On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed legislation requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app within nine months or face a nationwide ban.
NBC reports that the bill allows for a possible presidential extension of up to one year.
Supported by President Biden and the Senate, the bill amends previous legislation by extending the divestiture deadline, thereby heightening the potential for TikTok’s prohibition in the US.
Later today, the House will also vote on three additional proposals designed to enhance US security assistance to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as to Israel and Ukraine.
These votes cap a significant bipartisan push, with more Democrats (165) than Republicans (151) backing the procedural move to advance these bills. The proposals are anticipated to pass shortly and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
Collectively, these measures form part of a $95 billion relief plan advocated by President Biden. However, the Senate’s earlier approval of a modified version of this plan suggests some differences between the two legislative bodies.
