The Senate late July 30 rejected two joint resolutions of disapproval by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would have blocked certain arms sales to Israel. Resolutions to prevent the export of bombs and rifles failed by votes of 24-73 and 27-70, respectively.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of five lawmakers announced July 31 that they have introduced a wide-ranging bill to protect China’s Uyghur minority ethnic group, including by broadening sanctions authorities under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 to cover forced organ harvesting, coercive abortion and the forced separation of children from their families.

The Heritage Foundation said July 30 that it welcomes congressional attempts to designate the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The conservative think-tank cited the Muslim Brotherhood’s long-standing support for violent extremist groups, including Gaza-based Hamas. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., have introduced one designation bill and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has introduced another (see 2507170001).

Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill July 29 that would direct the Office of Foreign Assets Control to determine whether to sanction foreign officials involved in the forced deportation of Uyghurs and other “at-risk individuals” to China, according to a Merkley press release.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said July 29 that he’s considering “different options” for placing conditions on removing U.S. sanctions on Syria.

Julie Stufft, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, said July 29 that she would seek to ensure U.S. companies have an “even playing field” in Kazakhstan so they can invest in the Central Asian country.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a joint resolution July 28 aimed at blocking the sale of thousands of rifles to the police force overseen by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Sanders accused Ben-Gvir of fomenting violence against Palestinians. The resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate in November and April defeated legislation by Sanders to block billions of dollars in defense exports to Israel (see 2504040001).

House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said July 28 on social media that he’s “alarmed” that the Trump administration is lifting sanctions on “key people linked to Burma’s military regime,” referring to the country now known as Myanmar.

The Trump administration’s recent designation of three Mexican financial institutions as primary money laundering concerns and several Latin American cartels as foreign terrorists are having a positive effect, a former U.S. official told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee July 23.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, introduced a bill July 25 that would prohibit exports of medicine and prosthetic medical devices, such as artificial limbs, to Russia. The ban would stay in place until the State Department certifies to Congress that Russia has ended its military operations in Ukraine and withdrawn its forces. The Medical Supply Sanctions Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.