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."
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. 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.
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.
The Biden administration is considering imposing additional economic sanctions on Georgia in response to the country’s recent anti-democratic actions, a State Department official told a congressional panel July 23.
The Biden administration should seek to remove trade barriers that are making it difficult for American producers of liquor and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to export their products to India, a member of Congress said July 23.
The House of Representatives approved by voice vote on July 22 a bill that would create an interagency working group to conduct research and develop legislative and regulatory proposals to counter sanctions evasion, terrorism financing and money laundering on digital platforms.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, asked the Biden administration July 22 to provide a briefing on its efforts to find out how parts made by U.S. companies are ending up in Iranian-made drones.
The Biden administration opposes the House version of the FY 2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, partly because it could hurt the Treasury Department's ability to implement upcoming outbound investment restrictions (see 2405080039), the White House said July 22.
Congress should get on with passing long-standing legislation on China sanctions and outbound investment, two Republican senators said during a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado last week.