The proposed TikTok legislation, which could potentially result in a ban, faces a difficult challenge in the Senate.
Washington — A bill that could
Result in TikTok being banned in the United States.
On Wednesday, the bill quickly passed through the House, but it is currently facing challenges in the Senate, which has been known to move at a slower pace. Previous attempts to limit the use of this popular app in the Senate have been unsuccessful.
voted to dispense with loyalty.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted by a large majority to remove the requirement of loyalty. passed the bill
In a vote of 352 to 65, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was approved. This law mandates that the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, which is based in Beijing, must sell the app within six months in order to continue using U.S. web-hosting services and app stores.
The bipartisan legislation quickly gained momentum in the House, unanimously advancing out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week. But the bill has also faced
A wave of criticism from American users of TikTok.
The actions have also received negative feedback from politicians who believe it violates the principles of the First Amendment.
Promised to put his signature on it.
Senator Kevin Cramer, a member of the Republican party from North Dakota, announced his support for the bill, though he believes the Senate is not likely to take action on it in the near future.
“It’s difficult for me to envision it being quick. We are not known for doing things quickly, it’s not in our nature, so I would estimate it will take several months,” he stated in response to questions about the timetable in the higher level of government.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a member of the Republican party, criticized the widespread panic surrounding TikTok and believes that the legislation goes against the First Amendment. As a result, the Senate will have to allocate significant time on the bill to address his objections.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not made a firm commitment to bring the bill up for a vote. In a brief statement after it was passed in the House, the Democrat from New York stated that the Senate will review the legislation once it is received from the House. Schumer also mentioned that he will discuss with committee leaders for their perspectives on the matter.
Following the vote in the House, Senator Mark Warner, who is the Democratic leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee, announced his endorsement of the bill. He had previously voiced hesitation about targeting specific companies like ByteDance and TikTok.
have both opposed Trump’s tariffs, called for a bipartisan bill
Warner and Rubio, who have both been against Trump’s imposed tariffs, called for a bill that would involve members from both political parties.
Talked about the matter on the television program “Face the Nation.”
“The organization expressed its satisfaction with the significant support demonstrated by the House of Representatives in a vote on Wednesday. They are hopeful to continue collaborating to successfully pass the bill in the Senate and have it officially enacted.”
Senator Maria Cantwell, a member of the Democratic party representing Washington, holds the power to decide the outcome of the RESTRICT Act as the current chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. This legislation, which aims to grant the Commerce Department the ability to regulate or prohibit technology from countries deemed as adversaries to the U.S., has been stagnant since being referred to the committee in the previous year.
Cantwell’s statement on Wednesday implied that the House bill may follow a similar path.
“I will consult with my colleagues in the Senate and House to explore potential solutions that are in accordance with the Constitution and safeguard individual freedoms,” she asserted.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin expressed doubts on Tuesday about the legality of the bill and stated that he has yet to decide whether TikTok should be prohibited.
Durbin, the leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggests that it’s time for the company to separate from China when it comes to ownership and management.
In general, the Senate’s response to the House legislation has been varied.
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, is requesting a private meeting to discuss the topic before making a choice. He stated on Wednesday, “I have not reached a decision at this time.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Democratic Party, stated that “divestment is certainly well-deserved and necessary.”
On Tuesday, he stated that the Chinese government is gathering data, conducting surveillance, and utilizing TikTok for their own national security objectives. We must oppose this in a manner similar to the approach outlined in the House bill.
Senator John Cornyn expressed uncertainty about the solution and referred to TikTok as a significant threat to national security. On Wednesday, a representative for the Republican senator from Texas stated that certain issues had been addressed in the revised version being brought to the Senate.
Senator Josh Hawley is a Republican from Missouri who stated on Tuesday that he would fully endorse the proposal. However, he expressed skepticism about the likelihood of it being voted on by the floor.
He expressed his desire for the bill to be voted on in the Senate, but acknowledged that his prediction that it would not pass seems to be coming true.
A representative from TikTok expressed optimism that the Senate would carefully review the situation, take into account the opinions of the people they represent, and understand the potential repercussions on the economy, the numerous small businesses, and the vast number of Americans who utilize our platform.
During a video posted on Wednesday evening, Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, expressed that the company will be utilizing their legal abilities and urged users to reach out to their senators in order to safeguard their constitutional rights and have their voices heard.
Reporting was contributed by Alan He, Alejandro Alvarez, and Sara Cook.
Caitlin Yilek
Source: cbsnews.com