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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...
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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.
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Senators Propose Voluntary Telecom Security Framework Following Salt Typhoon Hacks

Senators Propose Voluntary Telecom Security Framework Following Salt Typhoon Hacks

Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have introduced the Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at developing voluntary cybersecurity practices for telecommunications operators. This legislative effort comes nearly two years after the Salt Typhoon espionage campaign, which compromised U.S. communications networks. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a working group within the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This group, comprising providers, suppliers, cybersecurity experts, and government agencies, would be tasked with developing telecom-specific best practices within 18 months of the bill's enactment. Additionally, the bill would create a voluntary process for independently assessing companies' adoption of these practices. Senator Warner emphasized the vulnerability of critical infrastructure exposed by the Salt Typhoon intrusion, while Senator Cruz highlighted the benefit of voluntary protection...
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Senator Rick Scott Introduces SCREEN Act to Protect American Children from Foreign Predators

Senator Rick Scott Introduces SCREEN Act to Protect American Children from Foreign Predators

U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced the Strengthened Checks for Reliable Evaluation of Entrants Nationwide (SCREEN) Act. This legislation aims to prevent foreign child predators from obtaining visas and subsequently gaining access to American children. Senator Scott emphasized that the U.S. should ensure with 100% certainty that child predators are not entering the country on work visas, citing bureaucratic failures that have put children at risk. The SCREEN Act seeks to enhance interagency coordination, which Senator Scott believes is crucial for both national security and the safety of American children. Representative Carlos Giménez introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senator Ted Budd is an original cosponsor of the bill. Representative Giménez highlighted that the bill would provide the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State with critical information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to identify dangero...
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Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation for Voluntary Telecommunications Cybersecurity Framework

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation for Voluntary Telecommunications Cybersecurity Framework

Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have introduced the Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at developing voluntary cybersecurity practices for telecommunications operators. This initiative comes nearly two years after the Salt Typhoon espionage campaign, which exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. communications networks. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a working group within the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This group, comprising providers, suppliers, cybersecurity experts, and government agencies, would be tasked with developing telecom-specific best practices within 18 months of the bill's enactment. Senator Cruz emphasized that the bill promotes voluntary protections rather than rigid federal mandates that could quickly become outdated. This legislative effort follows the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) reversal of a Biden-era security measure last November, which had aimed to ...
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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.
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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 ...
ReutersReuters
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
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U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey Addresses CAIR Designation Push Amidst Republican Criticism

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey Addresses CAIR Designation Push Amidst Republican Criticism

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Texas Democrat, has publicly stated his opposition to efforts by some Republican lawmakers to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization. While condemning any group that supported the October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel, Veasey noted that his constituents have not raised any complaints about CAIR. He further mentioned that CAIR representatives have collaborated with his office without issues. Veasey suggested that Senator Ted Cruz, a proponent of the FTO designation for CAIR, should instead focus on controversies within his own party, specifically referencing the Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, Bo French, who has faced criticism for a controversial social media post.
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President Trump's D.C. Arch Redesign as Military Complex Faces Strong Opposition and Legal Challenges

President Trump's D.C. Arch Redesign as Military Complex Faces Strong Opposition and Legal Challenges

President Trump announced that his proposed D.C. arch, initially conceived as a tribute to the United States' 250th anniversary and a tourist attraction, will now serve as a 'top grade Military Complex.' This 250-foot structure is intended to house and store drones, provide sniper positions on its roof and plaza, and store ammunition. This abrupt shift in purpose has drawn significant criticism from historic preservation advocates and lawmakers. The National Park Service had previously sought feedback on a 'Memorandum of Agreement' for the arch's original design, which preservation groups now deem 'dead on arrival' due to the new military designation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had just concluded a month-long evaluation stating the arch would not pose a risk to airspace, but this assessment did not account for military drones, rendering it potentially obsolete. A group of five Democratic and one Independent lawmaker has written to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, demanding a halt to the proje...
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Senator Cortez Masto Receives Hispanic Health Leadership Award, Advocates for Healthcare Access

Senator Cortez Masto Receives Hispanic Health Leadership Award, Advocates for Healthcare Access

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) was honored with the Hispanic Health Leadership Award by the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) during its 2026 DC Leadership Reception and Hill Day activities. The award recognizes her dedication to ensuring quality healthcare access for Hispanic communities. In her acceptance speech, Senator Cortez Masto emphasized the underrepresentation of Latinos in the healthcare system and pledged to continue advocating for lower healthcare costs and more accessible care in the Senate. The NHHF event, held in Washington, D.C., gathered health leaders, professionals, students, and policymakers to celebrate healthcare leadership and officially launch the NHHF Action Fund. This fund is a strategic expansion of NHHF's mission, focusing on advancing federal and state policies to improve healthcare access, address health disparities, and support a diverse healthcare workforce. The reception also featured presentations to Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) and Carl Garrett, ...
ReutersReuters
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