Senate Foreign Relations Committee activity: July 18, 2025 – August 22, 2025

Legislation referred to this committee includes strengthening the Quad, sanctions again China-Russia-Iran, Indo-Pacific cooperative work, human rights, support for Ukraine, and sex trafficking.

--------

DAVE McCORMICK sits on this committee.

Republican members: James Risch (R-ID), Chair; Pete Ricketts (R-NE); Dave McCormick (R-PA); Steve Daines (R-MT); Bill Hagerty (R-TN); John Barrasso (R-WY); Mike Lee (R-UT); Rand Paul (R-KY); Ted Cruz (R-TX); Rick Scott (R-FL); John Curtis (R-UT); and, John Cornyn (R-TX).

Democratic members: Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Minority Member; Chris Coons (D-DE); Chris Murphy (D-CT); Tim Kaine (D-VA); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Cory Booker (D-NJ); Brian Schatz (D-HI); Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); and, Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcement made July 24, 2025. Meeting on July 24, 2025. 11:30AM(EDT), 116 Capitol (Senate side), Washington, D.C. Business meeting to consider the nominations of Michael G. Waltz, of Florida, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, and to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the Rank of Ambassador, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations. Meeting Details Neither video nor transcripts available by September 2.

Announcement made July 24, 2025. Meeting on July 29, 2025. 10:30AM(EDT), 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine certain nominations. Meeting Details More about this meeting in ACTIONS below.

Announcement made July 24, 2025. Meeting on July 30, 2025. 10:00AM(EDT), 116 Capitol (Senate side), Washington, D.C. Business meeting to consider pending calendar business. Meeting Details More about this meeting in ACTIONS below.

Announcement made July 24, 2025. Meeting on July 30, 2025. 2:30PM(EDT), 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine finding opportunities for U.S.-Africa partnerships. Meeting Details More about this meeting in ACTIONS below.

ACTIONS

July 29, 2025. “Hearings to examine the nominations of Richard Buchan III, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, John Giordano, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia, Michel Issa, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic, Sean O’Neill, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Julie Stufft, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan, all of the Department of State.” Video and Presidential Nomination Documents available, but not transcript.

July 30, 2025. “Business meeting to consider the nominations of Jason Evans, of Texas, to be an Under Secretary (Management), Thomas Rose, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, William White, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Peter Lamelas, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Argentine Republic, all of the Department of State.” Video and Presidential Nomination Documents available, but not transcript.

July 30, 2025. “Hearings to examine finding opportunities for U.S.-Africa partnerships.” Video available, but not transcript. Note that this was originally billed as “pending legislation.”

August 19, 2025. Released S.Prt. 118-26, “Business Meetings of the Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate During the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, First Session January 3, 2023 to January 3, 2024, Second Session January 3, 2024 to January 3, 2025.” You can download the 367-page PDF file by clicking on that link here. The link auto-opens to the TXT file, but toggle over to the PDF file to download for easier reading.

LEGISLATION REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

S.2362 - Ending Lending to China Act of 2025. To oppose the provision of assistance to the People’s Republic of China by the multilateral development banks.

Introduced July 21, 2025 by John Barrasso (R-WY). Cosponsored by fifteen Republicans (Dave McCormick was not among them), and no Democrats. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: The fifteen senators who cosponsored are pretty much the steady Trump Republicans in the Senate.

Snarky comment: The bill does not propose ending borrowing from China by U.S.-based real estate developers.

S.2380 - Quad Economic Security Act. To direct the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to seek to establish an Economic Security Working Group within the Quad.

Introduced July 22, 2025 by Michael Bennet (D-CO). Cosponsored by Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comments: The Quad is comprised of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Bennet properly gave President Trump for having revived the “Quad” in 2017 and to President Biden for elevating the “Quad” to leaders’ level.

It’s ironic and troubling that Trump has no plans to attend this year’s meeting of the Quad in India, not even sending a representative like Vance or Rubio.

S.2387 - LEAD Act of 2025 (Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act of 2025). To amend the Arms Export Control Act to address arms export controls for certain unmanned aircraft systems and items.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Tom Cotton (R-AR). Cosponsored by Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Ted Budd (R-NC). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: Drones as weapons of war are clearly addressed here. Not sure there’s not enough caution involved.

