Congress could encourage greater use of sanctions by changing the reporting requirements it imposes on the executive branch, a think-tank leader told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jan. 30.
Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, reintroduced a bill Jan. 29 that would require the president to identify and sanction those responsible for torture, abductions and other human rights abuses against Southern Mongolians in China. Merkley said the bill is intended to counter China’s efforts to erase Mongolian culture and language. The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Merkley previously introduced the bill in November.
A bipartisan group of four House members introduced a resolution Jan. 28 calling for additional sanctions against Belarusian officials following that country’s recent “fraudulent” presidential election that extended the longtime rule of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, with ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., announced Jan. 28 that it has appointed the following subcommittee leaders for the new 119th Congress:
The Senate Appropriations Committee announced Jan. 29 that it has appointed Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., as chair and ranking member, respectively, of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee in the new 119th Congress.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., reintroduced a bill Jan. 28 that would authorize the administration to sanction Chinese chemical companies and government officials who don't do appropriate compliance and oversight to prevent their chemicals from being sold to narcotraffickers. The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Judiciary committees. Barr previously introduced the bill in May 2023 (see 2305230020), and the House of Representatives passed it in July 2023.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said late Jan. 27 that he plans to introduce legislation in the “coming weeks” to sanction Belarus over its “sham” presidential election.
A bill to sanction International Criminal Court (ICC) officials failed to gain enough votes to limit Senate debate on the measure Jan. 28, leaving its fate in doubt.
The Senate voted 68-29 late Jan. 27 to confirm hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as treasury secretary.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., reintroduced a bill Jan. 27 to end all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until that country's ruler, Nicolas Maduro, concedes he lost Venezuela's recent presidential election.