Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., reintroduced a bill March 5 that would authorize sanctions on the Yemen-based Houthis for human rights abuses, including unlawful killing, torture, prolonged and arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, hostage-taking of U.S. nationals abroad, use of child soldiers and gender-based discrimination.

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, reintroduced a bill March 5 to prevent a U.S. president from blocking crude oil exports without an economic security or national security reason. The Continuing Robust and Unhibited Drilling and Exporting (CRUDE) Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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.

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 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.

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.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, reintroduced a bill March 3 to sanction foreign persons who engage in or facilitate forced organ harvesting in China. The legislation was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is a companion to a bill that Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., reintroduced in late February (see 2502250056).

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said March 4 that he plans to introduce legislation to address the Trump administration’s recent move to repeal a Biden administration policy linking arms transfers to human rights.