Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated on Wednesday that the House will “apply every amount of pressure” on the Senate to pass a bill that may ban TikTok, just hours after the lower chamber passed the legislation in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote.
During the House GOP retreat in West Virginia, Johnson made a comment in response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s non-committal stance on bringing the House-passed bill to the floor for a vote.
During a conversation at the retreat, Johnson expressed his determination to exert maximum pressure, stating, “We’re going to apply every amount of pressure that we can because we think that’s the right thing.”
The House has overwhelmingly passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, with a vote of 352-65 on Wednesday. This legislation aims to address concerns regarding national security and foreign influence by requiring ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to either divest in the app or face a ban from U.S. app stores and web hosting services. The bill mandates that ByteDance must complete the divestment within approximately five months of the legislation taking effect.
However, the bill’s prospects in the Senate are still uncertain, even with the strong support it received in the House. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement on Wednesday, shortly after the bill was passed in the House, stating that the Senate will review the legislation when it is transferred from the House.
During his interaction with reporters on Tuesday, he reiterated his message, saying, “Let’s wait and see what the House does.”
At the time, he mentioned that he would need to consult and intended to consult with the relevant committee chairmen to gather their perspectives.
President Biden has expressed his willingness to sign the bill if it were to be presented to him.
The debate on Capitol Hill surrounding the ban of TikTok has ignited a fierce discussion. Supporters of the ban express concerns about national security, while opponents argue against it, citing issues related to free speech.
In a speech on Wednesday, Johnson, a supporter of the bill, dismissed the notion that banning TikTok violates First Amendment rights.
“There were a few individuals who opposed it and made arguments on the floor today, suggesting that it somehow violates the First Amendment,” said Johnson, a constitutional lawyer. “But let me clarify, this issue is not about the content itself, but rather about the conduct. I firmly believe that it poses a significant and immediate threat to our national security. Therefore, I believe it was necessary to handle it in a serious manner.”
