HOUSE OKs BILL
FORCING TIKTOK SALE

The House has OK’d a bill to force ByteDance to sell TikTok or be banned in the U.S. Next step is the Senate, where the legislation will face a considerable fight.

Republicans defied the wishes of their covert leader, Donald Trump, and fast-tracked the bipartisan bill through the House, where it passed in a 352-65 vote. Democrats backed it after President Biden said he would sign the bill.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) said, “[This legislation] forces TikTok to break up with the Chinese Communist Party. This is a common-sense measure to protect our national security.”

The bill gives ByteDance six months to sell TikTok to non-Chinese owners. Provided the sale satisfied national security concerns, Biden would allow TikTok to continue operating. Otherwise it would be banned.

Getting through the Senate, though, is another issue. The New York Times reported that majority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has not given any indication that he would put it up for a vote, and some lawmakers have vowed to fight the bill.

TikTok responded with a statement: “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: It’s a ban. We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents and realize the impact on the economy, seven million small businesses and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”