In a resounding decision, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill on Wednesday with a vote of 352-65, setting a tight deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok. The bill mandates ByteDance to divest its US assets within approximately six months, or face a potential ban. This development marks the most significant threat to the popular short-video app since the Trump administration’s efforts.
The bipartisan support behind the bill underscores its gravity, although its future in the Senate remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that the Senate will thoroughly review the legislation upon its arrival from the House.
TikTok’s fate has increasingly become a focal point in Washington, with lawmakers from both sides reporting a surge in calls from concerned teenage users opposing the legislation. The volume of complaints has even rivaled that of issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell has emphasized the necessity of crafting legislation that can withstand legal challenges. She is contemplating a separate bill but remains undecided on the next course of action.
This bill forms part of a broader response to national security concerns regarding China, extending beyond TikTok to areas such as connected vehicles, artificial intelligence chips, and port infrastructure.
House Republican Steve Scalise has emphasized the critical nature of the issue, urging swift action from the Senate. Meanwhile, Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, representing both sides of the aisle, have expressed optimism about the bipartisan support and pledged to work together to advance the bill through the Senate.
The House’s vote comes just over a week after the bill’s proposal, following limited debate and one public hearing. Prior to this, congressional action on the matter had stalled for more than a year. The recent entry of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign onto TikTok had raised hopes among TikTok officials that legislative action might be delayed until next year.
Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously voted 50-0 in favor of the bill, paving the way for its consideration before the full House.
