Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, reintroduced a bill March 6 that would eliminate a requirement that the Energy Department authorize liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, leaving the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole authority for the approval process.
The House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved several bills March 5 dealing with foreign investment and sanctions.
The U.S. needs stronger restrictions on the types of advanced technology research that can be shared with academic institutions and other entities from China, lawmakers and witnesses said during a congressional hearing last week, including by possibly extending export controls to cover fundamental research. Others said the U.S. should be careful about cutting off too much collaboration with China, which would disregard the strides universities have recently made to better protect sensitive research.
Deputy Treasury Secretary nominee Michael Faulkender said March 6 he wants to study whether changes should be made to the Biden administration’s October 2024 rule restricting outbound investment in China (see 2410280043).
The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines March 6 to approve Washington trade lawyer Jeffrey Kessler to be undersecretary of commerce for industry and security, sending his nomination to the full Senate for its consideration.
The U.S. should establish “some kind of new unit in our government” to focus on competing with China, a researcher told the House Homeland Security Committee March 5.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., introduced a bill March 3 to repeal the sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. The existing law, which calls for sanctioning Iran’s weapons programs and support for terrorism, is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2026. The bill, entitled the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, was referred to the House Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform committees.
Nearly 90 Republican lawmakers urged the Commerce Department March 5 to rescind a Biden administration interim final rule (IFR) restricting firearms exports, saying the controls hurt American businesses.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, said March 4 he’s concerned that the recent departure of key personnel at the Bureau of Industry and Security could impede the agency’s ability to prevent China from obtaining sensitive U.S. technology.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., reintroduced a bill March 3 aimed at boosting U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.