U.S. Senate News
This section focuses on the upper chamber of Congress, from major policy debates to confirmation hearings. The Daily Signal provides a conservative look at Senate priorities.
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opinion
Eroding Congressional Support for Israel Is Cause for Alarm
With instability and political unrest roiling the world stage, it is more important than ever for America to have solid allies in the Middle East, a dangerous region historically rife with conflict and dysfunction. Americans know and understand almost innately that Israel’s values are a mirror of our own: Israel champions democracy and the rule… -
news
6 Big Moments as Senate Democrats Seek Federal Veto of State Election Laws
Democrats continue to push for passage of a bill giving the federal government veto power over state election laws, including those requiring voter ID and regular updates of voter registration rolls. “Photo ID laws are not on their face invalid,” an assistant attorney general testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It really depends on… -
opinion
5 Questions Congress Must Ask Austin, Milley, McKenzie About Afghanistan Pullout Debacle
Despite 20 years of U.S. operations in Afghanistan and close collaboration with the Afghan government and security forces, the Taliban recaptured the country—including the capital, Kabul—after the U.S. withdrew its forces. That prompted a similarly hurried withdrawal by international partners. Among the many tragic consequences that resulted were tens of thousands of civilians left behind,… -
news
4 Highlights From Senate Hearing on Afghanistan Withdrawal
In a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced a series of questions about the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Here are some of the highlights from the hearing. 1. Sen. Menendez Criticizes Defense Secretary Austin for Refusing to Appear Sen. Bob Menendez, chairman of the committee… -
opinion
Congress Should Fund Stronger Efforts to Block Imports Made With Forced Labor
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued 13 withhold release orders against imports from China since 2018 to stop goods produced with forced labor from entering the U.S. market. Those orders largely focus on goods from the Xinjiang province, where millions of Uyghur Muslims face what the U.S. government identified as ongoing genocide and crimes… -
opinion
If Congress Wants to Invest in Infrastructure, It Should Focus on Defense
The Senate just passed a massive $1.1 trillion spending package filled with liberal policy priorities under the guise of supporting bipartisan government investments in infrastructure. This bill would give Washington more control over things that have normally been the responsibility of local communities, inserting politicians and bureaucrats into investment decisions. But if Congress truly wants… -
news
Senate Intelligence Chairman Intends to Probe Calamitous Afghan Exit
The Democrat chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has called for an investigation into the Biden administration’s execution of a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to the rapid collapse of that country’s government. “Intelligence officials have anticipated for years that in the absence of the U.S. military the Taliban would continue to make gains… -
news
11 Notable Topics in Senate Vote-a-Rama on Spending $3.5 Trillion
In forcing through a $3.5 trillion spending bill that includes portions of the Green New Deal and lays the groundwork to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants, Senate Democrats killed numerous Republican amendments that would promote energy independence, reopen classrooms, and rein in the IRS. The massive spending bill passed on a 50-49 vote along party… -
opinion
Energy and Climate Policies, Cronyism Don’t Belong in Bloated Senate Infrastructure Bill
The infrastructure package being debated in the Senate this week weighs in at a whopping 2,702 pages and $1.1 trillion. While the layman might think of infrastructure as roads and bridges, Washington’s definition is about as nebulous as the measures by which lawmakers are claiming they pay for the bill. Nearly a quarter of those… -
opinion
9 Things to Know About Senate’s $1.1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill
The Senate unveiled its long-awaited $1.1 trillion infrastructure bill on Monday. In a textbook example of Washington dysfunction, members and the public will only have a few days to review 2,702 pages of programs and provisions before it’s voted on. Analysts from The Heritage Foundation have found a variety of flaws that should give pause… -
opinion
Congress Continues Spending Spree With Irresponsible Infrastructure Deal
Impulsiveness, one of the defining features of a spending spree, happens when a person stops caring about cost, value, or financing for a period of time. This person just wants as many things as possible. Reckless spending tends to occur when someone did not obtain the money through hard work or smart investing. There are… -
news
Infrastructure Bill Advances in Senate After Overcoming Filibuster
The Senate advanced a bipartisan infrastructure deal Wednesday evening, voting to open debate on the legislation after weeks of tumultuous talks that had at times thrown the entire plan into jeopardy. After last-minute snags over transit funding and other items, key negotiators announced they had reached a deal earlier Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said following the… -
opinion
What You Need to Know About Boondoggles in Senate Infrastructure Bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing to extend a subway from San Francisco, not far from her congressional district, to Silicon Valley, with funding in the Senate’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of OpenTheBooks.com, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, are calling this Pelosi’s Bay Area Boondoggle. Why? Andrzejewski joins a bonus… -
news
Before Fauci, Here Are 8 Others Accused of Lying to Congress
Prosecutions for lying to Congress are rare, much less convictions, but some cases have been high profile. The issue is in the news because Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, misrepresented facts to Congress. Fauci, responding angrily… -
news
3 Senate Conservatives Call for Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Leading Republican senators filed an amicus brief Monday urging the Supreme Court to overrule its decisions in two major abortion cases. Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Mike Lee of Utah, and Ted Cruz of Texas filed the brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which the high court is scheduled to hear beginning in October. The… -
news
Mike Enzi, Former Wyoming Senator, Dies After Bike Accident
Former Sen. Mike Enzi died late Monday night after being hospitalized due to a bike accident. Enzi, a Republican from Wyoming, retired from the Senate in January. The 77-year-old “passed away peacefully surrounded by his family,” a statement said. “His family expresses their deep appreciation for all of the prayers, support and concern,” a separate tweet said. “They now ask for… -
news
EXCLUSIVE: North Carolina Congressman Proposes to Kill 2,378 Pet Projects in New Budget
A North Carolina congressman is proposing a series of amendments to every appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022 that would do away with 2,378 earmarks amounting to $3.85 billion in government spending. “The first appropriations process in the new earmark era is unsurprisingly a pork-barrel fiasco,” Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said in a statement provided… -
news
Investigating Whether Fauci Lied to Congress Difficult, Legal Experts Say
Sen. Rand Paul has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Dr. Anthony Fauci lied to Congress about the possible origins of COVID-19, but legal experts involved in similar cases say they’re not sure this would be a strong one. For one, past prosecutions for lying to Congress have a mixed record, and the law… -
opinion
Senate Armed Services Committee Acts to Shore Up US Defenses
The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a version of the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would increase the Pentagon’s budget by $25 billion over President Joe Biden’s request. With this increase, the defense budget would reach $740 billion, a 5.1% bump over the $704 billion appropriated for fiscal year 2021. The… -
news
Senate Rushes to Finish Infrastructure Package Before Recess
Senators are sprinting to finalize their bipartisan infrastructure deal with their scheduled August recess just over a week away. Those involved in the negotiations spent the weekend trying to reach a deal as soon as Monday, but hit roadblocks over public transit funding and spending levels for highways, broadband, and some other areas. “We’re about…