Latest News
Lawmakers Request Investigation into Biden Admin’s Botched FAFSA Rollout
By Federal Newswire | Jan 25, 2024
Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, along with other lawmakers, has requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, aimed to make financial aid more accessible by streamlining the application process. However, the Department of Education (Education) failed to properly implement the program, causing delays for students and families in accessing crucial financial...
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report highlights benefits of proposed child tax credit expansion
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that approximately 19 million children from low-income families stand to benefit from the bipartisan Child Tax Credit expansion. This expansion is part of a tax bill negotiated by Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith. The proposal was passed last week by the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
Murray Remarks on Averting Shutdown, Passing National Security Supplemental
By Federal Newswire | Jan 19, 2024
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to avert a government shutdown and pass strong funding bills and a comprehensive national security supplemental package. Speaking at a Senate Democratic leadership press conference, Senator Murray outlined the importance of moving quickly to pass bipartisan, bicameral funding bills."Now that we finally have a spending framework, which allows us to move forward on full-year appropriations bills, I have been working around the...
Murray Releases Text of Continuing Resolution
By Federal Newswire | Jan 17, 2024
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has released the text of a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) aimed at preventing a government shutdown. The CR will provide temporary funding while Congress works towards passing full-year appropriations bills. The framework agreement was reached by Senate and House leadership last week, and the Senate is expected to vote on the CR when it returns on Tuesday.Senator Murray emphasized the importance of avoiding a shutdown and the need for bipartisan cooperation in passing...
Murray Remarks on Next Steps in Passing Full-Year Appropriations Bills
By Federal Newswire | Jan 12, 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke at this afternoon's Senate Democratic leadership press conference about her efforts to hammer out the strongest possible bicameral, bipartisan appropriations bills.
Senator Murray on Framework Appropriations Agreement
By Federal Newswire | Jan 11, 2024
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has expressed her support for the framework agreement reached by Senate and House leadership. This agreement allows both chambers of Congress to proceed with negotiations on full-year appropriations bills.
Foxx, Kiley to Biden: End Anti-Worker Julie Su’s Reign
By Federal Newswire | Jan 5, 2024
Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) have written a letter to President Biden, urging him not to renominate Julie Su to head the Department of Labor (DOL). The letter comes following Su's failure to secure enough support in the Senate to confirm her nomination.
Manchin and colleagues call on EPA to revise power plant rule that would increase energy costs in West Virginia
By Federal Newswire | Jan 5, 2024
Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Jon Tester (D-MT) have sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging them to revise a proposed rule that could have negative consequences for West Virginians. The rule, if implemented, could jeopardize grid reliability, harm energy workers, and raise energy costs for residents of West Virginia.
Reps. Comer & Jordan investigate whether President Biden sought to obstruct his son’s cooperation with the House’s impeachment inquiry
By Federal Newswire | Dec 28, 2023
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan are launching an investigation into whether President Biden attempted to obstruct the ongoing impeachment inquiry by influencing his son, Hunter Biden, to defy congressional subpoenas. The investigation comes after an official White House statement suggested that President Biden had prior knowledge of Hunter Biden's plan to ignore the subpoenas.
Committee on Ethics establishes investigative subcommittee for Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
By Federal Newswire | Dec 28, 2023
The Committee on Ethics has announced the establishment of an Investigative Subcommittee to determine whether Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated any laws or standards of conduct in the performance of her duties. The Subcommittee will focus on allegations related to campaign finance, failure to disclose required information, and acceptance of voluntary services from an individual not employed in her congressional office.
Members Open Investigation Into How DOI Calculates Energy Royalties
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
The House Committee on Natural Resources has initiated an investigation into the methodology employed by the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) in calculating federal royalties from energy production on federal lands and waters. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of internal controls at ONRR, which may lead to conflicts of interest and uncertainty in the determination of federal royalties.In a letter addressed to ONRR Director Howard Cantor, Chairman Bruce Westerman, Chairman Paul Gosar, and Chairman Pete Stauber expressed their apprehensions. They...
