Senate Republicans block effort to advance infrastructure bill
Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted to block the Senate from debating an infrastructure proposal, saying they needed more time to finalize and negotiate the details of the bill.
Senate
Senate unanimously passes bipartisan bill banning imports from Xinjiang, China
The United States Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill on Wednesday that would ban the importation of anything made in Xinjiang, China, including Nike and Coca-Cola products made there, because of the forced labor and genocide of Uyghurs and other minorities in the region, Axios reports. The legislation now goes to the House on a date to be decided.
Democrats Attempting to Force $3.5 Trillion spending bill through without GOP support
Senate Democrats announced a top-line budget number late Tuesday that will propel their plan to enact the full array of President Joe Biden’s social welfare and family aid promises without Republican votes.
Senate Democrats to introduce bill to federally decriminalize marijuana
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Senate Democrats plan to unveil legislation Wednesday that would decriminalize marijuana on a federal level.
Democrats try to regroup after sweeping election overhaul failed
After Republicans blocked their sweeping voting rights bill in the Senate last month and with GOP-led state “election integrity” bills looming, House Democrats are going back to basics on elections.
New U.S. Supreme Court Less Conservative Than Anticipated
The U.S. Supreme Court has ended its first year in its current form without rulings that Republicans hoped for, and liberal Democrats feared, from transgender issues to challenging critical parts of Obamacare.
House, in party-line vote, approves select committee to probe Jan. 6 riot
The House on Wednesday approved Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill to establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 pro-Trump attack on the Capitol, giving Democrats significant leeway to shape the inquiry after the Senate balked at establishing a bipartisan commission.
California bill would legalize psychedelic drugs
Lawmakers in California have introduced a bill that would allow people aged over 21 to possess for personal use and “social sharing” a number of psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of “magic mushrooms,” the Washington Times reports.
House passes bill to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol
The House passed a bill Tuesday that would remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol as well as a bust of the former Supreme Court chief justice who wrote the 1857 Dred Scott decision that denied enslaved people the right to be citizens.
Mexico high court mandates permits for personal pot use
Mexico’s Supreme Court ordered the government Monday to issue permits for the personal use of marijuana and for the growing of limited amounts of pot plants, after the country’s Congress took too long to approve a limited legalization law.
GOP lawmakers question motives of IRS in ruling that could jeopardize tax-exempt status of churches
Several Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate sent a letter to the IRS Friday demanding the agency correct a ruling they say could have major implications for churches and faith-based organizations in the U.S.
Bipartisan group of Senators agree framework for infrastructure bill
A bipartisan group of senators was able to reach an agreement Wednesday on the outline of an infrastructure plan that includes $579 billion in new spending, CBS News reports. The senators headed to the White House Thursday to discuss their proposal with US President Joe Biden.
Southern Baptist Convention passes resolution against Equality Act: bill would be “devastating” for religious liberty
The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution Tuesday asserting that the Democrat-sponsored Equality Act would have a “devastating” effect on religious liberty, Christian Headlines reports. The SBC resolution against the Act was passed by an “overwhelming” majority at the Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, Christian Headlines reports.
Senate passes bi-partisan $250 billion industrial bill to compete with China
Showing broad bi-partisan support for countering China’s military and economic expansion, the Senate on Tuesday passed a $250 billion industrial bill, one of the largest of its kind in US history, CNBC reports. The US Innovation and Competition Act passed 68-32.
IRS chief asks Congress for authority and resources to regulate cryptocurrencies
Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig on Tuesday asked Congress for new authority and resources in order to regulate cryptocurrencies for better tax collection and to avoid frauds and scams.
Manchin to vote against bill federalizing elections, dealing major blow to Democrats
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., declared Sunday he will oppose his party’s legislation to federalize how elections are conducted, dealing a severe blow to Democratic passage in the evenly divided Senate.
Biden proclaims June is Pride Month
US President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation accepting June as Pride Month in America, the Hill reports. The American LGBT community has been celebrating June as Pride Month since the Stonewall riots of June 1969.
Republicans Block Investigation Into Deadly Capitol Riots
Senate Republicans have blocked creating a bipartisan panel to study the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol housing Congress.
Senate Republicans introduce bill to resupply Israel’s Iron Dome
Four Senate Republicans, Marco Rubio (FL), Bill Hagerty (TN), Tom Cotton (AR), and Ted Cruz (TX) introduced on Friday a new bill aimed to resupply Israel with missile defense interceptors.
North Korea building MIRVS, tactical nukes
Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, nominated to be the next commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, told the Senate this week that North Korea is building small warheads, tactical nuclear arms and multiple warhead missiles.