Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who's also on the committee, introduced a bill Aug. 1 that could lead to additional sanctions on China for providing dual-use items to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced two bills July 31 that would restrict and scrutinize foreign purchases of American land.

Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., reintroduced a bill July 31 that would direct the Commerce Department to lead an Interagency review of the “unique challenges” posed by Chinese foreign investment, especially acquisitions, and whether there are opportunities to work with “like-minded countries” to address those challenges.

Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the committee, urged the Trump administration July 31 to reinstate provisions of the recently rescinded AI diffusion export control rule that are designed to discourage U.S. companies from offshoring critical AI infrastructure and ensure that the technology that is exported is not misused.

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., unveiled a “discussion draft” bill July 31 that could eliminate the requirement that China’s ByteDance sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban on the popular social media application.

Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., accused the Trump administration late July 30 of misusing its authority by sanctioning Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Federal Court judge, for his role in the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump.

The Senate late July 30 rejected two joint resolutions of disapproval by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would have blocked certain arms sales to Israel. Resolutions to prevent the export of bombs and rifles failed by votes of 24-73 and 27-70, respectively.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of five lawmakers announced July 31 that they have introduced a wide-ranging bill to protect China’s Uyghur minority ethnic group, including by broadening sanctions authorities under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 to cover forced organ harvesting, coercive abortion and the forced separation of children from their families.

The Heritage Foundation said July 30 that it welcomes congressional attempts to designate the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The conservative think-tank cited the Muslim Brotherhood’s long-standing support for violent extremist groups, including Gaza-based Hamas. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., have introduced one designation bill and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has introduced another (see 2507170001).

Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill July 29 that would direct the Office of Foreign Assets Control to determine whether to sanction foreign officials involved in the forced deportation of Uyghurs and other “at-risk individuals” to China, according to a Merkley press release.