The House of Representatives passed several sanctions bills late May 5, including one aimed at officials who undermine democracy in the Republic of Georgia (see 2501070037).
The Senate Banking Committee voted 14-10 largely along party lines May 6 to approve John Hurley to be undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial crimes, sending his nomination to the full Senate for its consideration.
Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., reintroduced a bill April 29 that would state it's no longer U.S. policy that the Missile Technology Control Regime's presumption of denial applies to NATO, major non-NATO allies and Five Eyes countries. The measure, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is designed to ensure the MTCR does not impede joint development of advanced missile technology under Pillar II of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security partnership. The bill was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which approved the measure in the last Congress (see 2407100058).
Real estate developer Charles Kushner, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to France, said May 1 that he would encourage the French government to reimpose sanctions on Iran for violating its nuclear-weapons-related obligations.
During a closed-door meeting with U.S. lawmakers May 1, Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang reiterated his opposition to the Bureau of Industry and Security’s recent AI diffusion rule, the company said.
Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Mark Warner, D-Va., said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. should review the potential purchase by a foreign entity of 23andMe, a bankrupt U.S. biotechnology firm that holds sensitive information on millions of people. In an April 28 letter to DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission, the senators commended DOJ for recently recommending such a CFIUS review. The senators are particularly concerned that China could buy 23andMe and use the company's data for “malign” purposes, such as transnational surveillance.
A bill aimed at revitalizing the American maritime sector includes a provision that would require the Commerce and State Departments to study ways to reduce export controls and International Traffic in Arms Regulations on foreign-owned companies that wish to invest in the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Paul Dabbar, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be deputy commerce secretary, said May 1 that he would support the 1979 international Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, which calls for eliminating tariffs on civil aircraft, engines, flight simulators and related parts.
Luke Lindberg, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be undersecretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, said April 29 that he would seek to lower barriers to U.S. agricultural exports in a wide range of places, including the EU, which “routinely shuts out our products at the altar of non-scientific based claims.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved by voice vote April 30 the nomination of former State Department official Thomas DiNanno to be undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. The nomination now heads to the full Senate for its consideration. DiNanno testified before the committee April 9 that speeding up foreign military sales will be a priority for him if he’s confirmed (see 2504090026).