Washington, June 6 (IANS) The US House of Representatives has narrowly passed a $26.3 billion agriculture spending bill, advancing Republican priorities on farm support, food safety, rural development and national security despite Democratic objections that the measure cuts nutrition and other domestic programmes. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2027 passed the House by a vote of 213-210 and now moves to th…
Latest Senate News & Updates
Washington, June 3 (IANS) The United States must strengthen its fisheries, maritime infrastructure, shipbuilding capacity and workforce development to remain competitive in the rapidly expanding global blue economy, lawmakers and industry leaders told a Senate hearing.At a Congressional hearing on “The Blue Economy: Advancing American Fisheries, Maritime Industry, and Coastal Economies,” Sen. Dan Sullivan said America’s oceans, coasts and waterways are central to economic growth, food secu…
Washington, May 14 (IANS) The Senate’s conversation about American manufacturing quickly became a broader argument about China, tariffs, technology and the meaning of economic independence, as lawmakers and business leaders debated whether the United States can restore factory production without making life more expensive. At a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing marking America’s 250th anniversary, Republicans and Democrats sharply disagreed over how to revive domes…
Washington, May 13 (IANS) Pentagon leaders refused to publicly disclose detailed battle damage assessments from the ongoing Iran conflict.The issue became one of the sharpest points of confrontation during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defence hearing on President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget, as lawmakers pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine for specifics on Iran’s remaining missile, drone and naval capabilities….
Washington, May 8 (IANS) Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have move a legislation to ban members of Congress and their staff from trading on prediction markets. It comes days after the Senate unanimously adopted similar restrictions amid growing scrutiny over potential insider trading and ethics concerns.Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa on Thursday introduced a resolution to amend House rules and prohibit lawmakers, congressional staff and House officers from entering a…
Brussels, May 2 (IANS) Pakistan’s women parliamentarians encounter challenges that reflect a broader pattern of exclusion within the country’s political system. Although legislative quotas have enhanced numerical representation, they have not significantly altered the distribution of power, a report stated this week. According to European Times, the continued male dominance in leadership roles, alongside the restricted allocation of general seat tickets to Pakistani women, indicates that inc…
Washington, April 28 (IANS) The United States faces an “unprecedented” missile threat environment, with senior defence officials warning lawmakers that the country’s current homeland defences are limited and increasingly vulnerable to advanced weapons, including hypersonic and cruise missiles.Testifying before a Senate panel, Assistant Secretary Marc Berkowitz said rivals are “expanding, diversifying and increasing the sophistication of their arsenals of missiles and aerial weapons,” p…
Washington, April 24 (IANS) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that Washington’s actions helped prevent global oil prices from surging to $150 per barrel, keeping them closer to $100 amid geopolitical tensions, as he outlined a broader strategy linking energy stability, sanctions policy and financial leadership. Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent noted that US decisions on sanctions and supply played a key role in stabilising markets during the ongoing conflict.”If we had …
Washington, April 23 (IANS) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended a temporary sanctions waiver affecting Russian oil, saying it helped prevent a sharper spike in global prices, even as Democrats warned it could boost Moscow’s war finances and keep fuel costs high.Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent said the move was aimed at stabilising supply during a volatile period.“Treasury was able to create the more than 250 million barrels on the water,” he said.He added that without th…
Washington, April 22 (IANS) US lawmakers have urged the Navy to speed up the deployment of unmanned surface vessels, warning that delays could leave the United States trailing adversaries adopting autonomous systems at a pace. Opening a Senate Seapower subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Senator Rick Scott said the Navy “must move decisively to integrate unmanned systems into the fight” and warned it “appears… late to the game already,” pointing to lessons from the war in Ukraine.Scott sa…