S.2424 - THINK TWICE Act of 2025 (Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities Act of 2025). To require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Cosponsored by Michael Bennet (D-CO). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2453 - Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience Authorization Act. To require the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a security cooperation initiative to strengthen cooperation among the defense industrial bases of the United States and allied and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Andy Kim (D-NJ). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2525 - Transnational Repression Policy Act. To address transnational repression by foreign governments against private individuals.

Introduced July 29, 2025 by Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Cosponsored by Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: This Act is composed of many critical parts. But perhaps its definition of transnational repression explains why it’s an important piece of legislation. And simultaneously, the reason it is unlikely to get bipartisan support.

In this Act, the term “transnational repression” refers to a range of tactics deployed by a foreign government, or agents or proxies of a foreign government, to reach beyond their borders to intimidate, silence, harass, coerce, or harm individuals, such as political dissidents, activists, journalists, political opponents, religious and ethnic minority groups, international students, and members of diaspora and exile communities.

S.2550 - Critical Minerals Partnership Act of 2025. To provide for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Cosponsored by John Curtis (R-UT). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2560 - Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025. To expand the imposition of sanctions under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 with respect to human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China and to counter the genocidal policies of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Cosponsored by Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: This is a long, comprehensive bill. If you write or read about Human Rights, you may want to read the whole thing and comment on this post on Substack.

I find it fascinating that the Trump Republican emphasis seems to be on how China is “exploiting” the United States. While the Democratic and Romney Republican faction expresses horror at China’s human rights violations. Perhaps that best defines the great divide.

S.2578 - Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act. To support United States investment opportunities, to strengthen bilateral collaboration in addressing criminal elements operating in the Brazilian Amazon.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Tim Kaine (D-VA). Cosponsored by John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2592 - Supporting Ukraine Act of 2025. To provide emergency supplemental appropriations in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Cosponsored by Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Serious comment: This is a long bill, not merely a doodle thrown together at a DC bar. If defending Ukraine and exposing Vladimir Putin’s machinations are important to you, I recommend reading the text of the bill. These two women take no hostages.

S.2611 - Safeguarding the Integrity of the Human Rights Reports Act of 2025. To safeguard the integrity of the Department of State’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Cosponsored by seven Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: This bill needs to be cosponsored by every single Senator, regardless of party affiliation. It calls out the absurd attempts of the Trump regime to manipulate the data and results of this STANDARD Human Rights report. Another bill that is worth reading in its entirety. It’s not that long.

Thank you Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Peter Welch (D-VT) for standing up for ethical reporting!

S.2626 - Strengthening United States Leadership at the IDB Act. To strengthen the leadership role of the United States at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Dave McCormick (R-PA. Cosponsored by Tim Kaine (D-VA). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2642 - SEIZE Act (Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization Act of 2025). To authorize the President to treat as stocks of the United States any weapon or material seized by the United States while in transit from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Houthis in the Republic of Yemen.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Ted Budd (R-NC). Cosponsored by Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: If “we” are serious about stopping terrorism in the Middle East, wouldn’t this be a no-brainer?

S.2646 - No Tax Treaties for Foreign Aggressors Act. To terminate the United States-People’s Republic of China Income Tax Convention if the People’s Liberation Army initiates an armed attack against Taiwan.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by John Cornyn (R-TX). Cosponsored by Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Catherine Cortez Mastor (D-NV). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: This bill is a positive, because it would specifically limit the termination of the 1984 tax treaty to Congress, not the President.

S.2647 - International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025. To reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by James Risch (R-ID). Cosponsored by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Chris Coons (D-DE). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Serious comment: This bill does in fact extend expiration of the 2000 bill to 2030, as it apparently expired in 2021. But. It does far more than that. If this is a topic that you write about or that otherwise interests you, please read the bill. It’s massive and also provides almost double the founding it previously had.

Snarky comment: Do Republicans realize this bill applies to all sex traffickers?

S.2657 - STOP China and Russia Act of 2025 (Severing Technology Transfer Operations and Partnerships between China and Russia Act of 2025). To impose sanctions relating to the support of the People’s Republic of China for the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Cosponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Serious comment: This bill would codify Trump’s 2020 Executive Order 13959, and expand it substantially because of China’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The original executive order merely referred to China’s exploitation of the United States. Shaheen and Cornyn tie that exploitation to China’s support of Russia’s Ukrainian invasion.

