Republican House leaders this week unveiled an unconventional plan to tuck the TikTok crackdown into a series of foreign aid packages slated for a Saturday vote.
Apr. 19, 2024, 1:44 p.m. ET
Lawmakers have scrutinized the popular short-form video app over allegations that its links to China pose a risk to Americans’ personal data, but past attempts to ban or restrict it have run into major constitutional concerns that the efforts would infringe on the free-speech rights of its millions of U.S. users.Yes. Last month, the House voted 352-65 to approve legislation requiring that TikTok either be sold off from ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company, or face a national ban.
At least one member, Sen. Rand Paul , has already indicated he would block calling the bill to the floor under unanimous consent. Senate leaders probably would need to dedicate a significant amount of time in committee or on the floor to debate the TikTok bill. That could prove difficult ahead of the 2024 elections.
“This legislation is a first step in protecting Americans against foreign subversive data collection,” Rep. Michael McCaul , who previously led a congressional effort to target TikTok, said during a committee hearing on Thursday. At that point, if ByteDance refuses to sell, mobile app stores and web-hosting services would be prohibited from offering TikTok to the public — effectively banning the app from the United States.It appears so. The TikTok proposal already had broad bipartisan support in the House, and President Biden said last month he would sign it into law if it came to his desk. The only outstanding question was whether enough of the Senate would rally behind the push.
“As I’ve said, extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why a potential TikTok ban is alive again in Congress, and what’s nextA House plan to merge legislation targeting TikTok with foreign aid could fast-track efforts to force a sale or ban of the app in the United States.
Read more »
Daughter of this blue bastion's last Republican senator shatters state Republican fundraising recordNella Domenici, the daughter of New Mexico’s last Republican senator, has set a new fundraising record for a GOP Senate candidate in the blue-leaning southwestern state.
Read more »
Rep. Mike Gallagher To Leave Congress, Further Shrinking House Republican MajorityThe departure means that Speaker Mike Johnson will have only one vote to spare.
Read more »
'Miserable to be in Congress': The big problems inside the Republican ConferenceThis is additional taxonomy that helps us with analytics
Read more »
Ken Buck is lone Republican to back Democrats' discharge petition, a day before leaving CongressOn the day before Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado leaves Congress, he became the first Republican in this entire Congressional session to back a Democratic discharge petition.
Read more »
Republican senator slams 'unserious' efforts by Congress to hold Biden, COVID authorities accountableWisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson on Tuesday warned that the federal government has grown so large that oversight and accountability is nearly impossible.
Read more »