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Congress poised to race out of D.C. after dodging shutdown
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government running through Dec. 20, though the divided Congress has a lot of negotiating to do if members want to pass the dozen full-year appropriations bills before their new deadline. The short-term funding bill, sometimes referred […]
GOP senator blocks resolution stating the right to emergency care includes abortion
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats attempted to pass a resolution Tuesday addressing abortion access in emergency medical situations, but Republicans blocked it from moving forward. The floor action followed months of unsuccessful attempts by congressional Democrats to approve legislation on various reproductive rights, including access to birth control and in vitro fertilization. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., […]
Harris presses Trump to debate again, and Democrats launch ‘chicken’ billboards
WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is chiding GOP nominee Donald Trump for not agreeing to another presidential debate before voting ends Nov. 5, though he doesn’t appear inclined to change his mind. “Let’s have another debate,” Harris, the Democratic candidate, said Sunday. “There’s more to talk about and the voters of America deserve to […]
Racing toward Election Day, control of U.S. Senate and House up for grabs
WASHINGTON — The country’s next president will need a friendly Congress to make their policy dreams a reality, but control of the two chambers remains deeply uncertain with just weeks until Election Day — and whether the outcome will be a party trifecta in the nation’s capital. Recent projections tilt in favor of Republicans taking […]
Government shutdown deadline nearing as U.S. House stumbles on stopgap spending bill
WASHINGTON — Congress has 12 days left to approve a short-term government funding bill before the shutdown deadline, though leaders in the Republican House and Democratic Senate haven’t felt the need to start negotiations just yet. House GOP leaders, instead, attempted to pass a six-month continuing resolution Wednesday that carried with it a bill requiring […]
In vitro fertilization bills from both Democrats and GOP blocked in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The closely divided U.S. Senate gridlocked Tuesday over the best way to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization, despite lawmakers from both political parties maintaining they want to do so. Republicans voted against advancing a Democratic bill that could have prevented states from enacting “harmful or unwarranted limitations” on the procedure and […]
Trump, Harris campaigns move quickly past apparent assassination attempt on GOP nominee
WASHINGTON — The presidential campaigns are rushing ahead this week without missing a beat, despite numerous law enforcement agencies investigating a possible assassination attempt Sunday on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, was looking to pick up an endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters during a private sit-down […]
‘Gross negligence’: Shortages in USDA food aid for Native Americans blasted in Congress
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack apologized to tribal communities this week for delays in shipments and delivery of expired food during a tense congressional hearing that highlighted widespread failures within the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Vilsack’s comments followed detailed testimony from leaders of the Chickasaw Nation, Red Lake Band of […]
Support for access to in vitro fertilization to be voted on again in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate will vote for a second time next week on legislation from Democrats that would bolster support for in vitro fertilization, though it’s unlikely GOP lawmakers will reverse course from their previous opposition. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the revote Thursday afternoon, saying he hopes that Republicans will join with […]
Additional security will be in place for Jan. 6, 2025 certification of presidential vote
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol Police are welcoming a special security designation from the Department of Homeland Security for Jan. 6, 2025, when Congress will gather to certify the Electoral College vote count for the winner of the presidential election. The last time Congress undertook the responsibility, a pro-Trump mob attacked the building, eventually breaking […]
Federal officials say no sign bird flu is spreading among humans, despite Missouri case
WASHINGTON — Public health officials are still trying to determine how a Missouri resident contracted bird flu without having any contact with infected animals, but said Thursday there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission taking place in small enclaves or in a more widespread manner. The Missouri case marked the 14th person to contract highly […]
Democrats introduce resolution stating U.S. House support for emergency abortion care
WASHINGTON —? U.S. House Democrats introduced a resolution Thursday that would clarify when health care providers can use abortion as emergency medical care amid a patchwork of state laws that have led to dozens of stories of women being turned away from emergency departments when experiencing complications or miscarriages. The two-page resolution would express “the […]