CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 In the Spotlight: David Scott Georgia Democrat David Scott helped propel a scholarship fund program for historically Black 1890s land-grant institutions into the stopgap funding bill (HR 6363) that the Senate cleared Nov. 15. The provision, authored by Scott, would authori...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 COVID aid fuels telehealth expansion in rural America Physician Luke Van Oeveren and nurse Cindy Pirrung respond to a call in Avel eCare's telehealth emergency hub. (Source: Lauren Clason/CQ Roll Call.) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. —“Can you lift your arms?” physician Luke Van Oevere...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 Senators embrace AI on the farm, eye provisions in farm bill Artificial intelligence is already a workhorse in the technology that allows tractors to identify weeds and tailor herbicide spraying, determine when a crop is ready to harvest and weave together satellite and so...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 House Ethics examines change to expand legal expense fund coverage The House Ethics Committee is considering whether to change rules about lawmaker legal expense funds to expand the pool of people who can use them to pay for their legal bills connected to a campaign or off...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 Pentagon fails latest audit The Defense Department has again failed to pass a comprehensive audit, marking the sixth straight year the Pentagon has come up short in the annual tally of its military equipment and property. Still, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord told report...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 House heads home after defeat of rule for Iran, spending bills Members of the House leave the Capitol after the last votes of the week on Wednesday. (Source: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call.) House lawmakers left town Wednesday for Thanksgiving after a GOP revolt that led to defea...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 20, 2023 Senate votes to keep government open amid wide gulf on spending Schumer and his leadership counterparts will have their work cut out for them. (Source: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call.) A stopgap spending measure that will keep the government operating into early 2024 was sent t...

CQ MAGAZINE – COVER STORY; Nov. 20, 2023 Rumblings over farm bill extension may signal rough road ahead Turkeys are seen outside a barn at a farm in Orefield, Pennsylvania, on November 20, 2020, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. (Source: Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images.) A one-year farm bill extensi...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 In the Spotlight: Michelle Steel California Republican Michelle Steel ushered a bill (HR 5933) through Education and the Workforce Committee on Nov. 8 that would require colleges and universities to file a report with the Education Department disclosing gifts of at least $...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 The capital calendar House House Republican leaders plan to bring the Labor-HHS-Education (HR 5894) and Commerce-Justice-Science (HR 5893) fiscal 2024 appropriations bills to the floor. A stopgap spending bill is also expected intended to avert a partial government shutdow...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 US officials say Ukraine risks economic collapse without aid soon Biden administration officials on Nov. 8 made a forceful case for further budget assistance and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, warning that delays in approving emergency spending would risk economic collapse...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Lawmakers seek to add privacy protections to surveillance law A bipartisan group of lawmakers rolled out legislation Nov. 7 that includes a warrant requirement for certain information collected under a foreign surveillance authority, as it remains unclear how Speaker Mike...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Senate Finance advances mental health, PBM legislation The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday advanced, 26-0, bipartisan draft legislation aimed at improving access to mental health care and lowering drug costs by changing the rules around pharmacy benefit managers — tw...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 House censures Tlaib over response to Israel-Hamas war Tlaib attends a House Financial Services Committee hearing in March/ (Source: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call.) Rep. Rashida Tlaib became the second Democrat censured this Congress, after most Republicans and nearly two doze...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Beer industry enters fray in battle over rum tax benefits Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi participates in a Wednesday news conference on the island's political status. (Source: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call.) The beer lobby is taking aim at a tax benefit for Puerto Rico and the...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Border policy dominates Senate hearing on supplemental request Murray, left, and Collins take their seats before Wednesday's hearing. (Source: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call.) Senate appropriators sparred over immigration Wednesday as Republicans pushed for border policy changes...

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Utah's Moore tapped for House leadership vacancy Moore speaks to reporters on Wednesday in the Capitol. (Source: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call.) House Republicans have chosen Blake D. Moore of Utah as a moderate replacement for Speaker Mike Johnson ’s former spot in party lead...

CQ MAGAZINE – COVER STORY; Nov. 13, 2023 House GOP eyes trans care as newest battleground issue Skateboarder Taylor Silverman speaks in front of the Capitol on April 20, 2023 with House Republicans about passing the Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act. (Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images....

CQ MAGAZINE; Nov. 13, 2023 Take Five: Kevin Kiley Californians like to brag that their home has it all — mountainous forests, cerulean lakes, otherworldly deserts — and Kevin Kiley , the Republican representing the Golden State’s 3rd District, is no different. But he rarely passes up the opportunity...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 The capital calendar House To be announced. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that lawmakers will take up the fiscal 2024 Legislative Branch (HR 4364), Interior-Environment (HR 4821) and Transportation-HUD (HR 4820) spending bills. Senate Senators are expected to continue...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 In the Spotlight: Jimmy Panetta California Democrat Jimmy Panetta is the leading House member on a bipartisan coalition of 20 lawmakers urging Armed Services leaders to write a final defense authorization bill (HR 2670, S 2226) ) that provides more financial help for U.S....

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Johnson elected speaker for remainder of 118th Congress Johnson is sworn in as speaker on Wednesday. (Source: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call.) Weeks of infighting among House Republicans over their next speaker, which paralyzed the chamber during a time of global turmoil, opene...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Johnson brings defense background to speakership Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, elected Wednesday as speaker of the House, brings a defense-focused background to the role as a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee. In that seat, he’s advocated f...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Take Five: Todd Young Todd Young ’s evolution from a member of the House to a second-term senator can be measured in pages read. The Indiana Republican likes to joke that he ran for Senate to reclaim some quality reading time, and his vision of the job sounds almost quaint...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 House passes fiscal 2024 Energy-Water spending bill The House passed the fiscal 2024 Energy-Water appropriations bill on Thursday after adopting amendments that would block the Energy Department from implementing a number of energy efficiency standards. The House returned...

CQ MAGAZINE – COVER STORY; Oct. 30, 2023 Montana volunteers showcase struggles of rural ambulances Wildland firefighter and EMT Robert Littlejohn has revived the Philipsburg, Mont., volunteer ambulance crew by roping in friends and former volunteers. (Source: Lauren Clason/CQ Roll Call.) PHILIPSBURG...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 White House asks for $56B emergency domestic funding package President Joe Biden on Wednesday asked Congress for about $56 billion in supplemental appropriations to address largely domestic issues including child care access, relief from natural disasters, low-income broad...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Lawmakers sanguine about Ukraine aid under Johnson speakership Ukraine supporters in both parties appeared optimistic Thursday about the possibility of additional security assistance for Kyiv under House Speaker Mike Johnson despite his fairly anti-Ukraine voting history....

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Johnson's health policy record focused on abortion, gender care Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson , a former lawyer and radio talk show host, has used his role on the House Judiciary Committee to voice his anti-abortion views and opposition to gender-affirming care. The L...

CQ MAGAZINE; Oct. 30, 2023 Stabenow sees farm bill extension; Johnson backs December passage The farm bill moved back into the spotlight Wednesday with the election of Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., who said he wants a House version passed by December, and the Senate Agriculture chairwoman saying an...