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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday in favor of a tax treaty with Chile seen as crucial for ensuring access for U.S. companies to lithium, a mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries. The Senate backed ratification by 95-2, comfortably over the two-thirds supermajority required to approve treaties in the 100-member chamber. Business interests have been pushing for the tax agreement for years. "If the United States is serious about remaining ahead of countries like China, it's imperative we pass this treaty today," Schumer said. Chile announced a plan to expand lithium mining in the country in April in an attempt to regain its position as the world's top lithium producer.

Persons: Joe Biden, Rand Paul, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Patricia Zengerle, Sandra Maler, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Senate, White, U.S . Senate, Republican, U.S . Chamber, Commerce, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Chile, U.S, United States, China

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a tax treaty with Chile, paving the way for final approval of a pact seen as crucial for ensuring access for U.S. companies to lithium, a mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries. The agreement cleared a Senate procedural hurdle by 97-2, comfortably over the two-thirds supermajority required to approve treaties in the 100-member chamber. Business interests have been pushing for the tax agreement for years. Final approval would send the treaty to the White House, where President Joe Biden must sign the papers necessary for ratification. Chile announced a plan to expand lithium mining in the country in April in an attempt to regain its position as the world's top lithium producer.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Patricia Zengerle, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Senate, U.S . Chamber, Commerce, White, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Chile, Washington

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - Dozens of his fellow Democrats urged U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday to raise human rights issues with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington this week, according to a letter sent to Biden. Modi left for Washington on Tuesday for a visit projected as a milestone in ties between the two countries. Washington hopes for closer ties with the world's largest democracy, which it sees as a counterweight to China, but rights advocates worry that geopolitics will overshadow human rights issues. The State Department's annual report on human rights practices released in March listed "significant human rights issues" and abuses in India. But when asked last month about human rights concerns in India, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden believes: "This is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on as it relates to human rights."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Biden, Modi, Chris Van Hollen, Pramila Jayapal, Karine Jean, Pierre, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Indian, Washington, Democratic, Representatives, White, Reuters, United, Bharatiya Janata Party, Biden, White House Press, Thomson Locations: Washington, India, United States, China

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress introduced legislation on Thursday that would make it easier for Ukraine to fund its fight against Russian invaders by using seized and frozen Russian assets. The U.S. Congress has approved more than $100 billion in military, humanitarian and economic aid for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. It also would bar the release of funds to sanctioned Russian entities until Russia withdraws from Ukraine and agrees to provide compensation for harm caused by the war. The bill's other Republican sponsors include Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Representatives Joe Wilson, Thomas Kean and Brian Fitzpatrick. Democratic sponsors include Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Marcy Kaptur, a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, as well as Representatives Steve Cohen and Mike Quigley.

Persons: Jim Risch, Michael McCaul, Joe Wilson, Thomas Kean, Brian Fitzpatrick, Sheldon Whitehouse, Marcy Kaptur, Steve Cohen, Mike Quigley, Patricia Zengerle, William Maclean Organizations: Republican, Democratic, U.S . Congress, U.S, Congress, Moscow, Senate Foreign Relations, Opportunity, House Foreign Affairs, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, United States

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - The top Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Wednesday he was blocking a $735 million arms sale to Hungary because its government has refused to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO. "Hungary should take the actions necessary to allow Sweden into the alliance, and soon," he said. Under U.S. law, major arms deals are reviewed by the top Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Sweden applied last year to join NATO as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Objections from Turkey and Hungary have delayed the bid and Sweden now hopes to join by a NATO summit in Lithuania next month.

