On June 12, 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee convened for a hearing on combatting the youth vaping epidemic by enhancing enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes. Committee Chair, Senator Dick Durbin (D- IL), noted an alarming level of youth using e-cigarettes and the failure of federal agencies to protect children from the addiction associated with use. A
On May 23, 2024, the Senate passed S.Res.706, a Resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month. The long title of the resolution is, “Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to implement policies to improve the lives
On May 1, 2024, House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) unveiled an initial summary of the House Republican Farm bill, which encompasses important nutrition programs. A follow-up summary with additional detail was released on May 10th, providing more specific information about the various titles. Legislative text has not been released but is expected sometime this
On May 3, 2024, the Senate HELP Committee hosted a hearing entitled, “What can Congress do to address the severe shortage of minority health care professionals and the maternal health crisis?” Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stated that the US health-care system is inefficient and ineffective. The US spends twice as much per capita on healthcare
On May 7, 2024, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth and help ensure they can pursue a higher education and
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing, “Challenges in Preserving the U.S. Housing Stock,” on April 16, 2024. Senator Smith (D-MN) indicated that in the USA, more than half of the homes are over forty years old. Also, in rural areas there are an estimated 400,000 government sponsored apartments that are
The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, the tax bill that includes a small but significant expansion to the child tax credit, continues to be stalled in the Senate after passing the House in a 357-72 vote, a major win in a Congress that has not been marked by bipartisan agreement and has
Congress passed the first six Appropriations bills for 2024 last week. On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, the House voted 339-85 to advance the package to the Senate; because the bills did not go through the Rules Committee, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had to rely on significant support from House Democrats to get the 2/3 majority
On February 28, 2024, House Speaker Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Jeffries (D-NY) along with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member DeLauro (D-CT) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Collins (R-ME) released a statement unveiling a new
The House and Senate will return from their Presidents’ Day recess this week without an agreement on the four funding bills that expire on March 1st, 2024, the end of this week. As previously reported, the House and Senate leadership were able to agree on topline numbers for the total FY 2024 budget that closely
