Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging An Extension Of The TikTok Ban – To Allow Time For A Workable Solution – To Protect Americans’ Livelihoods And Protect Against CCP Surveillance

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on efforts made by Senate Democrats to extend the current deadline for the TikTok ban to come up with a workable solution while taking the necessary steps to protect American national security interests.  Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

The one hundred and seventy million Americans who use TikTok are rightfully asking the same question – what will happen to the app after the ban enters into effect next week?

Today, I want to say a few words about protecting TikTok’s future, while also protecting America’s national security at the same time.

We aren’t against TikTok. We want TikTok to keep going. But we are against a Chinese company that is in cahoots with the Chinese Communist Party owning TikTok.

Unfortunately, TikTok as it exists today has too many security risks that cannot be ignored. The law passed last year was intended to sever TikTok from the influence of the CCP while keeping the app available for Americans.

It’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and not disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, of so many influencers who have built up a good network of followers.

That’s why, last night, Senate Democrats tried to pass a bill that would extend the deadline to give everyone more time to come up with a workable solution. But Senate Republicans blocked our bill, which is stunning because time is running short.

We  will continue to work to find a responsible solution to keeping TikTok going, protect Americans’ livelihoods, and protect against CCP surveillance. We must and we can do all three.

I have made my views clear to the current administration. And, I will work with the Trump Administration and with both parties to keep TikTok alive while protecting our national security.

We can all agree that we must protect Americans’ privacy from the prying eyes of the Chinese Communist Party. But we also should agree that it must be done in the right way, without risking content creators livelihoods by rushing this process in a premature way.

TikTok should survive, but under new ownership.

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