Oct 01 Senators reach deal to reduce prison time for some offenders By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators unveiled legislation on Thursday that would overhaul the nation's criminal justice system, allowing some nonviolent drug offenders to get reduced prison sentences and giving judges greater discretion in sentencing. Continue reading
Sep 30 Senate approves temporary spending bill to avoid government shutdown By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A temporary funding measure that would keep the government open past a midnight deadline easily sailed through the Senate on Wednesday and was expected to make its way shortly through a divided House and on to President Barack… Continue reading
Sep 08 Watch 6:41 Winning new Democratic support, Iran deal passage is all over but the shouting By PBS News Hour Three remaining Senate Democratic holdouts announced they will back the Iran nuclear deal, bringing the number of supporters to at least 41 votes. That's enough to block majority Republicans -- who unanimously oppose the deal -- from disapproving the agreement. Continue watching
Sep 02 Senate Democrats secure final vote to clinch Obama’s Iran deal By Erica Werner, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama secured a landmark foreign policy victory Wednesday as Senate Democrats amassed enough votes to ensure the Iran nuclear deal survives in Congress, despite ferocious opposition from Republicans and the government of Israel. Continue reading
Aug 30 Support for Iran nuclear deal rises to 31 in Senate By Associated Press Oregon's Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley on Sunday became the 31st senator to announce support for the Iran nuclear deal, as momentum builds behind the agreement the Obama administration and other world powers negotiated with Tehran. Continue reading
Aug 04 More fights ahead on Planned Parenthood after Senate vote By Alan Fram, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- In the aftermath of the Senate's derailing of Republican legislation halting federal dollars for Planned Parenthood, one thing seems clear: Many on both sides think they can ring up gains from the battle. Continue reading
Jul 30 Watch 6:08 News Wrap: CDC finds 1 in 5 adults in U.S. has a disability By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 53 million Americans are living with a disability. Rates are highest in Southern states and higher among Black and Hispanic adults. Also,… Continue watching
Jul 30 Senate on track to approve 3-month extension to highway bill By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Facing a Friday deadline, the Senate is on track to shore up federal highway aid and veterans' health care, leaving a raft of unresolved issues for a jam-packed congressional agenda in the fall. Continue reading
Jul 24 Could Facebook or Twitter stop the next terrorist attack? By Anne Flaherty, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Social media giants including Twitter, Yahoo, Facebook and Google are pushing back against Senate legislation that would require them to alert federal authorities of any terrorist activity, according to industry and government officials. Continue reading
Jun 23 Watch 4:51 News Wrap: Senate votes to advance fast-track trade authority By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Tuesday, the Senate is on the brink of giving President Obama the go-ahead on fast-track trade authority after a key procedural vote. Also, the Obama administration is reportedly ready to allow families pay ransom to terror… Continue watching