House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said Nov. 20 that the Biden administration should sanction the Myanma Economic Bank, which serves the country’s oppressive military junta. He cited a news report indicating that dozens of Myanmar civil society groups have urged the State and Treasury departments to sanction the bank. Sanctioning the bank would be a "pivotal next step to implementing" his Burma Unified Through Rigorous Military Accountability Act, or BURMA Act, which was signed into law in December 2022, he said.
Several Republican lawmakers called for sanctioning International Criminal Court (ICC) officials after the ICC issued arrest warrants Nov. 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the war in Gaza.
The Senate late Nov. 20 defeated three joint resolutions of disapproval that would have blocked the transfer of certain offensive weapons to Israel (see 2411200041).
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., said Nov. 20 that he opposes legislation to block the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel.
President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of billionaire businessman Howard Lutnick to be Commerce secretary (see 2411190036) drew mixed reaction on Capitol Hill this week.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Nov. 20 that she’s trying to get two sanctions bills included in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress aims to pass before it adjourns for the year in December.
A mostly Republican group of 44 House members urged the Treasury Department this month to push back implementation of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s new beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who is slated to become Senate majority leader when Republicans take control of the chamber in January, said Nov. 17 that the Senate should pass legislation to sanction International Criminal Court officials if the ICC doesn't stop pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over the war in Gaza.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., announced Nov. 18 that he will vote for legislation to block the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel.
Legislation offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to block the sale of certain offensive U.S. weapons to Israel will be considered on the Senate floor the week of Nov. 18, the lawmaker said Nov. 13.