Senate reaches $10 billion COVID funding deal
Senators reached a deal Monday to provide an additional $10 billion in COVID-19 relief funding for vaccines and therapeutics, but did not include money for international vaccination efforts.
Senate
Biden Releases 2023 Budget Allowing Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
President Biden released a proposed budget Monday that, for the second straight year, omits bipartisan language prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion.
Kentucky Senate passes abortion restrictions, including 15-week ban
Kentucky lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill that would ban abortion after 15 weeks and contains several provisions that abortion rights advocates say could severely restrict or essentially end access to the procedure in the state.
Trump calls on Putin to release info on Hunter Biden’s dealings with oligarchs
Former President Donald Trump is calling on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to release any information he possesses on Hunter Biden’s dealings with oligarchs in Eastern Europe.
Bipartisan Senate group presses FBI over reports agents broke rules hundreds of times
Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote letters Monday pressing the Department of Justice for answers after an internal FBI audit found that agents violated rules at least hundreds of times over a year and a half.
Democrats Schedule Vote on Advancing the Supreme Court Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson
Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wrapped up Thursday. The Senate Judiciary Committee is now preparing for a vote on April 4 on whether to advance her nomination.
Idaho Governor Signs Abortion Ban Modeled on Texas Law
Idaho on Wednesday became the first state to enact a law modeled after a Texas statute that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and that can be enforced through lawsuits to avoid constitutional court challenges.
California: Democrat senators introduce bill to fund abortions for out-of-state women
As an increasing number of US states move to greatly restrict access to abortion, California senators have introduced a bill that would provide a fund of taxpayer money for women who live outside the state to have abortions, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Senate Republicans To Introduce Bill Banning Government From Contracting With Leakers
Republicans in the Senate will introduce legislation later Monday that would prohibit the federal government from entering into contracts with individuals who have used previous access to leak proprietary information.
Iran has 3,000 ballistic missiles, many that can reach Israel – US general
Iran has more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, many of which can reach the State of Israel, commander of the United States Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said on Tuesday.
Senate passes resolution to scrap mask mandate for public travel
A Republican-backed resolution to end the federal mask mandate on public transportation cleared the Senate on Tuesday.
Idaho Legislature passes Texas-style abortion ban at six weeks
The Idaho Legislature has passed a ban on abortions at six weeks that would allow the patient or family to sue providers of the procedure, an enforcement mechanism resembling the one used in a similar Texas law.
US Approves $4.8 Billion in Israeli Military Aid in Omnibus Spending Package
The US Senate approved $4.8 billion in military aid to Israel as part of its $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package.
$1.5 Trillion Spending Bill Passes Senate 68-31
The $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill (HR 2471) was passed by the House on Wednesday and by the Senate on Thursday evening. The bill is now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
Texas Supreme Court Rules Against Abortion Providers in Lawsuit Over ‘Heartbeat Act’
In a ruling Friday, the Texas Supreme Court delivered another legal blow to abortion providers’ federal lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion restrictions.
House passes $1.5T government funding bill plus Ukraine aid after chaotic day
The House passed a $1.5 trillion government funding bill Wednesday night, setting the first new spending levels under the Biden administration, providing $13.6 billion in measures to support Ukraine, and marking the end of months of bipartisan budget negotiations.
25 Republican governors call on Biden to prioritize U.S. oil and gas production
North Dakota can produce enough crude oil to offset dependence on Russian imports, but the Biden administration is prohibiting it from doing so, the state’s governor and U.S. senators argue.
In Israel, Mike Pence says future GOP administration will rip up any new Iran deal
Visiting Israel, former US vice president Mike Pence — touted as a potential future presidential contender — said Tuesday that a Republican-led America will once again pull out of any future Iran nuclear deal.
U.S. concerned Russia will obtain biological weapons in Ukraine, Nuland tells Senators
The United States is “quite concerned” that invading Russian forces are attempting to obtain biological materials from Ukrainian research facilities, Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting.
Abortion Rights Bill Fails to Pass Procedural Vote in US Senate
A bill to protect the right to have an abortion in the United States died in the Senate on Monday after it failed to garner enough Republican support to pass a procedural vote.