Us Congress Senate Bill SB143

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 1/30/23

Caption

Turn OFF THE TAP Act Turn Off Federal Funding of Threatening Entities that Thwart American Prosperity Act

Impact

If enacted, SB143 would significantly restrict federal financial dealings with entities that have been sanctioned for reasons tied to national security. This could particularly affect contractors and service providers who are doing business with federal agencies, enforcing a clear separation between federally funded projects and sanctioned entities. Supporters argue that this alignment is crucial for protecting American prosperity and ensuring that public resources are not indirectly supporting hostile actors or regimes.

Summary

Senate Bill 143, known as the Turn OFF THE TAP Act, aims to prohibit federal funding to certain entities that are subject to U.S. sanctions. This legislation seeks to enhance national security by ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not support organizations that are involved with or pose a threat to the interests of the United States. The bill stipulates that no federal agency may enter into contracts with, or provide funds to, entities that appear on various sanction lists maintained by U.S. authorities, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Bureau of Industry and Security.

Contention

There may be concerns from various stakeholders regarding the potential implications of SB143. Critics might argue that this legislation could inadvertently limit the capacity of certain businesses, especially those that might not be directly involved in activities counter to U.S. interests but are operationally tied to entities that appear on the sanction lists. The lack of leeway or clarification in how this legislation would affect legitimate businesses is a point of contention that could be raised in discussions surrounding the bill.