Management

FDA greenlights a new COVID vaccine after a summer of rising numbers of cases

While the death rate from COVID-19 steadily decreased during the first half of the year, it began ticking up slightly in June, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Management

USDA to take ‘additional step’ in testing beef from former dairy cattle for bird flu

The undersecretary for food safety at the USDA said Tuesday that the new testing program follows three studies undertaken during the spring and summer that all found beef in the nation’s food supply is safe to eat.

Defense

More than 1 million veterans receiving benefits via PACT Act ahead of anniversary

Since the law – known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act or the PACT Act – took effect nearly two years ago, the VA says that 739,421 veterans have enrolled in its health care programs.

News

Walz’s U.S. House tenure: Bipartisan bills and a focus on vets and farms

The Democratic running mate has an extensive record on Capitol Hill as an effective lawmaker who was largely bipartisan.

News

Congress limps toward the end of a disappointing session, with just 78 laws to show

A divided Congress has shepherded fewer bills to the president this session, often fostering little consensus in 2024, and things don't look to improve during election season.

News

House leaders name members of Trump assassination attempt task force

House leaders announced a bipartisan 13-member task force to investigate the July 13 assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.

News

Biden tests positive for COVID and will return home to Delaware

The president's doctor said his symptoms were currently "mild." Biden was last diagnosed with COVID-19 in July 2022.

News

Biden says ‘no place for this kind of violence in America’ after shooting at Trump rally

Vice President Kamala Harris also issued a statement saying she and the second gentleman were praying for Trump and his family.

News

Scientists argue over the origins of COVID-19 before Senate panel

Microbiology and biodefense experts continued to wrangle over whether COVID-19 emerged from a laboratory leak or was passed to humans through exposure from another animal.

Oversight

Fauci defends his work on COVID-19, says he has an ‘open mind’ on its origins

The former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explained to members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic why guidance shifted so much during the first several months of the pandemic.

Management

Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law

The law has also led to more than 145,000 people enrolling in health care provided by the Veterans Affairs Department.

News

‘It’s up to Mike Johnson’: Marjorie Taylor Greene again stalls vote on ousting the House speaker

Any vote to remove Johnson is likely to fail, since House Democratic leaders announced last month they would support keeping him as speaker.

Management

Maryland delegation to launch bipartisan push for funds to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge

A pending bill would allow the state to avoid incurring 10% of the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Pay & Benefits

Veterans Affairs expands IVF access to unmarried and same-sex veterans

Up to now, the VA has only provided IVF care for married veterans who were able to use their own eggs or sperm during the process, but the new announcement allows veterans to use donor eggs, sperm and embryos.

Management

With partial government shutdown a week away, Johnson says he’ll stick to spending deal

Several conservative Republicans have been calling for the House speaker to set aside, renegotiate, or somehow sweeten the current topline agreement.

Management

New turmoil over a possible government shutdown

Congress must pass some sort of spending bill before Jan. 19, otherwise the departments and agencies funded by the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending measures would enter a shutdown.

Management

Another stopgap spending bill in the works as Congress struggles to avert a shutdown

A few lawmakers have called for shutting down the government in order to get the changes they want on immigration and border policy enacted.

Oversight

VA veterans crisis line to face new investigation by GAO

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., says several whistleblowers have told him and his staff that veterans crisis line “responders are currently transferring veterans determined to present complex needs to an indefinite waiting list for eventual contact from a special unit.”

News

House stalled again after rejecting Jim Jordan as speaker a second time

Jordan plans to talk with the Republicans who voted against him and hopes to win those who flipped Wednesday back to his side.

News

Ohio’s Jim Jordan fails in bid for U.S. House speaker, leaving chamber paralyzed again

Jordan was unable to clinch the votes needed to hold the gavel amid concerns about his agenda and frustrations with his history inside and outside of Congress.