Legislation

Farm Safety Net Costs Projected at $30B as Congress Eyes Farm Bill

Federal crop insurance premium subsidies reached approximately $15 billion in 2026, equal to about 66% of total premiums on average, with no statutory caps...

Congress

House Panel Will Weigh Worker Choice and Accountability

Worker classification, meaning whether a worker counts as an employee or an independent contractor, is the subject of a Department of Labor proposed rule...

Legislation

Congress Approves $877.9 Million in Federal Payments to D.C.

Congress approved $877.9 million in federal payments for the District of Columbia under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75), signed Feb....

Congress

Permit Reform Bill Would Narrow Historic Preservation Review

A pending permitting-reform bill would substantially rewrite Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), narrowing which projects face...

Elections

State and Federal Laws Divided On Voter Registration Issues

Voter registration sits at the intersection of federal law and state administration, a division that has generated recurring friction over which level of...

Commerce

U.S. Aluminum Output Lowest Since 1950 as Congress Weighs Options

U.S. primary aluminum production in 2025 fell to its lowest level since 1950, leaving the country outside the top 10 global producers and accounting for...

Congress

Noelle Cardi Joins Sen. Jack Reed's Office as Staff Assistant

Noelle J. Cardi has joined Sen. Jack Reed's personal office as a staff assistant, effective Nov. 1, 2026. The position is based in Washington, D.C. No...

Politics

Congress Runs on Stopgap Through Dec. 11 With Pay Frozen at $174K

Congress has not enacted a regular fiscal 2027 legislative branch appropriations bill, leaving the government funded only through Dec. 11 on a continuing...

Law and Order

Federal Ban on Synthetic Hemp Cannabinoids Takes Effect Nov. 12

A provision excluding products containing cannabinoids that cannot be naturally produced by the cannabis plant, such as THC-O, from the federal definition...

Politics

Aging Federal Oceanographic Fleet Faces Gaps

The federal oceanographic research vessel fleet has had no government-wide inventory since March 2016, and NOAA's 15 remaining research and survey vessels...

Congress

Congress Faces Continuing Gap in State Department Authorization

Congress has not enacted a comprehensive Department of State (DOS) authorization since 2002, and annual appropriations bills have carried standing waivers...

Legislation

Two Declaration of Independence Time Capsules Authorized

Congress authorized two semiquincentennial time capsules for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, one of which remains without a burial...

Congress

Senate Confirmed Judges in 16 of 21 Postwar Lame Duck Sessions

Lame duck judicial confirmations have been a recurring feature of postwar Senate practice, with the chamber confirming at least one circuit or district...

Politics

Gill Mead Promoted to Senior Legislative Assistant in Rep. Maxine Dexter's Office

Gill Mead has been promoted to senior legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR), effective Sept. 1, after approximately 18 months in...

Politics

Emma Farwell Promoted in Office of Sen. Mark Kelly

Emma Farwell has moved into the scheduling associate/assistant to the chief of staff role in the personal office of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), effective Oct....

Personnel Movements

Maddie McComb Promoted to Communications Director for Sen. Chris Coons

Maddie McComb has been named communications director in the office of Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), effective October 1. McComb previously held the role of...

Politics

Olivia Ngo Promoted to Legislative Correspondent in Sen. Rosen's Office

Olivia Ngo moved into the legislative correspondent role for Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), effective October 1. Ngo previously served as a staff assistant for...