Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer outlined a packed agenda for lawmakers reconvening in Washington, emphasizing the potential for progress “on a path forward on TikTok legislation.”
After a two-week recess, the Senate is set to resume work next week, prompted by the U.S. House of Representatives’ decisive 352-65 vote on March 13.
The vote granted TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, roughly six months to divest the U.S. assets of the popular short-video app or risk a ban.
Schumer’s statement refrained from taking a specific stance on TikTok but emphasized the potential for bipartisan advancement on various fronts, including a TikTok-related measure, in the coming weeks and months.
However, there are no immediate plans for action on TikTok as senators continue deliberating on their next course of action.
Schumer highlighted several bipartisan bills where progress could be made, ranging from children’s online safety to cannabis banking, underscoring efforts to “outcompete the Chinese government.”
Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell hinted at the possibility of a public hearing on a TikTok crackdown bill, expressing senators’ desire for legislation addressing app-related concerns.
Addressing the issue, Cantwell stressed the importance of developing tools to counteract potential threats posed by foreign actors to U.S. citizens, asserting determination to reach a resolution expediently.
The fate of TikTok, utilized by approximately 170 million Americans, has emerged as a focal point in Washington, drawing significant attention from users opposing potential legislation.
TikTok itself weighed in, vehemently opposing a ban and asserting that it would infringe upon the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans.
Despite concerns about national security risks associated with TikTok, including data privacy and Chinese government influence, the company maintains it has never shared U.S. data and has invested over $1.5 billion to safeguard American user data within the United States.