Author

Samantha Dietel

Samantha Dietel

Samantha Dietel is a reporter intern in Washington, D.C. She is pursuing a degree in journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has previously covered the Missouri legislature in Jefferson City as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian.

U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks to advocates outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, about $16 billion in child care funding requested by the Biden administration. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding

By: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic leaders on Wednesday called on Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental child care funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Child […]

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, introduced the “Fight Book Bans Act” at a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

Florida congressman proposes federal funding to help schools fight book bans

By: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost unveiled legislation Tuesday to combat a nationwide surge in book bans. Frost, a Florida Democrat, is pushing the “Fight Book Bans Act,” which he discussed at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol alongside fellow House Democrats and advocacy groups. Frost’s bill would provide funding for school districts so […]

The color guard at Hmong Lao Memorial Day, Cadott Veterans Memorial in Cadott, Wisconsin, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Nao Shoua Xiong)

Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War would receive Congressional Gold Medal under push by lawmakers

By: - December 5, 2023

WASHINGTON — Members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation are leading a bipartisan effort to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency recruited the Hmong people as soldiers to help combat communism’s spread through Southeast Asia. The Hmong, who lived and worked as […]

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat and the chair of the Progressive Caucus, speaks at a press event, joining about 100 tenant advocates to call on the Federal Housing Finance Agency to bolster tenant protections and rent regulations on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

‘Out of control’: Advocates rally in D.C. calling for action on housing crisis

By: - November 15, 2023

CORECTION: An earlier version of this report misspelled the name of Iris Espada. WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat, joined about 100 tenant advocates at a press event outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to demand action on the housing crisis. Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called on the […]

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, is shown holding a printout of the social media post that led him to challenge the head of the Teamsters union to a physical fight at a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. (U.S. House webcast screenshot)

Oklahoma senator challenges Teamsters president to fight at U.S. Senate hearing

By: - November 14, 2023

WASHINGTON — Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, challenged the head of the Teamsters union to a physical fight at a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday intended to showcase how labor unions are making families’ lives better. The tense confrontation at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing stemmed from acrimonious posts on social […]

Posters of some of those kidnapped by Hamas in Israeli are displayed on a pole outside of New York University on Oct. 30, 2023, as tensions between supporters of Palestinians and Israel increase on college campuses across the nation. The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 held a hearing that looked at antisemitism on college campuses among other free speech issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Free speech on college campuses as tensions rise examined by U.S. House Judiciary

By: - November 9, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers debated the freedom of speech of students on college campuses during a committee hearing Wednesday. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee held the hearing amid a rise of antisemitism on college campuses following Hamas attacks on Israel. Many Jewish students and others showing support for Israel have been targets of violence since […]

U.S. Senate panel debates how to protect children on social media platforms

By: - November 8, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. senators at a Tuesday hearing pushed for bipartisan legislation to protect children online. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law heard testimony from whistleblower Arturo Bejar, who served as Facebook’s director of engineering for protect and care from 2009 to 2015. Committee members discussed paths forward for holding […]

National museum of LGBTQI+ history and culture proposed by Wisconsin congressman

By: - November 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — Proposed federal legislation could add LGBTQI+ history and culture to the Smithsonian Institution’s museum tapestry. U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, introduced two bills in late October that would begin the process of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. Both bills would need to be signed into law […]

Problems plaguing small outdoor recreation businesses explored at U.S. Senate hearing

By: - November 2, 2023

WASHINGTON — Operators and promoters of outdoor recreation companies said at a U.S. Senate hearing that small tourist businesses like theirs are a critical part of the rural U.S. economy facing multiple challenges. Witnesses before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday listed climate change, inflation, high gas prices and a potential […]

Leaders of the congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus organized a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, to highlight prevention and treatment of breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Speaking is Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., and standing to her left is breast cancer survivor Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

Women in Congress call for more action on breast cancer prevention, treatment

By: - October 26, 2023

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress shared their experiences and called for bipartisan legislative action Thursday in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Leaders of the congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus organized a press conference to highlight prevention and treatment of breast cancer. “Each one of us here today are tributes to our friends, our […]

Eight Republicans are running for U.S. House speaker. Here’s your guide to the field.

By: and - October 23, 2023

(This story was updated at 7:55 p.m. Oct. 23, 2023, to reflect that Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser dropped out of the running to be the GOP nominee for speaker of the U.S. House.) WASHINGTON –– The eight Republican candidates to be speaker of the U.S. House were set to make their cases to their colleagues […]

U.S. House panel explores impact of immigration, crime on national parks

By: - October 19, 2023

WASHINGTON — The effects of immigration and crime on national parks took center stage Wednesday during a U.S. House hearing led by Republicans. Members of the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations discussed trash accumulation, the destruction of wildlife habitats and the illegal marijuana growing operations tied to cartels as environmental consequences […]