senate

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 14, 2023, as action in the chamber on spending bills got sidetracked ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

With two weeks until the money runs out, Congress grinds to halt on spending bills 

BY: - September 14, 2023

WASHINGTON — Amid rising tensions and an approaching hard deadline, the U.S. House and Senate ended their work week on Thursday without a deal to fund the federal government past the end of the month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has been struggling to build consensus among the members of his Republican Conference, pledged that […]

U.S. Senate sends Biden debt limit legislation ahead of Monday default deadline

BY: - June 1, 2023

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan debt limit bill is on its way to President Joe Biden after the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to clear the measure for his signature. The 63-36 vote followed several amendment votes, all of which were rejected. Biden is expected to quickly sign the package, preventing a default on the debt that […]

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas sits next to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) at a March 1, 2023, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Denver airport CEO withdraws as FAA nominee after attacks by U.S. Senate Republicans

BY: - March 26, 2023

Phil Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport and President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, withdrew from consideration in the face of persistent Republican opposition, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed Saturday night. Reuters first reported Washington’s withdrawal and Buttigieg confirmed it in a late Saturday tweet. Republicans had attacked Washington […]

An American Airlines plane takes off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Breakdowns in the nation's aviation system this month have highlighted the lack of a Senate-confirmed head of the Federal Aviation Administration. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Aviation turmoil shifts attention to stalled confirmation of FAA chief

BY: - January 23, 2023

A breakdown in the federal aviation system earlier this month threw a spotlight on the absence of a Senate-confirmed leader of the Federal Aviation Administration, prompting Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to push for the chamber to confirm President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the agency. But key Senate Republicans have raised concerns about that nominee, […]

COMMENTARY
ACLU Executive Director Holly Dickson speaks against Senate Bill 43. At left is bill sponsor Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch). (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas’ would-be religious tyrants gather steam with ‘culture-war’ bills

BY: - January 23, 2023

I grew up Catholic in a deeply Catholic region of Louisiana. I don’t think I met any non-Catholics until after second grade. Imagine my surprise when I realized that not only were there Christians who worshiped differently from me but believed in a totally different Jesus. Imagine my consternation when I learned that some Christians […]

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, at the U.S. Capitol for a press conference Dec. 7, 2022, on Democrats' victory in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff race. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom).

‘Worth the wait’: U.S. Senate Democrats celebrate a 51-seat majority with Georgia win

BY: - December 7, 2022

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer jubilantly announced Wednesday that the Georgia runoff election victory will next year end an evenly divided U.S. Senate, giving Democrats more subpoena power in committees and a quicker turnaround in approving federal and judicial appointments. Schumer, a New York Democrat, congratulated Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock for […]

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, that codifies court-ordered protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. Here Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is seen left the Senate floor after a procedural vote the legislation Nov. 16. Baldwin, the first openly gay woman to be elected to the House and the Senate, has led Senate negotiations on the bill. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Same-sex marriage protected under bill passed by U.S. Senate with GOP support

BY: - November 29, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would enshrine protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, codifying many of the rights that would disappear if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn those landmark decisions the way it overturned the nationwide right to an abortion this summer.  The 61-36 bipartisan vote sends the bill […]

COMMENTARY

Arkansas power politics at its most raw and most sublime

BY: - November 15, 2022

As an exercise of raw power, a rule change that limits Democrats to two seats on any of the Arkansas Senate’s standing committees likely won’t shake many rafters. But the move did draw reaction from state Rep. David Ray (R-Maumelle) on Twitter:  This is a smart, commonsense move by the Arkansas Senate. Proportional representation on […]

Congress heads back to D.C. for a hectic lame-duck session

BY: - November 14, 2022

WASHINGTON — Congress returns to Capitol Hill and a lengthy to-do list this week, following a six-week midterm elections break that saw Democrats outperform expectations and Republicans barely inch toward the U.S. House majority. On the agenda are same-sex marriage legislation, a huge defense bill, changes in how presidential electoral votes are counted and more. […]

John Boozman sails to victory for third term in U.S. Senate

BY: and - November 8, 2022

Arkansas U.S. Sen. John Boozman won a third six-year term Tuesday, and if Republicans retake control, he is likely the next chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The Associated Press declared him the winner over Democrat Natalie James and Libertarian Kenneth Cates shortly after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m.  At 9:32 p.m., with 57% […]

Black farmer with digital tablet in crop field

Climate funding in the farm bill a target if GOP controls Congress

BY: - November 7, 2022

WASHINGTON — Republicans who may be taking control of Congress in next week’s midterm elections have not been very specific about many policy goals—but the farm bill is an exception. Members of the GOP in the U.S. House and Senate are sending strong signals they want to strip climate funding from the legislation in 2023 […]

How claims about a federal abortion ban are roiling one state as the midterms near

BY: - October 25, 2022

WILMOT, New Hampshire — Voters in this swing state are among the relatively few Americans who will decide control of Congress during November’s midterm elections, shaping domestic and foreign policy for the next two years and delivering a verdict on Joe Biden’s presidency.  Granite Staters interviewed by States Newsroom, during a mid-October week trailing U.S. […]