Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown

Washington — The Senate early Saturday morning overwhelmingly approved a bill to avert a prolonged government shutdown, just hours after the House passed the measure with wide bipartisan support. The Senate vote came just after the Friday midnight deadline that would have marked the beginning of the shutdown.  The Senate vote shortly after 12:30 a.m.

Congress Passes Revised Funding Plan, Averting Government Shutdown

The bill heads to Biden’s desk. It includes $110 billion in disaster aid, $30 billion in farm aid, and extends the farm bill for one year. WASHINGTON—Both chambers of Congress on Dec. 21 passed a last-minute funding package that would extend government funding to March 14, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk. The legislation,

Senate Passes $195 Billion Bill to Increase Social Security Benefits for Government Employees

The bill eliminates two provisions that prevented public sector employees from receiving full Social Security benefits, which their unions strongly opposed. WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate on Dec. 21 passed a bipartisan bill that will enable government employees, their survivors, and disabled persons to receive more money from the Social Security program, which will cost up to

Biden and First Lady Bring Holiday Cheer to Patients and Families at Children’s Hospital

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, brought some Christmastime cheer to patients and their families at a children’s hospital on Friday but a toddler in a light blue jumper entertained, too. The president and first lady visited privately with patients and their families for photos at Children’s National Hospital before Jill Biden read “’Twas

Biden surpasses Trump with 235th federal judge confirmed

Washington — The Senate on Friday confirmed two more of President Biden’s nominees to the federal judiciary on Friday, giving him a total of 235 since he took office, surpassing the number of judges approved for lifetime appointment during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term. The confirmation of Benjamin Cheeks to the federal district court in Southern

Biden’s top hostage envoy travels to Syria to ask for help in finding Austin Tice

Roger Carstens, the Biden administration’s top official for freeing Americans held overseas, traveled to Damascus, Syria, on Friday for a high-risk mission: making the first known face-to-face contact with the caretaker government and asking for help finding missing American journalist Austin Tice.  Tice was kidnapped in Syria 12 years ago during the civil war and