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Rep. Kevin Mullin's Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026 Advances, Raising Concerns for Automotive Racing Industry

Rep. Kevin Mullin's Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026 Advances, Raising Concerns for Automotive Racing Industry

H.R. 7945, known as the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026, introduced by Representative Kevin Mullin, has advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill, which aims to ban retail sales of consumer products containing nitrous oxide, was folded into a sixteen-bill markup and passed without opposition on September 16. If enacted, 180 days after its passage, any consumer product containing nitrous oxide would become a banned hazardous product under section 8 of the Consumer Product Safety Act. This would make it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import such products. The bill includes specific exemptions for medical and dental use, food production (including aerosol whipped cream), and accredited research labs, but notably does not explicitly exempt the automotive racing industry.

Congress Considers Paul Whelan Hostage Compensation and Reintegration Act to Aid Returning U.S. Citizens

Congress Considers Paul Whelan Hostage Compensation and Reintegration Act to Aid Returning U.S. Citizens

Congress is currently considering the Paul Whelan Hostage Compensation and Reintegration Act, a proposed law designed to provide financial compensation and a social safety net for U.S. citizens who have been held hostage abroad. The bill is named after Paul Whelan, a Michigan native who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges in late 2018 and subsequently spent over five years in a Russian labor camp before being released in a prisoner exchange in August 2024. Whelan's experience highlighted a significant gap in support for former hostages, as he returned home to find his job and home gone, with no existing national organizations or state unemployment insurance to assist with reintegration. The proposed legislation aims to address this by providing monetary compensation based on the number of days a person was held, with funds sourced from frozen assets and bank accounts of the rogue nations responsible for their detention, rather than U.S. taxpayer money. This initiative seeks to fill a crucial financ...

Bipartisan Lawmakers Push Bill to Establish AI Guardrails in Congress

Bipartisan Lawmakers Push Bill to Establish AI Guardrails in Congress

A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to ensure the legislative body takes an active role in establishing guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI). Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) are leading this initiative, advocating for a bill that would bring Congress off the sidelines in regulating new AI technologies. The push comes as AI rapidly advances, raising concerns about its societal impact and the need for proactive legislative oversight. The lawmakers aim to create a framework that addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, ensuring that safeguards are in place to protect the public and guide responsible development.

Rep. Kevin Mullin Introduces AV Emergency Response Coordination Act to Standardize Autonomous Vehicle Incident Protocols

Rep. Kevin Mullin Introduces AV Emergency Response Coordination Act to Standardize Autonomous Vehicle Incident Protocols

Representative Kevin Mullin, a Democrat from South San Francisco, has introduced the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act. This proposed legislation aims to establish standardized emergency response protocols for autonomous vehicles (AVs) and create a 24/7 hotline. The hotline would allow public officials to communicate directly with AV businesses during incidents. The bill comes as cities like San Diego are experiencing the deployment of robotaxi services, leading to concerns from local authorities regarding safety and regulatory input. The San Diego City Council recently passed a resolution opposing the rapid rollout of robotaxis, citing potential job losses for traditional drivers, safety concerns such as AVs blocking intersections or impeding first responders, and a lack of local regulatory control. Despite this, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria continues to support the deployment of AVs, viewing them as an additional asset for transportation options.

Congress Debates Supreme Court Reform Amidst Public Disapproval and Calls for Ethics Changes

Congress Debates Supreme Court Reform Amidst Public Disapproval and Calls for Ethics Changes

Congress is currently debating various proposals for Supreme Court reform, driven by declining public approval and concerns over the judiciary's political impartiality. Surveys indicate that only 39% of Americans hold a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, with 56% believing justices do a fair-to-poor job of keeping politics out of their decisions. Key reform proposals include enforcing a strict ethics code for justices, which enjoys overwhelming support (89%), and implementing fixed terms for justices instead of lifetime appointments, favored by 79%. A more contentious proposal is increasing the number of justices on the court, supported by 53% and opposed by 47%. Historically, Congress has altered the number of justices multiple times, with the current number of nine established in 1869. Some lawmakers, like Sixth District Congressman Ben Cline, oppose these reforms, arguing that the current structure is 'enshrined,' despite historical precedents of changes.

