A bipartisan group of five senators and two House members unveiled a new bill Aug. 22 that would create “democratic benchmarks” to guide the removal of sanctions on Venezuela.
A new law aimed at cutting off funding for Hamas requires the Biden administration to submit a key report to Congress by Oct. 21, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., who proposed the legislation.
Six congressional Democrats urged the Biden administration this month to sanction two former senior Bangladesh officials responsible for recent violence against peaceful protesters.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., plans this year to make another attempt to persuade Congress to pass legislation aimed at boosting U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, a spokesperson for the senator said Aug. 16.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., urged the Biden administration Aug. 16 to impose more sanctions on Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro and his regime for refusing to concede he lost the country’s recent presidential election to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said Aug. 14 that the Biden administration should move more quickly to implement new Iran sanctions that Congress approved four months ago. “The only way to deter Iran and its proxies is through a clear display of strength and resolve," McCaul said in a statement.
Four U.S. House members urged the Colombian government last week to end a “meritless” investigation of U.S. powdered milk exports. Reps. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.; Jim Costa, D-Calif.; Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.; and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., made their plea in a letter to Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Luis Gilberto Murillo.
A bipartisan group of 14 senators urged USDA this week to modernize its process for collecting information on foreign investment in U.S. farmland.
Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott introduced a resolution this month opposing the removal of Cuba from the State Department’s state sponsors of terrorism list.
A House resolution calling for new U.S. sanctions against Venezuela has gained additional co-sponsors.