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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news
See How Your Lawmakers Voted on the Budget Bill
During a brief halt in government funding early Friday morning, the Senate voted 71-28 to pass a budget deal, pushed by Republican and Democrat leaders, that will raise caps on spending by $300 billion over two years. The Senate approved the deal at about 1:30 a.m. Friday, and the House passed it 240-186 around 5:30… -
news
House Committee Votes to Release Democrats’ Memo on FISA Application
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence voted unanimously Monday evening to release Democrats' Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act memo to the public, sending the document to the president to decide whether he wants to approve its release. Republicans voted to declassify the Democrats' memo, which reportedly weakens allegations made in the memo crafted by the… -
news
Canadian Senate Passes Bill to Make Anthem ‘Gender-Neutral’
The Canadian Senate passed a bill Wednesday to change the lyrics of its national anthem so that they will be “gender-neutral.” The bill would replace the lyrics “in all thy sons command” with “in all of us command,” according to CBC News. Former member of the Canadian House of Commons Mauril Bélanger first introduced the legislation in… -
news
Earmarks Promote ‘Banal Interests,’ Not ‘Highest Interests,’ Former Senator Warns
Reinstating earmarks would encourage corrupted self-interest, a former U.S. senator warns. “Earmarks are about going to your banal interests rather than your highest interests; they’re about you, rather than the country,” former Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., told The Daily Signal in an interview Wednesday. “The people that want to do earmarks say it is Congress’… -
news
Senate Democrats’ Bid to Overturn Net Neutrality Repeal Unlikely to Prevail
Senate Democrats say they have 50 votes to block the Federal Communications Commission’s December repeal of net neutrality, the 2015 policy of the FCC under the Obama administration that required internet service providers to treat all data on, and users of, the internet equally. They are still one vote short of the 51 needed to… -
news
Lawmaker Shares Why She Chose Life for Her Child When Doctors Said She Should Abort
A member of Congress said she chose life for her child even though doctors said she should have an abortion, and is encouraging society to take a chance for life. “We were told that our unborn baby had zero percent chance of survival, zero,” Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., said during a speech Friday at… -
news
This Conservative Lawmaker Explains Why the Embassy Move to Jerusalem Matters
President Donald Trump’s administration is working to build peace in the Middle East, and a big part of that process is the administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, one lawmaker says. “In the Arab world, if you are acting swiftly and with strength, that is something that makes a big impression… -
opinion
1 Action Lawmakers Could Take to Make Food Stamp Reform Much More Likely
Congressional Republicans could imperil both the welfare reform and the farm bill reform efforts by failing to learn from history and making the same unforced errors they did three years ago. Next year, Congress is set to consider a comprehensive agriculture bill (aka “farm bill”), as well as reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program… -
opinion
The Rich Legacy Orrin Hatch Will Leave in the Senate
Washington, D.C., is filled to the brim with skilled politicians and bright people. What it has in short supply are people who possess those characteristics and who also are wonderful human beings. Orrin Grant Hatch, the senior United States senator from Utah and president pro tempore of the Senate, is one of that very small… -
opinion
House and Senate Should Reconcile Their Bills to Replace Dodd-Frank
In June, the House passed the Financial CHOICE Act, a comprehensive financial regulatory reform bill that would replace large parts of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law. Because the Republicans hold a slim majority in the Senate, passing such a comprehensive reform package is difficult, at best. Nonetheless, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, led… -
news
House Passes Historic Tax Reform Bill, but Has to Vote Again
Following the House’s 227-203 Tuesday vote to pass Republicans’ tax reform overhaul, the legislation will move to a vote in the Senate, expected Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. “Today is a momentous day for America,” Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said in a statement. “The forgotten men and women of… -
opinion
Liberal Lawmakers Trying to Bail Out Private Pensions With Taxpayer Money
Last year, liberal lawmakers wanted to bail out the United Mine Workers of America’s pension plan to the tune of roughly $6 billion. This year, they’re at it again, except on a larger scale. Under pressure from a few very large and politically powerful unions—including the United Mine Workers of America and the Central States… -
news
House Passes Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill
The House passed legislation Wednesday that will allow people with a concealed carry permit to also bring their guns across state lines in states that permit concealed carry. “Today, the House took action to protect our citizens’ Second Amendment rights,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in a statement. “The truth is that concealed carry… -
news
The Differences House, Senate Will Have to Resolve to Advance Tax Reform Bill
Following the Senate’s 51-49 early Saturday morning vote to pass Republicans’ tax reform overhaul, the legislation will move to conference where the House and Senate will work to resolve their differences. “I think the differences are pretty minor between the two bills and I think will be pretty easily worked out,” Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., told… -
opinion
In 1 Chart, the Differences Between the House and Senate Tax Reform Bills
The House and Senate have now each passed different versions of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Both bills are a big improvement to America’s out-of-date tax code and could boost the economy by almost 3 percent, leading to more jobs and higher wages for working Americans. Both bills cut taxes for individuals and businesses, largely… -
opinion
This DC Mom Loves School Choice, and Senate Bill Would Greatly Expand It
Two years ago, Christmas came early for Kofi Minor and her daughter, Elisa Thomas. “She was struggling in school,” says Minor, a resident of the District of Columbia. “When you have a child that is 5 or 6, it is imperative that a school be able to balance academics and nurturing.” She says she had… -
opinion
Senate Should Repeal Regressive Tax on the Uninsured
Senate Democrats who fret over the distributional effects of tax cuts should thank their GOP colleagues for giving them the chance this week to vote on repealing one of the most regressive taxes: the Obamacare tax on the uninsured. This tax disproportionately falls on those with incomes less than $50,000, while exempting many households earning… -
opinion
4 Ways the Senate Could Ruin Good Tax Reform
The Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has successfully passed both the Finance and Budget committees and is now on the Senate floor. As it currently stands, the Senate bill is a big improvement to America’s out-of-date tax code and could boost the economy by almost 3 percent. There is a lot… -
news
As Vote Nears, Where GOP Senators Are on Tax Reform
With no Democrat senators signalling support for the tax reform bill and 51 votes needed to pass the measure, every Republican senator’s vote matters. With the tax vote expected this week, it’s still unclear how many Republican senators support the legislation. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has not taken an official position on the Senate tax… -
news
The Secretive, Taxpayer-Financed Settlement Fund Used by Lawmakers Accused of Sexual Harassment
Staffers who are the targets of unwanted sexual advances on Capitol Hill should not have to endure a lengthy mediation process and pay the legal bills as lawmakers secretly draw on a mysterious slush fund to settle the accusations against them, an advocate for taxpayers argues. In the event of a monetary settlement of sexual…