Congressional & Capitol Hill News

Constituents of several conservative lawmakers are speaking up because they view the Republican health care replacement as too similar to the Affordable Care Act. “A large majority of constituents contacting Congressman [Jim] Jordan about [the American Health Care Act] are opposed to it,” said Darin Miller, a spokesman for Jordan, R-Ohio. Jordan was formerly chairman…

A group of conservative lawmakers gathered Wednesday to criticize the Obamacare replacement plan offered by House Republican leadership, a bill one of them, Sen. Rand Paul, dubbed “Obamacare lite.” “Stand firm,” Paul said. “Bring down the Paul Ryan plan.” Paul was referring to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s championship of the American Health Care Act as…

A House committee voted Friday to continue a school voucher program for poor children in the District of Columbia, signaling Republicans’ intent to follow through on President Donald Trump’s promise to expand school choice throughout the country. The program, known as the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, provides federally funded scholarships to low-income families in the…

President Donald Trump has promised a new strategy for fighting terrorism, including the Islamic State, or ISIS. Last week in his congressional address, he signaled a big change when he used a phrase President Barack Obama refused to utter for 8 years—“Radical Islamic Terrorism.” Trump clearly has a different style. But is there substance behind his…

The Senate confirmed retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as the new secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in a 58-41 vote, primarily along party lines, Thursday. Carson has said he will work to help underprivileged communities. “I feel that I can make a significant contribution, particularly by strengthening communities that are most in…

After President Donald Trump gave his first joint address to Congress Tuesday night, numerous lawmakers voiced support for Trump’s tone and agenda. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said Trump’s message was “critical” to Americans and noted Trump’s “strong” message on Obamacare. “I was pleased to hear President Trump address many issues critical to everyday Americans, such…

With self-driving cars currently in development and plans for public release within the next five years, lawmakers are busy examining the role of the state and federal government in creating and implementing regulations. At an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in February, lawmakers and witnesses highlighted the importance of consistent, streamlined regulation. Gill Pratt, executive…

Republican leaders in the House and Senate don’t want to stand up for life by rejecting the legalization of physician-assisted suicide in the nation’s capital, a prominent conservative lawmaker said Tuesday. “We disagree with the law,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said. “We disagree with the premise of what D.C. did, and we have the constitutional…

Former and current Republican congressional lawmakers raised concern against reinstating the practice of earmarks during a discussion hosted by the largest conservative caucus in Congress on Tuesday. “I'm astounded that you're even having this conversation,” former Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said during the Republican Study Committee discussion. “If the Republicans really want to give up…

Republicans in Congress had mixed reactions in the immediate wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order Friday stopping individuals from seven countries where Islamist terrorists operate from entering the country for 90 days. Some GOP lawmakers, such as Sens. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., expressed concerns about who the order targeted and how…

President Donald Trump moved at a blistering pace to fulfill several campaign promises during his first week in the White House. At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, however, 13 of his Cabinet nominees continue to wait for confirmation votes. Obama had 11 of his 15 Cabinet secretaries in place after his first week. Trump has…

Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced Wednesday they would not vote for Betsy DeVos’ confirmation as education secretary. “Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos has been a champion of education choice,” said Lindsey Burke, an education policy expert at The Heritage Foundation. “Options like the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which has already…

Two of the judges on President Donald Trump’s reported short list for the Supreme Court received unanimous Senate approval during their respective Senate confirmations. Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2006, to serve as the judge for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Thomas Hardiman was confirmed by…

The leader of the House’s largest Republican caucus is putting his weight behind a proposal to ensure that parents and communities make education choices, not the federal government. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., chairman of the Republican Study Committee, has a solution to fix problems within the education system. Speaking at a Heritage Foundation event Tuesday, Walker…

A group of Republican senators will introduce legislation splitting the country’s largest—and some say most liberal—appeals court into smaller, separate jurisdictions. The effort is led by GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who argues the burgeoning docket on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has dramatically slowed the pace of justice. “With regard to…