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
Dick Durbin’s Defining Flip-Flop
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who has served as the Senate’s Democrat whip for more than 20 years, went down to the Senate floor on Jan. 21, 2025, to speak about a bill aimed at protecting the lives of certain newborn babies. He was against it. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, as described in…Terence Jeffrey -
- Opinion
Republican House Should Fatten Senate GOP’s Boney Reconciliation Bill
Picture a packed airport gate. Passengers languish as a delayed flight goes nowhere. The typically cheerful airline personnel are as bored and dejected as the travelers. Suddenly, the pilot announces departure in five minutes. The huddled masses jump for joy. After the flight crew boards, the gate agents direct two passengers onto the plane and then shut the…Deroy Murdock -
- News
Targeting COVID-19 Scams, Welfare Fraud: Ernst’s Package Aims to Save Taxpayers $240B
Morphing numerous bills into one giant legislative package is often a recipe for wasteful spending, but an anti-fraud measure from Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman Joni Ernst aims to save taxpayers $240 billion. In January, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., requested that Ernst, an Iowa Republican, draft a legislative package to prevent fraud cases similar…Fred Lucas -
Georgia Politicos Accuse Ossoff of Hiding His ‘Socialism’ on the Campaign Trail
Republican leaders in Georgia told The Daily Signal that Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is campaigning for reelection, is presenting himself as a moderate by emphasizing broadly popular issues rather than embracing what they describe as a sharply partisan voting record. “He’s a great politician,” Rep. Rich McCormick, R‑Ga., said. “When he sees me at…Pedro Rodriguez -
- News
Will the House Do as the Senate Tells It on Reconciliation?
In the wee hours of Thursday morning, the Senate adopted a budget framework to provide funds for immigration enforcement that Democrats have denied since February. But getting that framework through the House in order to ultimately send a bill to the president’s desk may be a challenge. Senate Republicans are pursuing a two-track approach—a party-line…George Caldwell -
- Exclusive
Thune Wants Senators to Stop Talking About This Trump Priority
Senate Majority Leader John Thune encouraged senators to stop talking about President Donald Trump’s stated priority of nuking the filibuster, according to two sources familiar with the matter. After a few moderates at the Senate’s Wednesday steering lunch urged the Republican conference not to talk about nuking the filibuster, Thune agreed that the move lacks…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- News
Senate Advances Massive Border Funding Plan. Will It Survive?
The Senate is rapidly pursuing a plan to inject funds into Department of Homeland Security immigration agencies that Democrats have denied funding. Congressional leaders will have the potentially difficult task of uniting their slim majorities around the plan and settling disagreements on how ambitious it should be ahead of midterms that could strip Republicans of…George Caldwell -
- Opinion
SCORE Act Offers Permanent Fix to College Sports Disorder
College sports generate excitement and bring communities together in a unique way. They inspire pride in our schools, create lifelong memories, and enable young Americans to pursue education while excelling in sports. But the future of this prized institution is far from guaranteed and requires legislative action to permanently fix long-standing issues. New uncertainties took…Chrissy Clark -
- News
Tillis ‘Loved’ Kevin Warsh’s Fed Philosophy, But Maintains ‘No’ Vote
Sen. Thom Tillis praised President Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, but he maintained that he will not support Warsh as long as Trump is investigating current chair Jerome Powell. “I look forward to supporting your nomination, and I look forward to this investigation being taken down,” the North Carolina Republican told…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- Opinion
Opportunities for Improvement in the Senate’s Housing Act
The Senate’s 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a compendium of smaller housing acts, contains much that could help working Americans. Most notably, it contains provisions that would make receiving permits easier, update rules for building modular and manufactured houses, and reduce duplicative government reviews. The bill has its weaknesses, though—primarily a tendency to lapse into the…Miles Pollard -
- News
4 Senate Race Predictions Shift in Political Forecast
As midterm elections loom, a major political forecaster is shifting its predictions in four Senate races to be more favorable for Democrats. While it is an uphill climb for Democrats to take back the upper chamber, changing Cook Political Report race ratings suggest there might be a chance. “With an increasingly sour national environment for…George Caldwell -
- News
Georgia Official Charged With COVID-19 Fraud Runs for State Senate, While 2 Others Plead Guilty
A suspended member of the Georgia House of Representatives announced she will run for the state Senate despite being charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with COVID-19 unemployment fraud, while two of her former colleagues have already pleaded guilty to similar offenses. Former state Reps. Dexter L. Sharper and Karen L. Bennett, along with…Pedro Rodriguez -
- News
GOP Announces a Historic Investment to Save the Senate Majority
The Senate Leadership Fund, a conservative super PAC, announced it is investing $342 million across eight different 2026 Senate races. The massive advertisement buy, announced Monday, is the largest investment SLF has ever made in an election cycle, and it represents a different approach. “[The] Senate Leadership Fund is better positioned than ever to execute…Virginia Grace McKinnon -
- News
GOP Rising Star Backs Paxton’s Senate Bid
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate primary bid just received a big endorsement from one of the Republican Party’s rising stars. On Thursday, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, officially endorsed Paxton’s effort to primary Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “I am officially endorsing [Ken Paxton] to be our next senator from Texas,” Gill wrote on X….Pedro Rodriguez -
- News
A GOP Senator’s Fight for Life Continues on Capitol Hill
Taxpayers’ money once spent on funding abortions could now be permanently safeguarded for pregnancy centers to support women and families. The federal government grants more than $16 billion every year to support families, and soon that could include protecting life. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has reintroduced the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act…Virginia Grace McKinnon -
- News
Paid Family Leave Receives Bipartisan Push in Ohio Senate
Father with a newborn baby beautiful photos of a young adult man holding little son, paternity leave – stock photo With love of photography (Getty Images)Christina Lengyel -
- News
Shutdown Drags On: House Votes to Fully Fund DHS After ‘Inappropriate’ Senate Deal
The House of Representatives on Friday rejected the Senate’s deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security without funding border security, instead voting to fully fund the department until May 22. The House passed a continuing resolution to fully fund DHS for 60 days on a mostly party-line vote with three Democrats defecting to join…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- News
Senate Jams House With DHS Funding Bill in Dead of Night
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate voted to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security while excluding funding for immigration law enforcement agencies. The deal, which passed by unanimous consent at around 2:30 a.m., could put an end to chaos at airports across the nation but may upset hardliners in both…George Caldwell -
- News
Why Can’t the Senate Come to a Deal on DHS?
In the sixth week of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, the Senate still cannot come to a deal to fund the agency, despite both sides having presented a wide spectrum of proposals. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced he had sent Democrats “what I think is our last and final [offer],…George Caldwell -
- News
Maine Mamdani? Hard-Left Senate Candidate Surges in New Poll
Graham Platner, a hard-left Democrat who has accused Israel of “genocide” and called for “Medicare for All,” leads every candidate in a new poll for Maine’s 2026 Senate race. Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking reelection and has two major challengers in the Democrat Senate primary: Platner and Gov. Janet Mills. In new polling from…George Caldwell