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Bipartisan Bill on Critical Manufacturing, Sponsored by Rep. Miller-Meeks, Advances to President Trump's Desk

Bipartisan Bill on Critical Manufacturing, Sponsored by Rep. Miller-Meeks, Advances to President Trump's Desk

Bipartisan legislation, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, sponsored by Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Senator Joni Ernst, has passed the U.S. Senate and is now advancing to President Trump's desk for signature. This bill aims to bolster domestic manufacturing, enhance supply chain review, and create jobs within the United States, with a particular focus on Iowa. The legislation directs the Commerce Department to identify high-demand imported products and assess the feasibility of manufacturing them domestically. This assessment will include an examination of potential costs, benefits, and job impacts, specifically considering rural communities and all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. The bill was initially introduced in 2023 and passed the House in 2025, demonstrating sustained bipartisan support.

Bipartisan Bill on Critical Manufacturing, Sponsored by Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Advances to President Trump's Desk

Bipartisan Bill on Critical Manufacturing, Sponsored by Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Advances to President Trump's Desk

Bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors, has passed the U.S. Senate and is now advancing to President Trump's desk for signature. The bill, known as the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, was sponsored by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Sen. Joni Ernst. Its primary objective is to direct the Commerce Department to identify high-demand imported products and assess the feasibility of manufacturing them domestically. This assessment would include an examination of potential costs, benefits, and job creation impacts, with a specific focus on rural communities and all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. The legislation was initially introduced in 2023 and passed the House in 2025, garnering bipartisan support throughout its journey through Congress. Both Miller-Meeks and Ernst have emphasized that the bill aims to bring production back to the U.S., support American jobs, and address concerns related to supply chain v...

Bipartisan Senate Leaders Introduce Bill to Bolster Telecom Cybersecurity Following Salt Typhoon Campaign

Bipartisan Senate Leaders Introduce Bill to Bolster Telecom Cybersecurity Following Salt Typhoon Campaign

Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have introduced the Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing cybersecurity standards within the U.S. telecommunications sector. This legislative effort comes nearly two years after the Salt Typhoon campaign, a significant espionage operation attributed to a Chinese hacking group, was made public. The Salt Typhoon intrusion, described as the worst telecom hack in U.S. history, targeted major telecom carriers and siphoned data from presidential campaigns and candidates. The proposed bill seeks to improve telecom security through voluntary measures developed collaboratively by government and industry stakeholders. It mandates the creation of a telecom cybersecurity working group within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This group will include carriers, suppliers, experts, and relevant government agencies, tasked with developing industry-wide best practices within 18 months of the bill...

US senators delay effort to permanently ban Chinese cars

US senators delay effort to permanently ban Chinese cars

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The two US senators backing a permanent legislative ban on Chinese vehicles in the United States agreed on Thursday to delay their plan to use a fast-track procedure to win Senate approval until next week, in order to seek the support of a lone

Senate Republicans signal support for Iran war despite midterm angst

Senate Republicans signal support for Iran war despite midterm angst

The Senate's narrow avoidance of a largely symbolic resolution underscored just how central backlash to the war has become in the midterms.

Senators Introduce 'Better Bench Act' to Broaden Federal Circuit and U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Residency Requirements

Senators Introduce 'Better Bench Act' to Broaden Federal Circuit and U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Residency Requirements

Senators Ashley Moody and Chris Coons have introduced a new bill, the 'Better Bench Act,' aimed at removing the current residency restrictions for judges on the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Currently, judges on these courts are required to live within 50 miles of Washington, D.C. The proposed legislation would allow these judges to reside anywhere within the United States. Senator Moody emphasized that for a court covering the entire nation, judicial nominations should be based on merit from across America, rather than proximity to the D.C. area. Senator Coons added that the existing requirement has unduly limited the pool of qualified candidates for complex intellectual property and federal contract cases to those willing to relocate to Washington, D.C. This development was highlighted in an article by Blake Brittain for Reuters.

