House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., introduced a bill March 15 that would impose sanctions on foreign persons who contribute to the construction of a tunnel from Russia to Crimea, which Russia invaded in 2014.
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, announced March 15 that he has introduced a bill that would require the Pentagon to improve its tracking of certain weapons sent to Ukraine.
If the Senate Commerce Committee takes up a House-passed bill that would ban TikTok if China’s ByteDance does not divest itself of the popular social media application, committee members probably will propose “multiple amendments” to improve the legislation, the panel’s top Republican said last week.
Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp. indicated in a statement March 15 that it has no plans to cancel its proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp. despite President Joe Biden’s newly announced opposition to the $14.9 billion deal (see 2403140049).
Four House subcommittee chairmen have asked the Biden administration to describe how Iran has spent money that was made available to the country through a recent U.S. sanctions waiver.
President Joe Biden announced March 14 that he plans to oppose the proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp by Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., saying it is "vital" to keep the 123-year-old American steelmaker in U.S. hands.
Twenty-two Republican senators -- including the top Republicans on the Senate Finance and Agriculture committees and one of the front-runners to replace Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- argue that the "current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. John James, R-Mich., introduced a bill to expedite congressional reviews of arms sales to Middle Eastern and North African allies and partners that work to normalize relations with Israel and counter Iran and its proxies, the lawmakers announced March 13. The proposed Enhance Cooperation Against Terrorism Act would also require the State Department to develop recommendations to expedite the delivery of defense articles and services to the region.
The House of Representatives on March 13 voted 352-65 to pass a bill that would require China’s ByteDance to divest popular social media application TikTok (see 2403050063).
Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, introduced a bill March 11 that would impose financial sanctions on Chinese companies, government entities and individuals who engage in a “pattern of significant theft” of U.S. intellectual property. Curtis’ proposed ‘‘Combatting China’s Pilfering of Intellectual Property Act,’’ or ‘‘CCP IP Act,’’ was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.