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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...

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.

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

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.

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.

Senator Rick Scott's SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism from Adversarial Nations Blocked by Senate Democrats

Senator Rick Scott's SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism from Adversarial Nations Blocked by Senate Democrats

U.S. Senator Rick Scott's Stopping Adversarial Foreign Exploitation of Kids in Domestic Surrogacy (SAFE KIDS) Act was blocked by Senate Democrats for the second time this year. Senator Scott attempted to pass the bill by unanimous consent on the Senate Floor. The proposed legislation aims to prevent citizens of adversarial nations, specifically Communist China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, from utilizing American surrogates to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children. The bill also seeks to penalize brokers who facilitate such commercial surrogacy contracts. Senator Scott has consistently highlighted national security concerns related to birth tourism, citing various media reports from outlets like The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and CBS News that have covered the issue, including a story from his home state of Florida.

Senator Alex Padilla Co-Announces Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

Senator Alex Padilla Co-Announces Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) was one of four legislators who co-announced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act on September 17. This bipartisan legislation, still in development, aims to address long-standing gaps in health and safety protections for wildland firefighters. Co-led by U.S. Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), the bill will be developed in collaboration with firefighters, unions, and health experts. Senator Padilla emphasized the importance of ensuring that firefighters have the necessary resources, safety equipment, and support to perform their jobs safely. The proposed act will establish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate exposure reduction and pilot respiratory technologies. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Portland, Oregon) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

A coalition of 89 national and state labor unions, civil rights organizations, consumer protection groups, and student and borrower advocates has sent an urgent letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees overseeing federal student loans and servicers. The letter demands an emergency hearing to address the widespread chaos and confusion experienced by borrowers over the past year. This situation has been exacerbated by the Trump Administration's implementation of significant cuts to financial aid and student loan repayment programs under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (OBBBA). The advocates included a memo with their letter, detailing borrower stories from the 'One Big Bill' campaign, which highlight skyrocketing payments and persistent servicing issues following the act's implementation. The coalition is seeking immediate congressional attention to the deteriorating state of the student loan system and its impact on borrowers.

U.S. House Committee Investigates Diversion of F-35 Jet Parts to Hong Kong

U.S. House Committee Investigates Diversion of F-35 Jet Parts to Hong Kong

A U.S. House of Representatives committee overseeing defense policy is investigating the diversion of potentially sensitive F-35 jet components from Australia to Hong Kong. The Pentagon’s F-35 program office confirmed awareness of a “shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 components” and is actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve them, investigate the incident, and implement safeguards. Politico reported that a shipment of F-35 parts, intended for repairs in the U.S., was rerouted from Australia and ended up in Hong Kong. The specific components involved were not disclosed by the program office, nor was the meaning of “unserviceable” clarified. However, Politico indicated that the shipment included a jet canopy, which covers the cockpit and contains stealth technology exclusive to the U.S. and its allies. Lockheed Martin Corp., which manages the F-35 program’s supply chain and uses commercial shipping providers, stated that it cannot discuss specific shipments or procedures f...

House Passes Legislation Mandating AM Radio in New Vehicles for Emergency Preparedness

House Passes Legislation Mandating AM Radio in New Vehicles for Emergency Preparedness

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which mandates that all new passenger vehicles manufactured in or imported into the U.S. must include AM radio capabilities as standard equipment. This legislation requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule ensuring that these vehicles have devices capable of receiving and playing content from AM stations or digital audio AM stations without an additional fee. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a sponsor of the bill, emphasized that AM broadcast radio is a critical public safety resource, especially during national or natural disasters when electricity and cell service may be unavailable. The bill aims to prevent car manufacturers from removing AM radio as a feature, a trend observed in some electric vehicles and potentially other new models. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) highlighted that AM broadcast stations are specifically designed to withstand major weather events and act as primary entry points for t...

Ski Resort Industry Urges Senate to Reject Sunshine Protection Act of 2026

Ski Resort Industry Urges Senate to Reject Sunshine Protection Act of 2026

The U.S. ski resort industry is actively lobbying U.S. senators to oppose the Sunshine Protection Act of 2026, a bill that aims to establish permanent daylight saving time. Five resort trade groups and two resort companies, collectively representing 115 ski areas across 10 states, sent a letter to 19 senators on September 10, outlining their concerns. They argue that the proposed legislation would result in a significant reduction of morning sunlight during winter months, posing substantial operational, economic, and safety risks for mountain communities and resort workers. The industry emphasizes that adequate morning sunlight is critical for safe operations in alpine environments, including preparing ski areas and ensuring timely openings. The House of Representatives previously passed the bill on July 14 with a vote of 308-117, with proponents citing polls indicating public dissatisfaction with semi-annual clock changes.

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan Advocates for RISE Act to Streamline College Admissions for Students with Disabilities

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan Advocates for RISE Act to Streamline College Admissions for Students with Disabilities

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, is actively campaigning for the passage of the RISE Act, legislation designed to remove obstacles for students with disabilities seeking higher education. The proposed act aims to simplify the documentation process by allowing high school Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or previous accommodation records to serve as valid proof of a disability. Additionally, the RISE Act mandates that colleges and universities publicly disclose their policies and procedures regarding disability accommodations. This initiative comes as students like Javi Sandoval from Manchester Community College have faced significant challenges, including the need to re-verify dyslexia at considerable personal expense after their high school IEPs expired. Senator Hassan emphasizes that the bill's core purpose is to eliminate unnecessary financial burdens and paperwork for students with disabilities or special education needs as they transition to college.