Politics HOUSE VOTES TO REAUTHORIZE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT The House voted Wednesday to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act by a vote of 244-172. 29 Republicans joined Democrats in the vote. VAWA, the landmark 1994 law that strengthened protections for women who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, had…
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Politics DEB HAALAND CONFIRMED AS INTERIOR SECRETARY The Senate voted to confirm New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary Monday by a vote of 51-40. Haaland becomes the first Native American in U.S. history to lead a Cabinet department. With a reputation as an effective lawmaker and a consensus…
Politics MICHAEL REGAN CONFIRMED AS EPA ADMINISTRATOR The Senate confirmed Michael Regan as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday evening by a vote of 66-34. The former secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality becomes the first Black man to head the agency. Regan, who has a reputation…
Politics HOUSE PASSES $1.9 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL The House gave final passage Wednesday to the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package by a vote of 220-211. The bill — which is one of the largest relief measures in American history and is favored by 70 percent of Americans — was…
Politics BIDEN, SENATE AGREE TO LIMIT ELIGIBILITY FOR STIMULUS CHECKS Senate Democrats struck a deal with President Joe Biden Wednesday that will limit the number of Americans who will qualify for the $1,400 stimulus checks included in the coronavirus relief package. The Senate bill, currently under negotiation, will cut off…
Politics HOUSE PASSES $1.9 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE Working into the wee hours of Friday night, the House passed President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package by a vote of 219-212. The bill was opposed by every Republican in the House, along with Democratic Reps. Jared Golden and Kurt Shrader….
Politics HOUSE SET TO PASS $1.9 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE The House is expected to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Friday night, paving the way for $1,400 stimulus checks, a $400-a-week federal unemployment bonus, a per-child allowance of up to $3,600, $20 billion for vaccine distribution,…
Politics CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE APPROVES $7.6 BILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE AND $600 STIMULUS CHECKS Gov. Gavin Newsome signed into a law Tuesday a coronavirus economic relief package that will give $600 stimulus checks to at least 5.7 million people and $2 billion in grants to struggling small businesses. “The backbone of…
Politics MANCHIN, COLLINS, AND ROMNEY TO OPPOSE OMB NOMINEE NEERA TANDEN Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced on Friday that he would oppose Neera Tanden’s nomination for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Manchin’s announcement was followed by similar declarations on Monday from Sens. Susan Collins and Mitt Romney,…
Politics HOUSE RELEASES FIRST DRAFT OF RELIEF BILL House Democrats released the first draft of their COVID-19 relief bill on Monday with provisions for $1,400 stimulus checks, a hike in the minimum wage, extension and expansion of unemployment benefits, increases in the annual child credit and earned income tax credit,…