Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., introduced a bill Jan. 24 that could lead to the sanctioning of Hong Kong officials for human rights violations.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee plans to take up a State Department authorization bill “sometime after” the August congressional recess, committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., said Jan. 23.
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., will chair the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance in the new 119th Congress, the full committee announced Jan. 23. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., will be ranking member of the subcommittee, whose jurisdiction includes export controls and the International Trade Administration. The subcommittee also will include Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.; Jim Banks, R-Ind., Dave McCormick, R-Pa., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.
Republican lawmakers reintroduced several bills Jan. 22 aimed at curbing the acquisition of American land by certain foreign countries.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., said Jan. 22 that he plans to reintroduce a bill to prohibit Americans from owning the publicly traded securities of U.S.-sanctioned companies. Sherman made his comment about the People's Republic of China Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act during the House Financial Services Committee’s organizational meeting for the new 119th Congress. Sherman previously introduced the bill in March 2024 (see 2409270021).
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is forming a task force to improve how the government handles foreign military sales and export controls, committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., announced Jan. 22 during a committee organizational meeting.
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., announced Jan. 17 that he has reintroduced two sanctions bills aimed at Russian activities in Ukraine.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 16-11 Jan. 21 to approve Scott Bessent to be treasury secretary, sending the nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. Opponents raised several concerns about Bessent, including allegations he avoided paying Medicare taxes. The vote came five days after Bessent testified before the committee for his confirmation hearing (see 2501160062).
Vice President JD Vance swore in former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state Jan. 21, a day after the Senate voted unanimously to approve Rubio's nomination. On the first day in his new role, Rubio was scheduled to meet with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. At his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio defended the role of sanctions and said he hopes to reverse a decline in the State Department’s influence in foreign policy-making (see 2501150066).
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, reintroduced a bill Jan. 15 to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act, which would require many companies to submit information on who owns and controls them.