All articles tagged with #bipartisan legislation
President Trump issued vetoes on his first bills of his second term, including a bipartisan water infrastructure bill for Colorado and a measure related to the Miccosukee tribe, amid accusations of partisan politics and controversy over Colorado's water projects and tribal issues.
Congress is working on a bill to streamline permitting for energy projects to address rising power prices and supply issues, but political disagreements and partisan tensions, especially involving President Trump’s stance, are complicating efforts to pass comprehensive reform.
A bipartisan group of US senators has proposed a $54.6 billion aid package for Ukraine, including weapons and resources, amid ongoing conflict with Russia, though its passage faces significant opposition in Congress, especially from Republicans aligned with former President Trump.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an $895.2 billion defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with a controversial provision that restricts the military's healthcare system from providing specialized treatments to transgender children of service members. The bill passed with a vote of 281-140, with less than half of the Democrats supporting it, highlighting the contentious nature of the provision introduced by Speaker Mike Johnson.
Donald Trump has urged Republicans to block the PRESS Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting journalists from federal surveillance and safeguarding their sources. Despite previously advocating for a "free, fair, and open media," Trump's recent statements and actions suggest a desire to limit press freedom, particularly against media outlets critical of him. The PRESS Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, has stalled in the Senate. Trump's rhetoric includes threats against media licenses and promises of retaliation against liberal media if he returns to power.
Despite the Biden administration's significant investment in infrastructure through the bipartisan infrastructure law, the political benefits have been minimal. Factors such as the long-term nature of projects, overshadowing concerns about inflation, and insufficient communication about the law's achievements have contributed to this lack of voter recognition. While the law has funded over 66,000 projects, the political credit has been limited, with some Republicans who opposed the law later celebrating its local benefits.
The Senate failed for a second time to advance a bipartisan border security bill, falling short of the 60 votes needed. Democrats are attempting to shift public opinion against Republicans, accusing them of blocking the measure due to former President Trump's influence. The bill, which aimed to overhaul border security policies, faced opposition from both parties, with some Republicans arguing existing laws are sufficient and some Democrats criticizing the bill's provisions. The vote highlights ongoing partisan divisions over immigration policy.
The Biden administration is challenging Senate Republicans to support a revived bipartisan border security bill, which they previously abandoned under pressure from former President Trump. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans a second vote, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated Republicans will oppose it. The bill, criticized by immigrant rights activists, remains unchanged and includes provisions similar to Trump's border policies. Democrats aim to highlight Republican obstructionism, while Republicans dismiss the vote as a political maneuver.
The House advanced foreign aid bills for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, totaling $95 billion, despite significant Republican defections. Democrats helped push the legislation forward after Republican hard-liners opposed the measure. The bills also include conservative priorities such as a TikTok ban bill, sanctions on Iran, and legislation to seize Russian assets to help fund Ukraine. Pressure increased on lawmakers to pass aid after Iran's attacks on Israel. The White House backed the bills, calling them "long overdue" and actions that would "send a powerful message about the strength of American leadership at a pivotal moment."
House Democrats broke ranks to support Republican speaker Mike Johnson in advancing a $95bn aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which has stalled in the House. The aid package includes $61bn for Ukraine, $26bn for Israel, and $8.12bn for the Indo-Pacific. Johnson faces opposition from hardline Republicans but has garnered praise for his efforts to push the legislation forward, with the House expected to vote on it as early as Saturday.
The Biden administration has announced plans to close the "gun show loophole" by expanding background check requirements to include anyone selling guns for profit, regardless of location. This move aims to bring an estimated 23,000 unlicensed gun dealers under federal regulation. The bipartisan Safe Communities Act of 2022 facilitated this rule expansion, which does not target personal collectors or gift-givers. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree praised the White House for the effort, emphasizing the need for stricter gun ownership laws in the face of rising firearm-related deaths. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland signed the final rule, which is expected to become law in about a month.
Republican Rep. David Joyce grilled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the Biden administration's plan for mass deportations, expressing some level of impressed with Mayorkas's response but pressing for more details on the plan for removing migrants still in the country. Mayorkas highlighted the administration's efforts in removing over 630,000 people in the past 11 months and emphasized the need for additional resources, referencing bipartisan legislation that was killed by former President Trump. The House recently impeached Mayorkas, and the impeachment is expected to advance to the U.S. Senate.
Democratic lawmakers are facing criticism from Republican experts for opposing bipartisan legislation targeting TikTok over fears of alienating young voters, with former Vice President Mike Pence accusing them of prioritizing voter demographics over national security. The bill, which passed the House with a large bipartisan majority, would require TikTok to divest itself of Chinese Communist Party control or face a ban in the U.S. Critics have long raised concerns about the app being a national security threat, while a spokesperson for TikTok argued that the bill is effectively a ban. Despite some Democratic opposition, a slim majority of Americans support the legislation, with younger Americans being more likely to defend TikTok.
The Supreme Court narrowly interpreted a provision of the First Step Act, a landmark criminal justice law, siding with the government in a decision likely to limit the number of federal prisoners eligible for reduced sentences for nonviolent drug crimes. The 6-3 decision, not split along ideological lines, concluded that a criminal defendant must meet specific criminal history conditions to qualify for relief, with failure to meet any criteria rendering a prisoner ineligible. The case focused on eligibility for shorter prison sentences under the bipartisan 2018 legislation, and the majority opinion, written by Justice Elena Kagan, adopted a tone of an English teacher, focusing on the interpretation of grammar in the law.
Senators Ed Markey and Marco Rubio are renewing bipartisan efforts to pass legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent, adding an hour to the day. The Sunshine Protection Act, which has already been unanimously passed by the Senate, aims to end the practice of changing clocks twice a year and allow certain states and territories to remain on standard time. The bill has garnered support from other lawmakers and approximately 30 states have introduced similar legislation since 2015. President Joe Biden has not taken a stance on the issue, while former President Donald Trump expressed support for making daylight saving permanent in 2019.