Senator Manchin Applauds Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 for Energy Security
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
Washington, DC – Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, expressed his support for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 in a statement released today. The sale, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), highlights the United States' commitment to utilizing its abundant resources to enhance energy security.According to Senator Manchin, the IRA is an all-encompassing energy security bill that not only strengthens the country's current energy production but also invests in innovative and clean energy technologies. He...
Collins' TRANQ Act Gets Signed Into Law by the President
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
Legislation known as the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act has been signed into law by the President of the United States. The bill, authored by Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins, marks a significant achievement for the freshman congressman.H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act, was the first bill introduced by Representative Collins and received unanimous support throughout the legislative process. It was reported out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee on March 29 with a vote of 36-0. The bill then passed...
McCaul, Risch Statement On Prisoner Swap With Criminal Maduro Regime
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) expressed their concerns regarding the recent prisoner swap between the Biden administration and the Maduro regime in Venezuela. In this exchange, 11 wrongfully detained Americans were released in return for the freedom of Alex Saab, a Venezuelan-Colombian businessman with ties to cartels and terrorist organizations.While Chairman McCaul and Senator Risch acknowledge that it is a positive development that the imprisoned Americans are returning...
Foxx Slams Harvard for Plagiarism Double Standard
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
WASHINGTON – Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has criticized Harvard University for its alleged double standard in handling plagiarism allegations against President Claudine Gay. In a letter addressed to Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker, Foxx demanded more information about the university's handling of the allegations and the unequal application of Harvard's Honor Code.Foxx expressed concern about the inconsistent application of standards, stating, "Our concern is that standards are not being applied consistently,...
Chairs Rodgers and Duncan Express Concerns Over Use of Wartime Authority to Subsidize Energy Industries
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan have raised concerns regarding the Department of Energy (DOE) and President Biden's use of a wartime statute to subsidize favored energy industries. In a letter addressed to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the committee chairs questioned the use of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) subsidies to support the Biden administration's rush-to-green agenda.The DOE recently announced the allocation of $169 million for nine projects aimed at...
Chairs Rodgers and Bilirakis Press China-Based Online Marketplaces on Potential Data Privacy and Human Rights Violations
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have raised concerns over data privacy and security risks, counterfeit products, and human rights abuses on China-based e-commerce marketplaces. These marketplaces, including TikTok, TaoBao, Pinduoduo, Temu, Alibaba, AliExpress, and Shein, have gained popularity in the U.S.The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mandates that all Chinese tech companies grant access to user information, which raises serious concerns about data privacy...
Risch, McCaul Statement on Prisoner Swap with Criminal Maduro Regime
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
U.S. Senator Jim Risch and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul have expressed their concerns and disappointment regarding the recent prisoner swap between the Maduro regime in Venezuela and the Biden Administration. In a joint statement, the lawmakers highlighted their unease over the release of 11 wrongfully detained Americans in exchange for Alex Saab, a Venezuelan-Colombian businessman with connections to cartels and terrorist organizations.While acknowledging the relief that comes with the return of the imprisoned Americans, Senator Risch and Representative McCaul...
Capito and Barrasso Urge FERC to Address Concerns Over EPA's Clean Power Plan 2.0
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and John Barrasso have called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0 and address potential threats to electric reliability. In a letter to FERC Chairman Willie L. Phillips and Commissioners James Danly, Allison Clements, and Mark C. Christie, the Senators expressed concerns about the impact of the plan on electric reliability and urged the Commission to engage with the EPA to ensure that the final rule does not jeopardize the...
Barrasso, Capito Urge FERC to Fix EPA's Proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0
By Federal Newswire | Dec 20, 2023
U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Shelley Moore Capito have sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to address the threats to electric reliability posed by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0. In the letter, the senators highlight the need for more work to determine how the proposed rule could impair electric reliability."The record developed at the Technical Conference, and the actions taken by the Commission and by EPA after the Technical Conference, clearly show that a majority of...
