Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, introduced a bill Oct. 30 that seeks to ensure that the Bureau of Industry and Security and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls can continue processing license applications for firearms exports during a lapse in government appropriations. The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act, which also would apply to federal agencies that handle domestic sales, was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Three Republican senators introduced a bill Oct. 30 that would allow the president to sanction Chinese entities that manufacture, distribute or finance the production of nitazene precursor chemicals.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., urged the Commerce Department on Oct. 30 to support Malaysia’s new efforts to prevent the country from being used to smuggle export-controlled U.S. chips to China.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., said Oct. 30 that she intends to work with the Trump administration, including the State and Treasury departments, to ensure that the U.N. fully carries out plans to reimpose "snapback” sanctions on Iran.
Several lawmakers offered a mix of praise and skepticism Oct. 30 when asked to assess the new U.S. trade deal with China.
Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the House Select Committee on China, announced Oct. 30 that they're introducing a companion to a Senate bill that would require U.S. manufacturers of advanced AI chips to make their products available to American firms before selling them to China and other "countries of concern."
Twelve Senate Democrats urged President Donald Trump Oct. 29 not to ease U.S. restrictions on inbound or outbound investment as part of a potential trade deal with China this week.
Reps. Keith Self, R-Texas, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, introduced a bill Oct. 28 that would increase the civil penalties that may be imposed under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, on Oct. 28 called for designating Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a Foreign Terrorist Organization, following the mass killing of civilians during the militia’s takeover of the city of El Fasher.
More than 50 congressional Democrats, including Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., urged the Trump administration Oct. 27 to reverse its recent decision to roll back a Biden-era interim final rule that increased restrictions on firearms exports.