Doubly surprising, since Cornyn’s MAGA credentials are impeccable.

S.2667 - West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025. To prevent violence in the West Bank and authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to any foreign person endangering United States national security and undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Cory Booker (D-NJ). Cosponsored by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Mark Warner (D-VA). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: If events in the Middle East interest you, please read this bill and do not rely on pundits’ skewed versions. On both sides.

S.2669 - To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. (No short title.)

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Michael Bennet (D-CO). Cosponsored by Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2671 - Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act of 2025. To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require a section on reproductive rights in the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Brian Schatz (D-HI). Cosponsored by sixteen Democrats, no Republicans, and no Independents. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: The bill would require the U.S. Department of State’s annual Human Rights Report to include sections not only on reproductive rights, but also on LGBTQ+ rights. It’s a strongly worded piece of legislation, pointing to numerous binding treaties and documents that would require the U.S. to consider reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights as human rights.

S.2674 - HARPOON Act (Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence Act). To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct or support capacity-building programs for foreign security forces to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Todd Young (R-IN). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.2678 - Global Fragility Reauthorization Act. To reauthorize the Global Fragility Act of 2019.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Chris Coons (D-DE). Cosponsored by Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Comment: This bill not only extends the existing Global Fragility Act of 2019, it also proposes many amendments. Long bill.

AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

S.Amdt.3005 – “To amend the preamble.” Submitted July 23, 2025 by Rand Paul (R-KY). Paul wishes to strike the preamble to S.Res.81, which calls on the UK, France, and Germany to initiate “snapback of sanctions” on Iran. Rand Paul wants to remove all suggestions of sanctions and focus instead on U.S. military strikes that have already occurred. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day. Senate amendment submitted.

S.Amdt.3006 – “In the nature of a substitute.” Submitted July 23, 2025 by Rand Paul (R-KY). Paul wishes to strike the preamble to S.Res.81, which calls on the UK, France, and Germany to initiate “snapback of sanctions” on Iran. Rand Paul wants to remove all suggestions of sanctions and instead encourage peaceful resolution with Iran. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day. Senate amendment submitted.

RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

S.Res.326 – A resolution remembering the 33rd anniversary of the bombing of the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aries on March 17, 1992, and the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994, and recommitting to efforts to uphold justice for victims of the attacks.

Introduced July 17, 2025 by John Curtis (R-UT). Cosponsored by Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.Res.327 - A resolution condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries and encouraging the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy.

Introduced July 21, 2025 by Josh Hawley (R-MO). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

No comment needed.

S.Res.331 - A resolution calling upon the Senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Introduced July 22, 2025 by Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Cosponsored by three Republicans, two Democrats, and one Independent (Angus King). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Comment: The full text of the U.N.’s Convention on the Law of the Sea is here. The United States is the only major power that has not ratified this 1982 treaty. 169 countries have done so.

The U.S. has participated in every single negotiation from the earliest days to the latest amendments. Apparently we like to claim we recognize the UN’s “Convention on the Law of the Sea.” But we will not ratify it. Why? God only knows and she ain’t tellin’.

S.Res.346 - A resolution urging all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend a minimum of 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by John Kennedy (R-LA). Cosponsored by six Republicans and no Democrats. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

Snarky comment: Wow! They are trying to one-up Trump! Is this the new Purity Test for Trump Republicans?

Serious comment: This is the start of seven resolutions: One put forward by RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL), and six put forward by TIM KAINE (D-VA). Thank you, thank you for your recognition of human rights violations in countries that often fly under the radar.

Now we need the rest of the Senate to join you.

S.Res.350 - A resolution recognizing widespread decades-long human rights abuses in Eritrea, including indefinite imprisonment, inhumane prison conditions, and the absence of democratic institutions, and expressing support for the rights and freedom of the Eritrean people.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Richard Durbin (D-IL). Cosponsored by Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Coons (D-DE). Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations the same day.

S.Res.351 - A resolution requesting information on the Kingdom of Eswatini’s human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.