Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., last week to schedule Senate floor consideration of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) “in the very near future.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act last week that would provide $45 million for the Federal Maritime Commission, $3.5 million below the Biden administration’s request but $5 million above the FY 2024 enacted level and $2 million above the House version of the bill (see 2406260007).

To punish the Venezuelan government for trying to “steal” the country’s presidential election, the Biden administration should impose sanctions and revoke oil licenses, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said July 30. McCaul is one of several Republican lawmakers pushing for sanctions against Venezuela. Senior administration officials said this week they are considering “consequences,” including sanctions, in response to the recent election (see 2407290044).

Two House members introduced a bill July 25 that would require certain American public companies and investment firms to report how much business they do in China.

House and Senate lawmakers introduced a bill July 25 that would sanction entities and people that pay Palestinian terrorists and their families for attacks against Israelis, which they called "terrorist martyr payments."

At a field hearing in Michigan, House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and committee member Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., emphasized electric vehicle battery maker Gotion's ties to suppliers that use Uyghur forced labor, and questioned why Gotion should be allowed to open factories in their states. Gotion declined to send a representative to testify, they said.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said last week he remains concerned by recent news reports showing China has found ways around U.S. export controls on advanced computing chips.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled and approved an FY 2025 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill July 25 that would provide $206 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security, $17 million below the Biden administration’s request but $15 million above the FY 2024 enacted level and $19.3 million above what the House Appropriations Committee has proposed (see 2403110065 and 2406250035).

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has told New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) that he plans to resign from the Senate Aug. 20, the governor announced July 23. Senate colleagues had urged Menendez to quit after he was found guilty in a federal corruption trial earlier this month (see 2407160054). Menendez stepped down as chairman in September 2023 after he was indicted (see 2309280005), but he has remained a vocal member of the committee.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., urged the Biden administration July 23 to expand the scope of sanctions on entities and people who undermine peace and stability in the West Bank.