Republican lawmakers reintroduced several bills Jan. 22 aimed at curbing the acquisition of American land by certain foreign countries.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., said Jan. 22 that he plans to reintroduce a bill to prohibit Americans from owning the publicly traded securities of U.S.-sanctioned companies. Sherman made his comment about the People's Republic of China Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act during the House Financial Services Committee’s organizational meeting for the new 119th Congress. Sherman previously introduced the bill in March 2024 (see 2409270021).
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is forming a task force to improve how the government handles foreign military sales and export controls, committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., announced Jan. 22 during a committee organizational meeting.
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., announced Jan. 17 that he has reintroduced two sanctions bills aimed at Russian activities in Ukraine.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 16-11 Jan. 21 to approve Scott Bessent to be treasury secretary, sending the nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. Opponents raised several concerns about Bessent, including allegations he avoided paying Medicare taxes. The vote came five days after Bessent testified before the committee for his confirmation hearing (see 2501160062).
Vice President JD Vance swore in former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state Jan. 21, a day after the Senate voted unanimously to approve Rubio's nomination. On the first day in his new role, Rubio was scheduled to meet with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. At his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio defended the role of sanctions and said he hopes to reverse a decline in the State Department’s influence in foreign policy-making (see 2501150066).
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, reintroduced a bill Jan. 15 to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act, which would require many companies to submit information on who owns and controls them.
A bipartisan group of four lawmakers reintroduced a bill Jan. 14 that would rank countries on their efforts to fight corruption, and would direct the State Department to evaluate whether the worst offenders should be subject to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., announced Jan. 15 that he has appointed seven subcommittee ranking members for the 119th Congress:
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., announced Jan. 15 that Margaret Harker will be the panel’s new general counsel. Harker most recently was deputy chief counsel for investigations at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Moolenaar also announced that Alyssa Pettus will become his panel’s communications director, and David Russell will become senior adviser for policy and communications. Dave Hanke will remain staff director.