graham on the legislation and said Democrats had also expressed support, adding that the measure could ultimately receive between 80 and 90 votes if lawmakers reach agreement on the final language.

“Lindsey had been working that issue for a long time,” Thune said. “It’s one of those things he was very passionate about. He wants to see a free and independent Ukraine, as all of us do.”

Thune described economic sanctions as one of the most significant foreign policy tools available to the United States and said Graham believed they were critical to advancing American strategic objectives.

“He was a big believer that economic sanctions are a huge tool for the president and his administration, for us to achieve that outcome,” Thune said.

According to Thune, the sanctions package had become Graham’s foremost legislative priority during his final days.

“This sanctions bill was probably, in his last days, the thing that he cared the most about, in terms of an accomplishment,” Thune said. “So I’m hopeful we can get that done. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time.”

Thune concluded that passage of the legislation would represent a meaningful part of Graham’s legacy.

The measure, as it’s currently written, has 60 co-sponsors. It is expected to come up for a vote next week.

“It would certainly be an incredible legacy for him if, in fact, we could find a path forward,” he said. “It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that. But I’m hopeful we can make that happen.”

The legislation, which attracted broad bipartisan support, imposes tougher economic sanctions on Russia in response to its ongoing war against Ukraine and expanded the president’s authority to target Russian financial institutions, energy exports, and other sectors of the Russian economy.

Thune had previously described passage of the bill as a fitting tribute to Graham’s legacy, noting that the South Carolina Republican had made the legislation his top priority in his final days.

Graham had argued that stronger economic pressure was essential to weakening Russia’s ability to finance its war and to reinforcing U.S. support for Ukraine.

Lawmakers from both parties cited Graham’s decades-long commitment to national security and foreign policy as they rallied behind the measure.

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