Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., have introduced a bill to reauthorize the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act for another five years, Rubio’s office announced June 6. The 2020 law, which expires in 2025, authorizes sanctions against entities and people responsible for human rights violations against the Uyghur minority ethnic group in China's Xinjiang region (see 2006170064).
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., have introduced a bill that would continue sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project for another six years and prohibit a national interest waiver of those sanctions, according to a June 5 news release.
The House of Representatives voted 247-155 on June 4 to pass a bill that would sanction International Criminal Court (ICC) officials if they issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over the war in Gaza.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., June 4 urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to consider sanctioning Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over his West Bank policies.
The House version of the FY 2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill could withhold funds the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network may need to implement or enforce its new beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule.
The House version of the FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Bill would prohibit the removal of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list, the House Appropriations Committee said June 3.
U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns is scheduled to give the Senate Foreign Relations Committee an update on U.S.-China relations during a closed-door hearing June 4. Further information on the hearing’s focus wasn't disclosed. Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., said in February that he was working to craft a “comprehensive” bill to address a wide range of concerns about China (see 2402010067).
Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., announced May 31 that she and three other House members have introduced a bill that would sanction Iranian judges, prosecutors and investigators for their ongoing persecution of peaceful protesters.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., urged the Biden administration in a joint statement May 30 to sanction anyone involved in detaining, trying and torturing political prisoners in Venezuela, including judges, clerks, prison guards and interrogators. The senators said the Venezuelan government has increased its persecution of human rights and political activists in the run-up to the country’s July 28 presidential election.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said May 29 that he plans to introduce legislation designating the Palestinian Authority as a foreign terrorist organization for paying Palestinians who commit terrorist attacks against Israelis.