Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent company is on a path to quickly get to President Joe Biden’s desk and be signed into law.
The bill, which has the backing of Biden and key members of Congress, would allow the administration to ban the popular video-sharing app nationwide if it does not divest from China-based ByteDance within one year.
A similar bill already passed the House in a lopsided, bipartisan 352-65 vote in March. But it has been stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., had been looking to put her mark on it.
Now, the House plans to package a slightly revised TikTok bill with billions in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, all but guaranteeing the potential TikTok ban will become law.
Under the strategy used by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., the House plans to pass the combined foreign aid and TikTok package Saturday night and send it to the Senate, setting up a possible vote there as early as next week.
In recent weeks, Johnson’s team worked closely with the White House on the package, and Biden has already said he will swiftly sign into law the broader package, which also includes other GOP national security priorities, like the REPO Act and sanctions against Iran. Biden backed the original TikTok ban legislation in the House, as well, though his campaign has an account on the app.