Persons: Jim Risch, Jens Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Gergely Szakacs, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican, U.S . Senate Foreign Relations, NATO, U.S, Republicans, Senate Foreign Relations, Representatives Foreign, Committee, Washington Post, Hungarian Defense Ministry, White, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Sweden, Washington, U.S, Ukraine, Turkey, Lithuania, Budapest

He was initially remanded in custody until May 29, but a court last month extended his detention until Aug. 30. The United States says he has been wrongfully detained and has called for his immediate release. “We applaud this latest show of bipartisan support from Congress in the fight for Evan’s release. We will not rest until he is free,” Emma Tucker, Wall Street Journal's executive editor, and Almar Latour, CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said in a written statement. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb Editing by Bill Berkrot and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Read, “, Emma Tucker, Almar Latour, Dow Jones, Paul Whelan, I’ve, Michael McCaul, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Gershkovich, Patricia Zengerle, Dan Whitcomb, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Wall, U.S . House, Street, House Foreign Affairs, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, WASHINGTON, U.S, Yekaterinburg, Gershkovich, United States, Washington, Ukraine, Lincoln

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - Legislation to strip China of its status as a "developing nation" at some international organizations was passed by a U.S. Senate committee on Thursday, as members of the U.S. focus on competing with the Asian power. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the "Ending China's Developing Nation Status Act" without dissent. The bill would require the Secretary of State to pursue changing China's status as a developing nation in international organizations. Proponents of the bill say that status can allow special privileges in some organizations or treaties. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military, political and economic pressure to assert those claims.

Persons: Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Foreign, Representatives, Congress, Resilience, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Taiwan

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - The battle to raise the U.S. debt ceiling rekindled debate in Congress over funding for Ukraine, as House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to take up legislation to boost defense spending beyond what was in last week's deal. McCarthy's comments could signal a tougher road through Congress when President Joe Biden next asks for additional funds for Ukraine. However, McCarthy, who negotiated the agreement with Biden, said he would not automatically allow a vote on supplemental spending legislation in the Republican-led House. SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS DISAGREEHowever, some Republican senators still said they believed a supplemental spending bill would be necessary. McCarthy said he supported Ukraine and helping Ukraine to defeat the Russian invasion but would want more information before moving ahead.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Lawmakers, Biden, McCarthy, Susan Collins, Patricia Zengerle, Bill Berkrot, Jamie Freed Organizations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Republicans, Democratic, Republican, Department of Defense, Capitol, SOME, House Republicans, Democrats, House, Thomson Locations: Congress, Ukraine, Russian, Russia

"For the first time in history, the State Department has agreed to allow Congress to view a dissent channel cable," McCaul said in a statement. A State Department spokesperson said the department continues to believe its accommodations had been sufficient. But it said the department would let additional committee members see it. "To bring this matter to resolution, we will permit additional Members of the Committee to view the cable at the State Department," the spokesperson said in a statement. The channel allows State Department officials to air concerns to supervisors.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Blinken, Gregory Meeks, Patricia Zengerle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: . House, Republican, House Foreign Affairs, State Department, Republicans, Wall, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, U.S, Kabul's, McCaul, Kabul

The debt deal capped national security spending in fiscal 2024 at $886 billion, which is what U.S. President Joe Biden requested. Ordinarily, some of the $16 billion worth of unfunded priorities would get tacked on, as well as billions worth of lawmaker initiatives. In recent years Congress has increased defense spending by more than any president requests, generally by tens of billions of dollars. This year, the debt ceiling deal could make that more difficult. That Ukraine supplemental spending request is now expected to include a broader range of military spending and could include some items and pet projects left behind.

Persons: Joe Biden, Abrams, Lockheed Martin, Biden, Mackenzie Eaglen, Eaglen, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, David Holmes Organizations: U.S, Department of Defense, General Dynamics, Lockheed, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Congressional, Pentagon, Congress, Democratic, Republican, American Enterprise Institute, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. congressional leaders on Friday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate on June 22, one of the highest honors Washington affords to foreign dignitaries. The speech would be Modi's second to a joint meeting of the U.S. legislature, a rare honor for a leader once denied a visa to enter the United States over human rights concerns. The State Department's annual report on human rights practices released in March listed "significant human rights issues" and abuses in India. Addresses to joint meetings of Congress are generally reserved for the closest U.S. allies or major world figures. In their letter, McCarthy, Schumer, McConnell and Jeffries said the address would celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, Modi, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Jawaharlal Nehru, George W, Bush, McCarthy, Schumer, McConnell, Jeffries, Patricia Zengerle, Doina Organizations: Indian, Washington, Republican, Democratic, White House, Bharatiya Janata Party, South, Senate, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, China, India . New Delhi, Washington, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi, Indian, Gujarat, India

