Author
U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding
By: Samantha Dietel - December 7, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic leaders called on Congress this week to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental child care funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Child […]
‘Out of control’: Advocates rally in D.C. calling for action on housing crisis
By: Samantha Dietel - November 15, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat, joined about 100 tenant advocates at a press event outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to demand action on the housing crisis. Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called on the Federal Housing Finance Agency to bolster tenant protections and rent regulations. The People’s […]
Democratic lieutenant governors, advocates, discuss solutions to prevent gun violence
By: Samantha Dietel - October 24, 2023
WASHINGTON — Six lieutenant governors from across the country joined gun violence prevention advocates to share their stories and offer solutions at a policy discussion event Tuesday. The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association hosted the gun violence prevention policy summit, which was the first event of its kind. The association partnered with the gun violence prevention […]
Eight Republicans are running for U.S. House speaker. Here’s your guide to the field.
By: Jacob Fischler and Samantha Dietel - October 23, 2023
The eight Republican candidates running to be speaker of the U.S. House were set to make their cases to their colleagues Monday evening, as the House Republican Conference restarted its process to choose a candidate. Nine had filed on Sunday to run for speaker but on Monday night Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser dropped out, after […]
As consumers flock to organic foods, lawmakers urge more federal grants for farmers
By: Samantha Dietel - October 14, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers are pushing a bill that would boost support for organic farmers amid rising demand for their products. U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Angus King of Maine in the Senate, alongside U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine and Annie Kuster of New Hampshire in the House, introduced the Organic Market […]
Louisiana’s Steve Scalise and Ohio’s Jim Jordan jump into race for U.S. House speaker
By: Ashley Murray and Samantha Dietel - October 4, 2023
WASHINGTON — Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio announced Wednesday they will seek the U.S. House speaker’s gavel after Kevin McCarthy’s unprecedented ouster brought the lower chamber into uncharted territory. Eight dissident Republicans joined Democrats to unseat McCarthy Tuesday, leaving a vacuum of GOP leadership and bringing an abrupt […]
Rural America a focus for bipartisan health caucus formed in U.S. House
By: Samantha Dietel - October 3, 2023
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan congressional caucus aims to improve accessibility to quality health care and services in rural U.S. communities. The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus had its first meeting Sept. 20 and serves as a forum for U.S. representatives to promote legislation and policy actions regarding rural health. Members came together to discuss the issues […]
Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland probed at U.S. Senate hearing
By: Samantha Dietel - September 27, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators said during a Wednesday hearing that foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is a national security threat that should be further examined. The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry discussed foreign ownership of the nation’s agricultural lands, with testimony from experts and Senate colleagues who have been taking the lead […]
Trump absent but still dominates as GOP presidential rivals clash at first debate
By: Jacob Fischler, Jennifer Shutt and Samantha Dietel - August 23, 2023
Eight Republican presidential candidates gathered onstage Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a heated first primary debate heavily influenced by former President Donald Trump, though the party’s front runner refused to attend the two-hour event. Trump instead recorded a competing 46-minute interview with former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson that aired on X, formerly known […]