Explore

U.S. Representatives Bera and Salazar Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Tuberculosis Globally

U.S. Representatives Bera and Salazar Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Tuberculosis Globally

U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), co-chairs of the House Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus, have reintroduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance U.S. efforts in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately eradicating tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. The bill has garnered support from seven other bipartisan representatives as original cosponsors. Representative Bera, a medical doctor, has consistently advocated for global health investments, emphasizing that stopping infectious diseases abroad safeguards Americans at home. The legislation seeks to modernize U.S. global TB programs by focusing resources on high-burden countries and communities. Key provisions include expanding access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, accelerating research and development for new tools, and setting clear goals for U.S. programs, such as an 80% reduction in TB incidence and a 90% reduction in TB deaths from 2015 levels by 2030. It...

Trump signs bill to avert government shutdown before midterm elections

Trump signs bill to avert government shutdown before midterm elections

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill on Wednesday to avert a government shutdown before the midterm elections after the legislation was passed by the House of Representatives a day earlier and the Senate in August.

President Trump Proposes 2027 Federal Civilian Pay Freeze, Unions Push Back

President Trump Proposes 2027 Federal Civilian Pay Freeze, Unions Push Back

President Trump has issued a letter proposing a freeze on most federal civilian pay for 2027. This action, taken on August 26, replaces statutory pay increases that would otherwise occur under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 with a zero adjustment to base and locality pay. An exception is made for federal law enforcement personnel, who are slated for a 3.8% increase. Active-duty military members are also set to receive raises between 5% and 7%. The President justified the civilian pay freeze by stating it "will maintain fiscal responsibility without harming the government’s ability to recruit and retain well qualified employees," while arguing the law enforcement increase is necessary for recruitment and retention in those roles. Federal employee unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have strongly criticized the proposed freeze, calling it a "slap in the face" and warning it could politicize the workfor...

Lawmakers and Oncologists Express Concern Over Proposed NIH Budget Cuts for Fiscal Year 2027

Lawmakers and Oncologists Express Concern Over Proposed NIH Budget Cuts for Fiscal Year 2027

Oncologists and lawmakers are raising alarms over potential budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the primary federal agency responsible for medical and public health research. The White House has proposed a fiscal year 2027 budget of $41.4 billion for the NIH, which represents a 12% reduction from the previous year's funding. Dr. Christian Thomas, medical director of clinical research at New England Cancer Specialists, emphasized that current funding directly leads to future treatments and provides a significant return on investment through job creation and economic activity. Julia MacDonald, Maine director of government relations at ACS CAN, highlighted the historical bipartisan support for cancer research funding and urged Congress to provide the highest possible funding for the NIH. Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, has publicly called the proposed cuts to biomedical research funding "inexplicable." Congress has until September 30 to finalize federal fund...

House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances 17 Bills, Including Ratepayer Protection Act

House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances 17 Bills, Including Ratepayer Protection Act

The House Energy and Commerce Committee successfully advanced 17 pieces of legislation during its open markup session on July 20, 2026. These bills cover a range of critical areas, including energy infrastructure, grid modernization, drug scheduling, and healthcare pricing transparency. Among the notable bills that passed was the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340), co-sponsored by Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), which passed unanimously with a 52-0 vote after an amendment by Rep. Evans was agreed to. Another significant bill, the Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005), also sponsored by Rep. Evans, passed with a vote of 43-6. The committee's session saw broad agreement on most legislation, though two healthcare measures, the Prices on the Wall Act and the STOP Nitazenes Act, faced more significant opposition.

Congressman Foster Introduces Bill to Enhance Financial Sector Cybersecurity Amid AI Risks

Congressman Foster Introduces Bill to Enhance Financial Sector Cybersecurity Amid AI Risks

Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) has introduced the Strengthening Oversight for the Financial Sector Act. This proposed legislation aims to grant the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) the authority to oversee third-party technology vendors utilized by the entities they regulate. This oversight capability is currently available to other federal financial regulators but had temporarily expired for the NCUA, creating a gap in supervision. The bill seeks to close this gap, particularly in light of advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that are making cyberattacks more sophisticated and increasing the vulnerability of financial institutions through third-party technology providers. The legislation emphasizes the need to protect consumers, financial institutions, and the broader financial system from potential attacks that could exploit these vulnerabilities. A previous version of this bill passed the House Financial Services Committee in the 117th Con...

Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann Claims Gaza's Problem is Obesity, Not Starvation

Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann Claims Gaza's Problem is Obesity, Not Starvation

Former U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has asserted that the primary issue in Gaza is obesity, not starvation, claiming that the calorie count for individuals in Gaza exceeds 3,000 calories per person per day due to the amount of food entering the region. Bachmann, who is now the Dean of Regent University's Robertson School of Government, based her claims on a report from the Israel Journal of Health Policy Medicine, which studied food shipments from January to July 2024. She suggested that the population of Gaza has grown and that the influx of food has led to a problem of excessive caloric intake. This statement contradicts widespread reports from humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations World Food Programme, which have warned of deepening food insecurity and potential famine in Gaza.

U.S. Famine Early Warning Systems Network Resumes Reporting on Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen Amidst Criticism

U.S. Famine Early Warning Systems Network Resumes Reporting on Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen Amidst Criticism

The U.S. Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has announced it will resume public reporting on Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen starting in September. This decision follows a temporary halt in reporting on these countries, which had drawn significant criticism from former U.S. aid officials and humanitarian experts. The network, established in 1985 by the U.S. Agency for International Development and now operating under the State Department, provides crucial data on food insecurity by assessing trends and risks using meteorological, agricultural, economic, and conflict-related data. The temporary exclusion of these nations from FEWS NET's annual 'Peak Food Assistance Needs Outlook' and monthly 'Food Assistance Outlook' reports raised concerns about the politicization of famine analysis and potential impacts on food aid planning, especially for Afghanistan, where U.S. humanitarian aid has also been curtailed. The U.S. State Department initially did not confirm or deny the changes but later stated ...

Congressman Richard Hudson Chairs Subcommittee Markup on Communications Network Strengthening and Satellite Regulation Modernization

Congressman Richard Hudson Chairs Subcommittee Markup on Communications Network Strengthening and Satellite Regulation Modernization

Congressman Richard Hudson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered an opening statement at a markup session focusing on six bipartisan telecommunications bills. These legislative proposals aim to bolster American leadership in communications, enhance network security against various threats, and improve the federal government's distribution of broadband services. Key bills under consideration include the GUARD Act, which addresses robotic technology from adversaries that could collect data and spy on Americans, and the Foreign Robocalls Elimination Act, designed to combat robocalls originating abroad. Additionally, the AI for Secure Networks Act proposes a study on the impact of artificial intelligence on communications network security, while the PLAN for Broadband Act and the Data Bridge Act seek to improve broadband deployment and mapping, particularly in agricultural areas. Congressman Hudson expressed gratitude for his colleagues' commitment and work in developing the...

Congresswoman Harshbarger Introduces 'Freedom to Home Distill Act' to Legalize Small-Scale Liquor Production

Congresswoman Harshbarger Introduces 'Freedom to Home Distill Act' to Legalize Small-Scale Liquor Production

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, a Republican from Tennessee, has introduced the 'Freedom to Home Distill Act,' a bill aimed at legalizing the small-scale home distillation of liquor for personal or family use without federal penalties. This proposed legislation seeks to grant home distillers the same rights currently enjoyed by home brewers and winemakers. The federal ban on home distillation dates back to 1868. The bill would permit adults aged 21 and older to distill up to 10 proof gallons annually for a single-adult household, or 20 proof gallons for households with two or more adults, using stills no larger than 50 gallons, without requiring federal registration or excise taxes. The initiative is supported by figures like Eric 'Digger' Manes and Mark Ramsey from Discovery Channel's 'Moonshiners,' who helped develop the legislation.

Trump administration plans $4 million for right-wing media in Europe, sources say

Trump administration plans $4 million for right-wing media in Europe, sources say

(Refiles to add administration in headline, no change to text) By Humeyra Pamuk and Paul Carsten WASHINGTON/BERLIN, Aug 31 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration is planning to spend $4 million to bolster right-wing media in Europe, part of a package of at least $25 million for civil

U.S. Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Sanction Chinese Entities in Fentanyl Trade

U.S. Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Sanction Chinese Entities in Fentanyl Trade

Four U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced the CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act, a bill aimed at sanctioning Chinese entities involved in the illicit trade of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals. The legislation targets chemical manufacturers and ports facilitating the shipment of these substances, leveraging their exposure to the U.S. banking system. Republican Representatives John Moolenaar and Dan Newhouse, alongside Democrats Ro Khanna and Jake Auchincloss, are sponsoring the bill. Representative Newhouse stated that the Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable for its role in the fentanyl crisis, which has caused over 70,000 American deaths annually at its peak. Historically, Chinese fentanyl makers have operated in both legal and illicit markets, and after China banned fentanyl exports to North America in 2019, many shifted to shipping precursor chemicals to Mexico for synthesis by cartels. Efforts by the U.S. to cooperate with China on drug enforcement have yielded mixed results, with some progress no...