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
Senators Like School Choice for Their Own Kids. Why Not for Everyone?
In recent years, states have significantly increased the availability of private school choice options. Since 2011, nearly a dozen states have enacted new tax credit scholarship programs, which provide tax credits to corporations and individuals who contribute to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to eligible children to attend a private school of choice. And since…Matthew Pelyhes -
- News
Senator Explains Why the Susan Rice Surveillance Allegations Are a Big Deal
Hearings are being planned to find out more about whether Obama political officials obtained intelligence to use against President Donald Trump’s associates during the campaign. News reports recently alleged President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, asked to see names of U.S. citizens captured incidentally in surveillance—names normally “masked” for privacy reasons. I recently…Sharyl Attkisson -
- News
Republican Lawmakers Expect Role for Congress in Military Force Against Syria
President Donald Trump’s order of a missile strike on a military base in retaliation for the Syrian government’s deadly chemical attack on civilians served as a strong, decisive message to bad actors worldwide, congressional Republicans say, and signified the new administration would hew closely to the traditional concept of American power. In interviews with The…Josh Siegel -
- News
Why the Maryland Rape Case Is a National Issue, According to One Lawmaker
In the debate over illegal immigrants, sanctuary cities, and walls, there’s a great deal of existing policy undergoing re-examination. Last month, two young men, one 17 and one 18, who allegedly entered the country illegally and were enrolled in the ninth grade were charged with raping a 14-year-old girl at Rockville High School in Rockville,…Sharyl Attkisson -
- News
What 3 GOP Lawmakers Are Saying About Susan Rice After Bombshell Report
After Bloomberg reported that Susan Rice attempted to unmask identities of President Donald Trump’s associates for their involvement with foreign states, several Republican lawmakers were quick to speak out against the former Obama national security adviser. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said, according to The Daily Caller News Foundation, that Rice should “testify under oath” for her involvement…Caleb Ecarma -
- Opinion
What This Centrist GOP Lawmaker Gets Wrong About the Freedom Caucus
After a week of fallout from the failure to pass the GOP health care bill, disgruntled Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois took to the pages of the New York Times Friday to vent his frustrations. His target? The House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative members that has borne the brunt of media shaming and ire…Rachel Bovard -
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Trump’s Budget Cuts Face Resistance From Republican Lawmakers
Republican leaders are voicing disapproval of budget cuts proposed by President Donald Trump. “I doubt there’d be a lot of appetite for dramatic cuts this year,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Roll Call. “I just look at it as a conversation. They’ve got their views, we’ve got our views, and we need to…Rachel del Guidice -
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Heritage Blueprint Shows Lawmakers How to Balance Budget Without Hiking Taxes or Weakening Defense
Balancing the budget without raising taxes and still maintaining strong national defense are the main goals in a new budget blueprint released by The Heritage Foundation Tuesday. “We emphasize is that it’s possible to balance the budget without raising taxes and while strengthening our national defense, which we demonstrate in the product,” Romina Boccia, deputy…Rachel del Guidice -
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What Constituents Are Telling Conservative Lawmakers About GOP Health Care Bill
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…Caleb Ecarma -
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Conservative Lawmakers Join Rally Against GOP Health Care Plan
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…Caleb Ecarma -
- Opinion
Senate Democrats Are Delaying ‘Drain the Swamp’
The federal government employs well over 2 million people. One man cannot lead an organization that large by himself. Not only do you need a full Cabinet, but you need hundreds of undersecretaries and deputies as well. Being president without the aid of your Cabinet and agency leaders makes the job almost impossible. But this is…Sen. Mike Lee -
- News
House Panel Votes to Preserve, Expand DC School Vouchers
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…Kelsey Bolar -
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Lawmaker Welcomes Fresh Approach to Eradicating ‘Evolving’ Threat of Islamic Terrorism
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…Sharyl Attkisson -
- News
Former Federal Prosecutor Calls for Every Senator to Reveal Ambassadors They Met With
In light of Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusing himself from the Russian investigation, a government watchdog group is asking every senator to provide a list of ambassadors they met with over the past three years. “No prosecutor would ever bring that case,”@factdc says. A spokeswoman for Sessions said that as a senator he had 25 conversations…Fred Lucas -
- News
Senate Confirms Retired Neurosurgeon Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
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…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Lawmakers Praise Trump’s Joint Address, Call It a ‘Home Run’
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…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
How Lawmakers Plan to Meet the Challenge of Self-Driving Cars
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…James Rogers -
- Opinion
How Lawmakers Can Prevent Workers’ Retirement Savings From Becoming Wards of the State
Americans should be wary about giving governments the authority to manage their retirement savings free from federal protections. On Thursday, the House passed two resolutions of disapproval that would roll back the Obama administration’s special exemption that allows state and some local governments to run their own retirement savings plans free from federal rules and…Rachel Greszler -
- News
This Lawmaker Faults GOP Leadership for Not Blocking DC Assisted Suicide Law
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…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
One Lawmaker’s Plan to Reform the EPA
Americans, or at least those on the left, have become so accustomed to a heavy-handed Environmental Protection Agency that any adjustment not in the direction of even greater expansion seems to them “revolutionary.” It should come as no surprise, then, that Texas Rep. Sam Johnson’s efforts to bring sanity back to an expansive EPA are…Katie Tubb