U.S. House of Reps Pass New Bill That Bundles TikTok Ban and Foreign Aid

The previous TikTok ban bill past last month, but saw no movement in the Senate.

A TikTok ban in the United States is once again on the table for Congress. The United States House of Representatives passed a new bill banning the popular video-sharing app.

The 21st Century Peace through Strength Act bundles a few things, such as providing foreign aid to …

The United States House of Representatives has recently passed a new bill that addresses both the popular video-sharing app TikTok and foreign aid. Here are the key points:

1. Bill Overview:

   • The bill is called the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act.
   • It bundles several provisions, including foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel.

2. TikTok Ban:

   • The bill includes a provision that would ban TikTok in the United States.
   • The ban would take effect unless ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, divests its ownership within a year.
   • The vote in favor of the divest-or-ban measure was 360-58.

3. Extended Deadline:

   • The bill extends ByteDance’s deadline to sell TikTok.
   • Instead of the original six months, the company now has nine months to sell the app to another company or investment group.
   • The President can further extend the deadline by 90 days if progress indicates a sale is nearing completion.

4. Foreign Aid Connection:

   • The bill’s chances of passing in the Senate have increased because it also includes foreign aid to U.S.-allied countries.
   • Notably, President Biden has expressed support for banning TikTok in the United States.

5. Previous Attempts and Opposition:

   • Capital Hill has discussed banning TikTok for years, citing concerns about national security due to its Chinese ownership.
   • Some argue that a TikTok ban violates free speech, while others emphasize security risks.
   • The app is already banned from being installed on Federal government-owned smartphones and in several states and colleges.

6. TikTok’s Response:

   • TikTok has been vocal on its platform, urging users to “make their voices heard” to prevent a ban.
   • The app’s official account has used the hashtag #KeepTikTok to rally support.
   • TikTok has highlighted its active user base in the United States and the potential impact on small businesses and creators if a ban occurs.

Stay tuned for further developments as this bill heads to the Senate and potentially to the President’s desk. 🚁🇺🇸📱 Read more