Under Secretary for International Trade Update
The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 to favorably report the nomination of William Kimmitt to be the Under Secretary for International Trade at the Department of Commerce on April 29.
Advocacy
California Senate Committee Advances Bill to Curtail Abusive CIPA Lawsuits
On Tuesday, April 29th, the California Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously voted to advance SB 690, which seeks to close a
News/Media Alliance Joins Amicus Brief in Gopher Media v. Melone
On March 24, 2025, the News/Media Alliance joined an amicus brief led by RCFP in Gopher Media LLC v. Melone, on appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Iowa Senate Unanimously Passes House File 472, Providing Anti-SLAPP Protections
On Wednesday, April 16th, the Iowa Senate unanimously passed House File 472, which provides anti-SLAPP protections against lawsuits aimed at limiting the constitutional freedoms of speech and press.
News/Media Alliance Calls on the Ninth Circuit to Reject Section 1202 Identicality Requirement
The brief urged the court to reject GitHub’s contention that Section 1202(b) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act imposes an identicality requirement, establishing liability for the removal of copyright management information (CMI) only if the copied work is identical to the original.
Congressional Small Business Letter Issued
On April 16, a coalition of 68 House Democrats issued a letter to United States Trade Representative Greer, Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, Secretary of the Treasury Bessent, and Small Business Administration Administrator Loeffler warning them to consider the impacts of the Trump Administration’s trade policies on domestic small businesses.
World Trade Organization Withdrawal Resolution
Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) introduced a joint resolution H.J. 93 on April 10 that would formally withdraw the U.S. from the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Congressional Resolutions Update
Joint Resolutions terminating the trade deficit “emergency” underlying the Administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for reciprocal tariffs were introduced in both the House and Senate on April 8.
Senator Johnson Submits Alliance Tariff Concerns at Senate Hearing
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, submitted News/Media Alliance concerns on tariffs for the record at a hearing on “The President’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda” on April 8
Trade Review Act of 2025
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025, S 1272, on April 3, which introduces a requirement for the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing duties on imported articles, providing an explanation and assessment of the impact on U.S. businesses and consumers.