Lawmakers Prepare To Vote On Revised Bill That Could Ban TikTok Nationwide
It's a piece of legislation that has critics on both sides of the aisle.
Shutterstock
News that is entertaining to read
Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inboxIt’s a divisive issue … but unlike most being debated on Capitol Hill, this one doesn’t neatly pit Democrats against Republicans. Legislators on both sides of the aisle say TikTok should be banned as long as it remains under the control of Chinese-owned ByteDance, but there’s also a bipartisan contingent opposed to such a sweeping measure against the popular app.
A decision is looming
Last month, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban TikTok nationwide unless ByteDance divests it. Although President Joe Biden indicated that he would sign it into law if it lands on his desk, the legislation still faces a serious challenge in the Senate, where some influential lawmakers in both parties oppose it.
There have been some revisions to the language included in the bill as the House prepares to vote once again this weekend. Most notably, if it becomes law, ByteDance would have a full year (twice as long as in the initial version) to sell TikTok before a ban would be implemented.
A package deal
The revised legislation is being included in a broader bill that also includes foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel, and it’s expected to sail through the lower chamber today. With senators prepared to vote early next week, it appears that the most recent changes have resulted in increased support, prompting TikTok to plead its case in a statement describing the bill as an affront to the First Amendment.
“It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually,” the company said.
Why Is The Aging Voyager 1 Probe Sending Back Incoherent Communications?
It's been speaking gibberish for a few months and officials are concerned.
One Woman’s Massive Donation Is Wiping Out Tuition At This Medical School
Her inheritance came with the instruction to do "whatever you think is right."
Woman’s Pets Will Inherit Her Multimillion-Dollar Fortune, Not Her Kids
It's not the first time four-legged heirs were named in a will.