Mike DeBonis

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would provide $52 billion in subsidies to domestic semiconductor manufacturers and invest billions in science and technology innovation, in a bid to strengthen the United States’ competitiveness and self-reliance in what is seen as a keystone industry for economic and national security. In a 64-33 vote, the Senate passed the $280 billion “CHIPS and Science Act,” the final iteration of a bill that was years in the ma

Congressional leaders and the White House are converging on the need for a new assistance package to try to contain the coronavirus pandemic’s economic devastation, fearful that a $2 trillion bailout law enacted in March will have only a limited effect. Democratic Reps are eyeing a package of spending increases that would “easily” cost more than $1 trillion, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said.

The US House of Representatives approved legislation that would institute some reforms of the government’s surveillance authority while also imposing new requirements on the way the FBI obtains wiretapping warrants in national security investigations following criticism of its monitoring of a Trump campaign adviser in 2016. The bill also permanently bans a controversial but dormant program that allowed the government to obtain Americans’ phone records in terrorism investigations.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the top Republican on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee will not seek reelection in 2020 — another sign that GOP lawmakers are pessimistic about retaking the House majority in 2020. Rep Walden served as chairman of the Commerce Committee from 2017 until Democrats reclaimed control of the House in 2019. In that position, he helped formulate the GOP’s ultimately ill-fated plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and worked closely on bipartisan efforts to address the national opioid crisis.

Top Democratic congressional leaders pitched President Trump on a “big and bold” infrastructure bill ahead of a White House meeting on the issue, insisting there are “significant majorities in both the House and Senate” ready to act. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E.

A House bill to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate allegations of Russian interference in 2016’s presidential election has garnered its first Republican supporter. Rep Walter B. Jones (R-NC) co-sponsored the Protecting Our Democracy Act. He joins every member of the House Democratic Caucus in co-sponsoring the bill, which would set up a 12-member panel evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. The bill, introduced by Reps Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), gives the commission powers to investigate “any attempts or activities by the Russian government, persons or entities associated with the Russian government, or persons or entities within Russia to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the United States in 2016.”