The Senate voted 54-45 late March 13 to confirm Washington trade lawyer Jeffrey Kessler to be undersecretary of commerce for industry and security. The vote came a week after the Senate Banking Committee approved Kessler’s nomination along party lines (see 2503060043). Kessler has said he would conduct a host of reviews at the Bureau of Industry and Security, including whether the agency needs more statutory authorities to do its job (see 2503060043).
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill March 13 to restrict U.S. outbound investment in China, the latest of several attempts to pass legislation on a topic many lawmakers consider critical to national security.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., announced March 12 that she won't seek reelection to a fourth Senate term in 2026. “It’s just time,” said Shaheen, 78. Her recent efforts have included advocating for sanctions in response to the Republic of Georgia’s crackdown on political dissent (see 2412020009). She also has proposed legislation that could lead to sanctions on Chinese entities that finance the fentanyl trade (see 2503100016).
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-6 on March 12 to approve Christopher Landau to be deputy secretary of state, sending the nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. At a March 4 hearing, the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico told the committee that the State Department should play a greater role in opening new markets for U.S. exports and attracting foreign investment to the U.S. (see 2503040038).
Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., reintroduced a bill March 10 that would sanction foreign persons engaged in piracy. The Sanction Sea Pirates Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved the bill in the last Congress following a surge in Somali pirate attacks (see 2407080017).
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., reintroduced a bill March 11 to create a federal task force to coordinate sanctions enforcement and other efforts against fentanyl traffickers.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., reintroduced a bill on March 11 to sanction those who are complicit in or materially support attacks on international shipping by the Yemen-based Houthis.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., reintroduced a bill March 11 to prohibit most private-sector retirement plans from investing in companies based in “foreign adversary” countries, including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
The U.S. shouldn't ease sanctions on Russia if Moscow accepts a proposed 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, two members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., announced March 11 that they have reintroduced a bill that would prohibit U.S. arms sales to the United Arab Emirates until the UAE ends its material support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia group. The lawmakers have argued that the UAE’s support is perpetuating Sudan’s civil war, which pits the RSF against the Sudanese Armed Forces. The bill announcement came a few days after House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said he will try to block any major U.S. arms sales to the UAE due to its support for the RSF.