[1/3] A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet ( C foreground) is seen between U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets at Incirlik airbase in the southern city of Adana, Turkey, December 11, 2015. "Now what's important is how does Erdogan want to move into the future with Turkey. NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. President Joe Biden's administration has said it supports the sale and has been in touch for months with Congress to win its approval. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkey on Tuesday to immediately finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, and rejected the suggestion that the Biden administration is linking Turkey's approval of Sweden's NATO accession to the F-16 sale.

Persons: Bektas, Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, he's, Bob Menendez, we've, I've, Menendez, Joe Biden's, Biden, Washington, Sweden's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Patricia Zengerle, Stephen Coates Organizations: Turkish Air Force, . Air Force, REUTERS, NATO, Senate Foreign Relations, Turkey, Lockheed Martin Corp, House Foreign, Thomson Locations: Adana, Turkey, Bektas WASHINGTON, Turkish, Sweden, Ankara

“Please note, however, that the subpoena remains in full force and effect, and the acceptance of this accommodation does not waive any of the Committee’s rights regarding the subpoena," McCaul wrote. McCaul had scheduled a committee meeting next week to consider a contempt of Congress charge against Blinken over his refusal to release the cable despite the subpoena. In his letter, McCaul said he still wanted every member of the foreign affairs committee to be able to view the cable, something the State Department has resisted to protect the integrity of its dissent channel system. McCaul is investigating the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on McCaul's letter.

REUTERS/Jonathan... Read moreWASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Three of President Joe Biden's cabinet members will testify on China policy at a U.S. Senate hearing on Tuesday, a rare joint appearance underscoring Washington's focus on competing with the rising Asian power. Two weeks ago Senate Democrats, including Appropriations Committee chairperson Patty Murray, announced a renewed legislative effort to stave off competition from China. The Defense Department said the cabinet members would address the "all of government" approach the administration was taking in dealing with China. A hard line on China is a rare bipartisan sentiment in the deeply divided U.S. capital. They are also scrutinizing possible security threats from China, including looking at TikTok, an app owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance.

"That combination of overclassification and then too many people having clearances has led us to this problem," Warner told a news conference. He said more than 4 million people in the United States now have security clearance. Attorney General Merrick Garland has also appointed special counsels to investigate the handling of classified records by Republican former President Donald Trump and the handling of classified records from his time as vice president by current Democratic President Joe Biden. The path forward for the bills was not immediately clear but the senators said they hoped the recent attention on the clearance issue would help. "This is a piece of legislation that can become law and it is desperately needed for that to happen," Moran said.

House of Representatives Armed Services subcommittees had been scheduled to begin debate this week on the closely watched NDAA, which determines how the military spends its nearly-trillion-dollar annual budget. But it was put off at least temporarily as lawmakers and the White House hold talks on raising the government's $31.4 trillion debt. House Republicans passed a bill last month, with no support from Democrats, that would raise the debt ceiling only in exchange for sweeping spending cuts, including sharp reductions in "discretionary" spending on social programs. Democrats criticized the bill and said it would not be considered in the Senate, where their party controls a majority of seats. At the same time, Republicans have been pushing for an increase in defense spending, which exceeded $850 billion in the NDAA that passed last year, drawing criticism from Democrats.

WASHINGTON, May 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats released a letter from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday saying a Republican's decision to hold military nominations harms national security, intensifying a dispute over the military's abortion policy. "Delays in confirming our general and flag officers pose a clear risk to U.S. military readiness, especially at this critical time." "This indefinite hold harms America's national security and hinders the Pentagon's normal operations," Austin wrote. Senior military nominations are approved by the committee and eventually the Senate. He said he would continue to hold the nominees until the Pentagon changes its policy or Congress changes the law.

