Explore

Meet the Candidate: Veronica Escobar seeks U.S. Representative, 16 seat

Meet the Candidate: Veronica Escobar seeks U.S. Representative, 16 seat

The El Paso Times sent questionnaires to candidates in the 2026 Nov. 3 General Election. Here are answers from U.S. Representative, 16 candidate, Veronica Escobar.

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber and Sen. John Cornyn Introduce Bill to Boost Brazoria County Ecotourism

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber and Sen. John Cornyn Introduce Bill to Boost Brazoria County Ecotourism

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn have co-sponsored the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Act. This proposed legislation aims to establish a national recreation area along the Brazoria County coast in Texas. The primary objective of the bill is to enhance ecotourism in the region, drawing more visitors to its natural attractions. The initiative is designed to leverage the unique ecological features of the Brazoria County coastline, promoting conservation while simultaneously stimulating local economic growth through increased tourism.

Senate Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill Extending Emergency Care Reporting Deadline for IHS Patients

Senate Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill Extending Emergency Care Reporting Deadline for IHS Patients

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed bipartisan legislation, the IHS Emergency Claims Parity Act, which aims to extend the deadline for Indian Health Service (IHS) patients to report emergency medical care received outside IHS facilities. Currently, most IHS patients are required to notify the IHS Purchased and Referred Care program within 72 hours of receiving emergency treatment from a non-IHS provider. This new bill, co-led by U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), would extend this reporting period from 72 hours to 15 days. The legislation is designed to alleviate the burden on patients who are recovering from emergencies and may find it difficult to complete administrative paperwork within the tight 72-hour window. The existing 30-day reporting period for elderly or disabled IHS beneficiaries will remain unchanged. The bill now proceeds to the U.S. House of Representatives for further consideration.

Representative Salud Carbajal and Representative Lloyd Smucker Reintroduce Bipartisan Veterans' Legislation

Representative Salud Carbajal and Representative Lloyd Smucker Reintroduce Bipartisan Veterans' Legislation

Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA 24th District) has partnered with Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA 11th District) to reintroduce the Home for the Brave Act. This bipartisan legislative effort aims to provide housing-related support for veterans. Additionally, Representative Smucker, with Democratic Representative Don Davis, reintroduced the VA Billing Accountability Act, which addresses medical billing issues for veterans. These actions highlight a collaborative approach in Congress to tackle critical challenges faced by the veteran community, focusing on both financial and housing stability. Representative Carbajal is a veteran himself, and his office emphasizes his commitment to improving veterans' well-being and quality of life. The reintroduction of these bills signifies ongoing efforts to refine and strengthen the support systems available to those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Hospital Cybersecurity and Food Safety Bills

Senate Passes Bipartisan Hospital Cybersecurity and Food Safety Bills

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed two significant bipartisan bills before adjourning until after the November election. The first bill addresses cybersecurity in hospitals, co-sponsored by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA.). This legislation aims to establish minimum cyber standards for healthcare providers and allocate grants and training to enhance their defense against cyberattacks. Senator Warner emphasized the lack of such standards in healthcare for years. The second bill focuses on food safety, co-sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and two Republican senators. If enacted, this bill would enable the FDA to share outbreak information with state and local health officials and authorize the destruction of unsafe imported food. Senator Kaine noted that the FDA remains understaffed, particularly in food inspection, with fewer inspectors than in 2005 despite national growth and increased food challenges. Both bills now proceed to the House of Representatives.

Senators Blumenthal and Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Support for Veterans Crisis Line Employees

Senators Blumenthal and Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Support for Veterans Crisis Line Employees

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) have jointly introduced the Veterans Crisis Line Support and Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to improve mental health support and workplace conditions for employees of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), many of whom are veterans themselves. Senator Blumenthal emphasized that VCL employees perform life-saving work under difficult circumstances and often face emotionally challenging situations. The bill was developed with input from VCL employees who have reported experiencing harassment and needing additional workplace protections due to the sensitive nature of their work. The legislation seeks to provide free, confidential counseling, establish peer support programs, implement critical incident stress debriefing, and offer annual resiliency/burnout-prevention training. It also proposes reasonable limits on workload and shift duration, mandatory rest periods after ...