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's Stock Disclosures Under Scrutiny Amid Congressional Trading Ban Push

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's Stock Disclosures Under Scrutiny Amid Congressional Trading Ban Push

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washougal) is facing questions regarding discrepancies in her financial disclosures related to stock holdings. These questions arise as she has actively co-sponsored legislation to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. In January 2023, she co-sponsored the TRUST in Congress Act, aiming to mandate blind trusts for congressional members' investments. Less than six weeks later, she amended her candidate financial disclosure to include Amazon and Tesla shares that were not present in her original filing. Subsequent filings also showed Apple stock appearing and Robinhood shares disappearing, with Amazon shares later missing from annual reports without a clear record of sale. Federal disclosure laws require members to report investment assets over $1,000 or those generating over $200 in unearned income, and transactions over $1,000 within specific timeframes. These disclosure issues are surfacing as she is in a competitive race to retain her 3rd Congres...

Federal Court Rules Termination of National Endowment for the Humanities Grants Unlawful

Federal Court Rules Termination of National Endowment for the Humanities Grants Unlawful

A federal court ruled in May 2025 that the executive branch's termination of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was unlawful. This decision stems from a joint lawsuit filed by the Modern Language Association (MLA) in federal district court, arguing that the cuts violated the separation-of-powers principle enshrined in the Constitution, as well as federal statutes. The NEH, established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, is tasked with fostering education in the arts and humanities to sustain democracy. The lawsuit specifically challenged the executive branch's actions in cutting funds that Congress had already appropriated for the NEH. This ruling highlights ongoing tensions regarding the funding and autonomy of cultural and educational institutions in the U.S. The NEH has historically supported a wide range of projects, including educational conferences, theater initiatives, and historical preservation efforts, underscoring its role in promoting ...

Senators Bennet, Markey, and Merkley Demand Release of U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Documents

Senators Bennet, Markey, and Merkley Demand Release of U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Documents

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The letter presses the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a '123 agreement.' While the main text of the agreement has been submitted to Congress, these crucial side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level. The senators argue that this classification prevents both the public and a significant portion of Congress from fully understanding and assessing the agreement, as the side letters directly affect its obligations and operations. They emphasize that transparency and open debate are essential for Congress to fulfill its statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the deal, which has significant implicat...

Cincinnati Enquirer

Daylight saving time to end in Ohio. List of fall back dates till 2036

Daylight saving time to end in Ohio. List of fall back dates till 2036

With daylight saving time coming to an end, it may be surprising to know the "fall back" and "spring forward" dates are set ... for the next 10 years.

Bipartisan Coalition Urges Congressional Appointment for Next GAO Head to Ensure Independence

Bipartisan Coalition Urges Congressional Appointment for Next GAO Head to Ensure Independence

A bipartisan coalition is advocating for Congress, rather than the president, to appoint the next head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). This call for reform comes after the retirement of Comptroller General Gene Dodaro in December 2025, leaving Orice Williams Brown to lead the GAO in an acting capacity. The coalition, organized by the American Governance Institute and supported by over 20 organizations across the political spectrum, argues that this change is crucial to preserve the GAO's independence, impartiality, professionalism, and credibility. They emphasize that Congress alone should choose its agency heads, especially for an office within the legislative branch that examines the effectiveness and efficiency of federal programs. The current process involves a commission of senior lawmakers recommending individuals to the president, who then makes a selection subject to Senate confirmation.

Trump administration tells Congress it will admit 17,500 white South African refugees

Trump administration tells Congress it will admit 17,500 white South African refugees

The Trump administration plans to limit refugee admissions to 17,500 mostly white South Africans

Asheville Citizen-Times

What to know about mail-in voting for the 2026 midterms

What to know about mail-in voting for the 2026 midterms

The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from imposing new rules on mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. That means nothing has changed for voters — and mail-in voting can proceed as planned.