Congressional & Capitol Hill News

The Daily Signal delivers comprehensive congressional news with reporting and conservative commentary on House and Senate activities, legislative priorities, committee investigations, leadership battles, and the fight for conservative policy in both chambers of Congress.
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  • opinion

    4 Charts Show Why Congress Must Embrace Spending Restraint
    This year, Congress is expected to pass at least one major legislative package through what is known as the reconciliation process, which enables easier passage for certain types of budgetary changes. The top goal for reconciliation will be extending and improving on the success of the 2017 tax cuts, which were a big success for…
    David Ditch
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  • news

    Musk Backs Congress Reining in Bureaucratic Spending
    Amid President Donald Trump’s and entrepreneur Elon Musk’s public push to downsize the federal government, Sen. Mike Lee is advocating for the REINS Act, a bill that would rein in agencies’ power and give Congress more of a say in spending decisions. The bill has even received support from Musk himself, who reposted on X…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    Washington State Bill Would Force Catholic Priests to Violate Church Law
    DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—A proposed law in Washington state would require priests to violate Catholic Church law by breaking the seal of confession. The bill would amend the current state law that requires law enforcement, teachers, medical professionals, or child care providers to report cases of child abuse or neglect to include church clergy that…
    Jaryn Crouson
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  • news

    Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Supreme Court Justices
    After an escalation in political violence over the past several years, including protesters at the homes of Supreme Court justices, several United States senators introduced legislation on Wednesday to increase the penalties for those that threaten federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.  The bill, sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Mike Lee,…
    Jacob Adams
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  • opinion

    Independent in Name Only: Maine Senator Consistently Votes Liberal Democratic Party Line
    Sen. Angus King of Maine bills himself as an “independent,” but his voting record is such that if it could, the Federal Trade Commission might want to charge him with false advertising. That’s because, when Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York says “Jump,” King—like the Democrats he caucuses with, despite being a nominal…
    Peter Parisi
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  • news

    MAGA Agenda on the Line as Cabinet Picks Move to the Senate Floor 
    Some of President Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks are facing crucial votes this week after a string of hearings that saw senators on both sides of the aisle grill nominees on key issues, including abortion, vaccines, and immigration. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination passing out of committee by a 14-13 margin Tuesday morning…
    Moira Gleason
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  • news

    Here’s How Senate Republicans Respond to California’s Devastating Wildfires
    FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Senate Republicans are working to eliminate the environmental regulations they think contributed to the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires last month. In response to the wildfires, which devastated more than 60 square miles of Southern California, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., joining two other senators, introduced two measures Tuesday intended to…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    Senator Asks Rubio to Investigate Biden Forcing Radical Abortion Law on Black-Majority Country
    Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking him to investigate reports that a foreign aid agency pushed abortion on a black-majority country under the Biden administration. The letter cites The Daily Signal’s Dec. 16 report that the Biden administration was pressuring Sierra Leone to pass an unpopular pro-abortion…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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  • news

    Ex-Democrat Gabbard Faces Democratic Senators’ Fury at Hearing for DNI Chief Pick
    After Tulsi Gabbard’s tense three-hour confirmation hearing Thursday, Democratic members of the Select Intelligence Committee remained bitterly opposed to President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence. Gabbard—like fellow Trump nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is a former Democrat who curiously faces a more difficult confirmation process than lifelong Republicans, such as Secretary of State…
    George Caldwell
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  • opinion

    Trump’s Best Shot to Get His Agenda Through Congress, Explained
    The budget reconciliation process stands as President Donald Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ best—and likely only—hope to pass their agenda through Congress. While this policymaking mechanism has become more well-known in recent years because recent presidents have used it to get their policies through Congress, the budget reconciliation process is difficult to untangle—even for the seasoned…
    Bradley Devlin
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  • news

    RFK Jr.’s Hearing Sparks Partisan Clash Among Senate Panel’s Members
    After Robert F. Kennedy’s tense three-hour hearing on his nomination as secretary of the Department of Human Health and Services, Republican and Democratic senators remain fiercely divided over the health activist who now represents a large part of President Donald Trump’s coalition. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., emerged from the hearing to tell the press that…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    Republicans Smell Blood in Michigan Senate Race
    After Michigan Democrat Sen. Gary Peters' surprise announcement that he would not be seeking reelection Tuesday, Republicans in the Wolverine State are eyeing the possibility of their first Senate win in the swing state in the 21st century.  Peters, 66, explained in a video statement that he would not run for a third term in…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    Senate Gets to Work on Panama Canal: ‘We Cannot Turn a Blind Eye’
    The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee convened Tuesday to discuss the American-Chinese rivalry at the Panama Canal, one of President Donald Trump’s major talking points since his reelection in November. Trump has repeatedly called for the United States to take back control of the canal—while not ruling out using military force to do so—and…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    Republicans in Congress Seek to Buttress Trump’s Border Agenda
    After a slew of Trump administration executive orders aimed at strengthening the border against illegal immigration, Republican lawmakers are gearing up to support the effort with a number of bills focused on reforming the asylum process and finishing the border wall. The president has already made several moves to strengthen the border—declaring an emergency at…
    George Caldwell | Virginia Allen
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  • news

    Every Senate Democrat Votes Against Protecting Babies Born Alive From Botched Abortion
    Every Senate Democrat on Wednesday afternoon voted against protecting the lives of babies born alive after botched abortions. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, introduced by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., states that a baby born alive from a failed abortion deserves the same protection and medical care as other newborns. “Almost…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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  • news

    12 Senate Democrats Join Republicans to Pass Laken Riley Act
    An amended version of the Laken Riley Act passed through the Senate Monday night with bipartisan support in a vote of 64 to 35.   “We are a proud nation of immigrants. We are also a nation of laws, and the lawlessness ends today,” Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt, who led the reintroduction of the Laken…
    Virginia Allen
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  • news

    10 Senate Democrats Join Republicans to Advance Laken Riley Act
    Ten Senate Democrats joined their Republican colleagues in a vote Friday to advance the Laken Riley Act, teeing the bill up for final passage in the Senate as early as next week.   The Democrats who voted in favor of the bill include: Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona; Jon Ossoff of Georgia;…
    Virginia Allen
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  • news

    Kristi Noem Makes Commitment to Border Patrol During Her Senate Confirmation Hearing
    Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristi Noem told lawmakers Friday that she would prioritize border security and transparency within the federal government.   “If confirmed as secretary, I will ensure that our exceptional, extraordinary Border Patrol agents have all the tools, resources, and support they need to carry out their mission effectively,” Noem told senators on…
    Virginia Allen
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  • news

    Climate Protesters Aside, Energy Nominee Gets Mostly Warm Reception From Senate Panel
    Chris Wright, nominated to lead the Department of Energy, received a generally warm welcome from senators of both parties at his Senate committee confirmation hearing Wednesday—despite raucous protests from climate activists. Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a natural gas company based in his home state of Colorado. Wright made clear in his opening…
    George Caldwell
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  • news

    AG Nominee Bondi Clashes With Democratic Senators in Confirmation Hearing
    Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi vowed Wednesday that her focus, if confirmed, would be on restoring integrity to a politicized Justice Department and to “make America safe again,” as she fended off criticism from Democratic senators.  The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general.  While Republicans on…
    Fred Lucas
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