Tag Archives: House Foreign Affairs Committee

Chips Chatter: January 24 – February 8, 2023

“Offense” & “Defense” in U.S. Semiconductor Strategy (Again) Last December, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo made the case that both a defensive strategy (referring to export controls for semiconductor technology) and an offensive strategy (referring to investments in R&D and workforce) are essential to the U.S.’s “national security, its ability to lead, and its global … Continue Reading

Chips Chatter: January 18-23, 2023

Last Week: GOP To Review Export Controls Enforcement, Citing China Concerns House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for documents on the implementation of certain export controls. “The United States needs a whole-of-government approach to protect sensitive and military-useful technology from foreign adversaries, such as the People’s … Continue Reading

TradeTalk China: January 14-20, 2023

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: A New Standard of “Influence?” Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22), which would prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to any entity that is “under the ownership, control, or influence … Continue Reading

Public Policy Daily Briefing – June 16, 2020

With a month having passed since the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives passed the US$3 trillion HEROES Act as a sequel to the bipartisan US$2.7 trillion CARES Act, calls are being renewed for Republicans in the US Senate to begin negotiations for the purpose of forging the next major federal coronavirus response deal. The White … Continue Reading

International Food Assistance Programs in the Farm Bill

Legislative Activity International Food Assistance Programs in the Farm Bill On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to hold a full committee hearing focused on international food assistance programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Three major food aid programs authorized under past farm bills are the Food for Peace Act, which is administered by the … Continue Reading

House to Vote on an Iran-Sanctions Bill and a Measure to Electrify Africa; Some Congressional Hearings to Focus on Countering ISIL and the U.S. Strategy for Syria and Iraq

The Senate was in session last week, while the House of Representatives remained in recess in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.  On 16 January, Implementation Day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran took effect, as did a prisoner swap.  Washington’s attention then quickly shifted to an impending historic blizzard … Continue Reading

Lawmakers React to Paris Attacks; Appeals Court Maintains Block on President’s Immigration Plans

Legislative Activity Lawmakers React to Paris Attacks The world reacted with sorrow and outrage following a series of attacks across Paris on Friday, November 13.  While the French continued to mourn the scores lost, the Hollande government stepped up airstrikes in Syria against ISIL, which claimed responsibility for the attacks. Lawmakers quickly began to into … Continue Reading

Secretary Kerry Travels to France, UK and Italy; Talks Resume with Iran on Nuclear Capabilities; Captured al Qaeda Operative Pleads Not Guilty

Executive and Legislative Branch Activity Secretary Kerry Travel This week, Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to France, the United Kingdom and Italy. In Paris, the Secretary will meet with representatives of the Arab League’s Arab Peace Initiative Follow-on Committee to discuss the Middle East Peace Process. Secretary Kerry will also hold a bilateral … Continue Reading

Congress Impasse on Debt Ceiling, Spending Measures; Teams Disabling Syrian Chemical Weapons; Special Forces Missions in Libya and Somalia

Executive and Legislative Branch Activity Budget and the Debt Ceiling Debate With no congressional consensus on a bill to fund the U.S. federal government for FY 2014, on Tuesday, October 1, the U.S. government partially shut down. Last week, the House attempted to advance its strategy of passing “mini” continuing resolutions (CR) to fund parts … Continue Reading
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