A bill introduced last week by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., and other Republicans would return China’s Institute of Forensic Science to the Commerce Department's Entity List. The agency removed the institute last year (see 2311160003).
The chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere told a State Department official last week that she’s concerned the Biden administration plans to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list.
The House last week approved an amendment to the FY 2025 State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Bill that would direct $1 million to implementing the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act, a new law for sanctioning Iranian oil.
The Biden administration is aggressively using export controls and sanctions against China, despite a lawmaker’s claims to the contrary, a State Department official told a congressional panel June 27.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced a package of three bills aimed at reducing U.S. investment in China. The legislation would “ensure that no American dollars will end up in the hands of a country actively working against America in an attempt to undermine our national security,” Scott said.
Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., said June 26 that she is seeking Senate sponsorship of her House-passed bill that would codify sanctions against foreign persons who undermine the agreement that ended the Bosnian War.
The House of Representatives passed a bill by voice vote June 25 that would impose sanctions on foreign persons who engage in or facilitate forced organ harvesting in China (see 2406240032). Lawmakers cited reports, including a recent State Department human rights report, that say that Falun Gong spiritual movement followers and Uyghur Muslims are among the main victims of involuntary organ harvesting. The House approved a similar bill by a 413-2 vote in March 2023, and it’s unclear whether either proposal will clear the Senate.
The House Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act bill June 26 that would provide $43 million for the Federal Maritime Commission, about $5.5 million below the Biden administration’s request but up $3 million from the FY 2024 appropriated level.
A bipartisan group of five lawmakers urged congressional leaders in a June 25 letter to schedule House and Senate floor time on a bill that would allow Ukraine to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in Russian assets forfeited due to export control or sanctions violations.
The House Appropriations Committee on June 25 unveiled a FY 2025 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill that would provide $186.7 million to the Bureau of Industry and Security, $4.3 million below the FY 2024 enacted level and $36.7 million below President Joe Biden’s budget request.