The U.S. should gradually ease sanctions on Syria to help the war-torn country rebuild, but the lifting of many of those restrictions should be linked to whether Syria’s new leaders live up to their promise to break from their extremist past, two researchers told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Feb. 13.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., introduced a bill on Feb. 11 to give companies more time to comply with the ownership reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The Protect Small Businesses From Excessive Paperwork Act, which has 10 co-sponsors, would extend the filing deadline in the CTA-mandated beneficial ownership information (BOI) rule by a year, to Jan. 1, 2026. The House unanimously passed the legislation Feb. 10 (see 2502110032).
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced a bill Feb. 7 that would authorize the president to sanction Middle Eastern leaders, except those in Israel, who decline to offer humanitarian entry to Palestinians from Gaza. The Make Gaza Great Again Act is intended to encourage cooperation with President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Gaza’s population outside the war-torn territory. The legislation was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., reintroduced a bill Feb. 7 that would control exports of certain “national interest technology or intellectual property” to China.
The House of Representatives voted 408-0 late Feb. 10 to pass a bill that would give companies more time to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires them to submit information on who owns and controls them to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
The leaders of the House Select Committee on China criticized California-based Lam Research Feb. 10 for not providing documents the panel requested as part of its ongoing investigation on firms that sell semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China.
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., criticized the State Department Feb. 7 for moving ahead with possible arms sales to Israel while he was still reviewing the potential transactions.
The House Select Committee on China is getting six new members -- four Republicans, two Democrats -- in the new 119th Congress, lawmakers announced last week. The Republicans are Reps. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, Young Kim of California, Nathaniel Moran of Texas and Zach Nunn of Iowa. The Democrats are Reps. Greg Stanton of Arizona and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii. Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., have been reappointed chairman and ranking member, respectively.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., reintroduced a resolution Feb. 4 urging the U.N. Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar's military.
Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said Feb. 4 that he intends to reintroduce a bill aimed at denying Iran's government access to the U.S. financial system. His No U.S. Financing for Iran Act, which he previously offered in October 2023, would prevent Iran from using U.S. financial institutions to engage in trade-related transactions, except for humanitarian purposes. Huizenga disclosed his plans in a statement welcoming President Donald Trump’s move to increase pressure on Iran over its support for terrorism (see 2502050020).