Trump expands access to tax-exempt diesel fuel

Trump expands access to tax-exempt diesel fuel

By Jarrett Renshaw and Kanishka Singh GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska, Oct 5 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to expand access to tax-exempt diesel that he unveiled from a rally stage in Nebraska.

Former disgraced House Speaker Dennis Hastert dies at 84

Former disgraced House Speaker Dennis Hastert dies at 84

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has died at 84. He was the longest serving Republican speaker in history.

Pennsylvania Senate Committee Advances Bill to Prohibit Lab-Grown Meat Sales

Pennsylvania Senate Committee Advances Bill to Prohibit Lab-Grown Meat Sales

The Pennsylvania Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee has approved Senate Bill 1422, a piece of legislation introduced by Washington County Sen. Camera Bartolotta. This bill aims to ban the manufacture and sale of lab-grown meat and poultry within Pennsylvania. The primary motivation behind this legislative effort is to safeguard the interests of Pennsylvania's traditional farmers and the state's agricultural industry. Senator Bartolotta emphasized the importance of supporting those who produce food through conventional farming methods, arguing against the displacement of their agricultural heritage and livelihoods by lab-grown alternatives. If enacted, Pennsylvania would join seven other states that have already implemented similar prohibitions. The bill has now moved forward for consideration by the full state Senate.

U.S. Representatives Introduce Federal Bill for $10 Billion Fusion Energy Funding

U.S. Representatives Introduce Federal Bill for $10 Billion Fusion Energy Funding

U.S. House Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Jay Obernolte have co-introduced a federal bill designed to provide $10 billion in funding for fusion energy. This legislative effort aims to implement recommendations from a bipartisan report focused on scaling up fusion energy. The proposed funding is intended to support fusion research, the construction of new facilities, and milestone programs. The overarching goal of the bill is to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy within the United States. This federal initiative complements California's recent actions, where Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills to advance the state's nuclear energy strategy, including a strategic plan for nuclear fusion development. While California's Senate Bill 925 focuses on expanding research and development within the state, the federal bill seeks to provide substantial national financial backing to the nascent fusion energy sector.

U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Modernize Wyoming School Trust Fund Management

U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Modernize Wyoming School Trust Fund Management

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act, a bill aimed at providing Wyoming with greater flexibility in managing its permanent school trust fund. This legislation, sponsored by Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, and Representative Harriet Hageman, passed without amendment by unanimous consent. The bill seeks to update federal investment rules that govern the state's $5.4 billion permanent school land fund, which currently operates under regulations dating back to Wyoming's admission to the Union in 1890. The existing rules restrict how the fund's principal can be invested, with only the earnings being used to support K-12 public education. The proposed changes are intended to allow Wyoming to adopt modern investment strategies while safeguarding the fund's principal.

Senate Passes Bill to Ease Prescribed Burn Regulations Under Clean Air Act

Senate Passes Bill to Ease Prescribed Burn Regulations Under Clean Air Act

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed legislation aimed at amending the Clean Air Act (CAA) to facilitate prescribed burns, a key tool in preventing larger, uncontrolled wildfires. Under current law, states face administrative burdens in proving that particulate matter pollution from controlled burns qualifies as an 'exceptional event' and does not count towards air quality non-compliance. Senator John Curtis, R-Utah, the bill's lead sponsor, emphasized that prescribed burns are effective in reducing hazardous fuels. The measure requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise regulations, making it easier for states to demonstrate that a prescribed fire is an exceptional event. This legislative push gained momentum after smoke from western U.S. and Canadian wildfires impacted Washington D.C., highlighting the national threat.