Bipartisan Subterranean Border Defense Act Gains Senate Momentum to Enhance Oversight of Illicit Tunnels

Bipartisan Subterranean Border Defense Act Gains Senate Momentum to Enhance Oversight of Illicit Tunnels

The Subterranean Border Defense Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) and Representative Lou Correa (D-CA), has gained significant momentum with the introduction of a companion bill in the Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). The House of Representatives previously passed the bill on March 10, 2025, with overwhelming bipartisan support, receiving a 402-1 vote. This legislation aims to strengthen congressional oversight of illicit cross-border tunnels, which transnational criminal organizations utilize to smuggle drugs, weapons, currency, and people across the southwest border. Since 1990, over 200 such tunnels have been discovered. The bill builds upon Section 7134 of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which mandated the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop a strategic plan to counter these operations. The new legislation converts the NDAA's one-time reporting requirement into an annual one, ensuring regular updates ...

Senator Todd Young Discusses U.S. Biotechnology Leadership and Competition with China at Axios Event

Senator Todd Young Discusses U.S. Biotechnology Leadership and Competition with China at Axios Event

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), who chairs the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), recently participated in Axios' 'The Global Biotech Race' event. The discussion focused on America's leading role in biotechnology and the increasing competition from China. Senator Young emphasized several key areas for maintaining the U.S. biotechnology advantage, including accelerating innovation, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, modernizing the regulatory environment, and effectively utilizing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the work of the NSCEB in developing recommendations aimed at bolstering the U.S. biotechnology sector, addressing national security vulnerabilities, and guiding federal government priorities in this critical field.

Representative Zoe Lofgren Introduces Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA) in 2025

Representative Zoe Lofgren Introduces Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA) in 2025

In January 2025, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren introduced the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA), a legislative initiative aimed at combating online piracy. This bill marks a renewed effort by American lawmakers to address the issue of digital piracy, which has not been a subject of widespread public discussion in the U.S. in recent years. The last significant attempt to empower law enforcement and copyright holders to combat illegal online content, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2012, failed to pass. FADPA seeks to establish mechanisms for restricting access to foreign websites that facilitate copyright infringement. This move indicates a re-evaluation of strategies to protect intellectual property in the digital age.

Representative Joe Courtney Introduces Bill to Safeguard VC-25B Bridge Aircraft from Transfer

Representative Joe Courtney Introduces Bill to Safeguard VC-25B Bridge Aircraft from Transfer

Representative Joe Courtney has introduced H.R. 10360, titled the 'Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act of 2026.' This bill, received on September 14, 2026, and currently having 18 cosponsors, aims to prevent the Department of Defense from using fiscal year 2027 funds to sell, donate, or otherwise transfer ownership or control of any aircraft in the VC-25B Bridge program to entities outside the Department of the Air Force. The legislation is designed to ensure these specific aircraft remain under Air Force control, thereby preventing their transfer to private individuals or organizations. The bill does not alter how the aircraft are built, operated, or directly funded, beyond restricting the use of FY2027 defense funds for any external transfer. This move underscores a legislative effort to maintain specific military assets within the established defense framework.

US senators press for quick Chinese vehicle ban this week as Xi visits

US senators press for quick Chinese vehicle ban this week as Xi visits

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - US senators proposing bipartisan legislation to make permanent a ban on Chinese vehicles are aiming to win quick Senate approval this week, as President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping, one of the bill's authors said on

U.S. House Passes 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' Bill Advances to Senate

U.S. House Passes 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' Bill Advances to Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' sending the legislation to the Senate for further consideration. This bill aims to mandate the inclusion of AM radio receivers in all new vehicles. The move comes amidst a push by some electric vehicle manufacturers to remove AM radio from their vehicles, citing potential technical interference from large batteries. However, engineers and proponents of AM radio, such as Dennis Lyle, CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association, argue that such interference can be mitigated. Lyle emphasized the critical role of AM radio, particularly in rural areas where it often serves as the most reliable source of information due to geographical restrictions affecting FM signals. He also highlighted AM radio's importance in the Emergency Alert System (EAS), where stations like WTAX act as primary entry points (PEP) to disseminate critical messages during emergencies.