Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., introduced a bill March 24 that would sanction Pakistan Army Chief of Staff Gen. Asim Munir under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for allegedly undermining democracy, such as by imprisoning political opponents. The Pakistan Democracy Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.
A bipartisan group of six House members led by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., reintroduced a bill on March 25 that would sanction the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees, which participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, plans to reintroduce a bill aimed at ensuring that courts cannot vacate previously authorized permits for liquefied natural gas export projects, a Senate aide said March 24.
The Senate voted 60-31 late March 24 to confirm former U.S. ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau as deputy secretary of state. Fifty Republicans, nine Democrats and one independent backed his nomination, while 31 Democrats were opposed. Nine senators didn’t vote. A State Department website indicates Landau was sworn in for his new role March 25. Landau testified at a hearing on his nomination in early March that the Trump administration plans to build international support for using sanctions to counter Iran’s nuclear weapons program (see 2503040038).
The Treasury and State departments are reviewing a recently introduced bill to restrict outbound investment in China, a key lawmaker said March 25.
Three Democratic senators urged the Trump administration March 24 to work with Congress if it needs more time to find a resolution that complies with a U.S. law requiring China’s ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban on the popular social media application.
Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the Trump administration March 20 to consider further easing sanctions on Syria to help the war-torn country rebuild following last year’s fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Three House members announced March 21 that they have introduced a companion bill to Senate legislation that would restrict U.S. outbound investment in China.
Sponsors of a recently reintroduced House bill that could lead to sanctions on certain foreign telecommunications firms are looking into several potential avenues for getting the legislation passed, a congressional aide said March 21.
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said March 19 that a deal that allows ByteDance to retain control of TikTok would violate a U.S. law requiring the Chinese company to sell the popular social media application.