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee threatened Secretary of State Antony Blinken with contempt of Congress if he does not comply with a subpoena seeking a classified cable related to the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The "dissent channel" allows State Department officials to communicate directly with senior officials. A Wall Street Journal article in August 2021 said the cable warned top officials of the potential collapse of Kabul soon after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The State Department has said some information can only be shared with senior officials to protect the identity of those expressing dissent. Asked for comment about McCaul's letter, a spokesperson said the department would provide Congress information needed to do its job while protecting the ability of State Department employees to do theirs.

May 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday he would launch a new effort to address competition with China, planning a new package of legislation to boost the United States' ability to compete with the Asian powerhouse. The effort, dubbed the China Competition Bill 2.0, follows an effort last year when President Joe Biden signed legislation authorizing more than $170 billion over five years to boost U.S. scientific research to better compete with China and $52 billion in new subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing and research. Schumer is working with Senate committee leaders to draft the legislation over the coming months. He will hold a news conference at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) to formally announce the effort. Some of the ideas in the new legislation were part of a broader China bill that was scaled back last year and eventually became the law known as the "Chips and Science" act.

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - The United States plans to announce as soon as Wednesday a new $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that will for the first time include a short-range air-launched rocket, two U.S. officials said. The Hydra 70 is an air-launched unguided rocket made by General Dynamics (GD.N). The rockets could help Ukraine weaken Russian ground positions and provide advancing Ukrainian ground forces with air support as Kyiv plans a spring offensive. The security assistance package would be the 37th approved by the United States for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022, for a total of nearly $36 billion. However, members of both parties insist they support continued aid for Ukraine including top Republicans House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday it is necessary to speed up trilateral cooperation with Japan and the United States to counter increasing North Korean nuclear threats, and said the world must not "shy away" from promoting freedom for the North. "Korea will never forget the great American heroes who fought with us to defend freedom," he said. On Wednesday, Yoon met President Joe Biden at the White House and the United States pledged to give South Korea more insight into its nuclear planning over any conflict with North Korea, amid anxiety over Pyongyang's growing arsenal of missiles and bombs. Yoon became the seventh South Korea leader to address Congress, underscoring the close relationship between Seoul and Washington. "We will actively work to safeguard the freedom of the people of Ukraine and support their efforts in reconstruction," he said.

WASHINGTON, April 19 (Reuters) - British pop star Elton John urged U.S. senators on Wednesday not to ease up on the fight against HIV and AIDS, as Congress faces a September deadline for reauthorizing the multi-billion-dollar U.S. program to fight the disease. Congress must reauthorize PEPFAR for another five years before Sept. 30. REUTERS/Anna GordonA set amount has not been set for the reauthorization, but Congress typically has approved $6.5 billion to $6.9 billion for PEPFAR each year. Global AIDS Coordinator John Nkengasong told the committee PEPFAR has saved 25 million lives and created health networks that have helped fight outbreaks of Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. "I urge my colleagues to join me in working to reauthorize PEPFAR without delay and without new mandates and directives," said Senator Jim Risch, the panel's top Republican.

REUTERS/Florence LoWASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The leader of a U.S. congressional committee on China said on Monday he was concerned about electric carmaker Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) dependency on China, a day after the company revealed plans to open a Megapack battery factory in Shanghai. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of the House of Representatives' select committee on China's Communist Party, said he would like to know how Tesla's CEO Elon Musk balances U.S. government support for Tesla and its operations in China. "I'm concerned about this," Gallagher told Reuters when asked about the battery factory. "Tesla seems entirely dependent, A, on the largesse of the federal government via tax breaks, and B, upon access to the Chinese market," Gallagher said. Tesla generated $18.15 billion in revenue from China last year, accounting for over one fifth of its total revenue.

President Joe Biden has said he will sign the measure if it passes both the Senate and House and reaches his desk. Supporters of repeal also said it recognized that Iraq is no longer an adversary but has become a U.S. security partner. The resolution also would repeal the Gulf War AUMF approved in 1991 after Saddam's Iraq invaded Kuwait. The Iraq AUMFs have been labeled "zombie" authorizations because they never expire but their original purpose no longer applies. In 1971, Congress voted to repeal the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which had provided authority for the Vietnam War.

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