Apr 29 U.S. records first Zika death; Congress breaks without decision on emergency funds By Nsikan Akpan The United States has reported its first Zika-related death in Puerto Rico. The Zika virus also was spotted in tiger mosquitoes, a species with a broad range in the U.S. Continue reading
Apr 28 House committee votes to require women to register for draft By Richard Lardner, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Women would be required to register for the military draft under a House committee's bill that comes just months after the Defense Department lifted all gender-based restrictions on front-line combat units. Continue reading
Apr 25 Attack ads complicate Congress' efforts to help Puerto Rico avoid default By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Debt-ridden Puerto Rico faces a $422 million bond payment deadline Sunday with no sign Congress will act in time to help. Continue reading
Apr 19 Congress unlikely to act on Puerto Rico ahead of deadline By Erica Werner, Associated Press Congress seems increasingly unlikely to take action to help Puerto Rico ahead of a May 1 deadline for the commonwealth to default on a nearly half-billion-dollar debt payment. Continue reading
Apr 18 Watch 7:16 IRS commissioner: Funding cuts hinder security, efficiency By PBS News Hour The IRS is facing tougher scrutiny than ever from Congress. Last week, lawmakers repeatedly pressed IRS Commissioner John Koskinen on why the agency wasn't moving faster to improve cybersecurity, after hackers were able to breach its computers last year. Koskinen… Continue watching
Apr 14 Puerto Rico faces defaults as Congress stalls on way to help By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico is facing a deadline for a multimillion-dollar bond payment next month as House Republicans struggle to find a way to help the island deal with its $70 billion debt. Continue reading
Apr 04 4 issues that remain in limbo in Congress By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Congress increasingly is being defined by what it's not doing this election year. The Senate returns this week with a strong majority of Republicans saying no to any consideration of President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. No hearings,… Continue reading
Apr 03 Top issues in congressional limbo include spending, Garland nomination By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The Senate returns this week with a strong majority of Republicans saying no to any consideration of President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. And in the House, where lawmakers return from their break April 12, conservative opposition could… Continue reading
Apr 01 How getting women involved can combat extremism and save lives By Jamille Bigio, Council on Foreign Relations As increasingly costly, disruptive and deadly conflicts unfold around the world, a House hearing last week highlighted that when women participate in negotiations, the resulting agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years. Continue reading
Mar 25 As Congress bickers, Flint suffers, Michigan lawmakers say By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Rep. Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat who represents Flint, says his hometown is struggling while Congress bickers. Continue reading