Washington, May 23 (IANS) The US Senate has passed bipartisan legislation aimed at stopping the smuggling of advanced American semiconductors into China, amid growing concerns in Washington that the chips could be used for Chinese military and artificial intelligence applications.The legislation, titled the “Stop Stealing our Chips Act,” was introduced by Republican Senator Mike Rounds and co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Mark Warner. The bill would create a whistleblower incentive program…
Latest US Senate News & Updates
Washington, May 22 (IANS) A key US Senate intelligence panel has advanced a sweeping intelligence authorisation bill that includes provisions to sustain American intelligence support for Ukraine, deepen cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies including India, and tighten oversight of artificial intelligence exports amid rising concerns over China and Russia.The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Thursday approved the Intelligence Authorisation Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, with several am…
Washington, May 13 (IANS) US Senator Lindsey Graham publicly questioned Pakistan’s credibility as a “mediator” in the Iran conflict after raising allegations that Iranian aircraft may have been parked at Pakistani air bases.The sharp exchange came during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget, where lawmakers repeatedly pressed Pentagon officials over the widening Middle East conflict and the continuing cl…
Washington, May 12 (IANS) A bipartisan group of US senators has urged President Donald Trump to move ahead with a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week, warning that any weakening of American support for Taipei would embolden Beijing and destabilise the Indo-Pacific.In a letter led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Thom Tillis, the lawmakers urged the administration to formal…
Washington, May 8 (IANS) A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced a resolution describing China as the “foremost rival and strategic competitor” of the United States and calling for deeper engagement with India and stronger Indo-Pacific alliances to counter Beijing.The resolution, introduced by Senator Chris Coons and several Republican and Democratic lawmakers, said China has the “intent and capacity to undermine the security, economic prosperity, and strategic interests” of the…
Washington, May 1 (IANS) A heated Senate hearing saw sharp clashes between US SEcretary of War Pete Hegseth and lawmakers, as divisions deepened over the Iran war, rising costs and a proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget.At the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democratic and some independent senators challenged the administration’s claims of success in Iran and questioned the scale of military spending.Ranking Member Jack Reed led the criticism, accusing the administration of entering an “un…
Washington, April 29 (IANS) China’s growing global influence drew sharp attention at a US Senate hearing, with diplomatic nominees warning of Beijing’s expanding footprint across Latin America, Africa and parts of Eurasia.Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, several nominees flagged China’s economic and strategic outreach as a direct challenge to US interests.Juan Rodriguez, nominated as US ambassador to Guatemala, said: “China’s economic expansion in the Western H…
Washington, March 24 (IANS) The US Senate has confirmed Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, replacing embattled Kristi Noem, amid the department’s continued shutdown.The upper chamber voted 54-45 to approve 48-year-old Mullin, who has served in the Senate since 2023, following a decade in the House representing the state of Oklahoma. One Republican senator voted against the nomination, and two Democrats supported it.Mullin’s nomination, anno…
Washington, March 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to provide security at airports amid an ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has dragged on for more than a month and left regular security personnel going unpaid.Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Democrats did not “immediately sign an agreement,” “I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Securit…
Washington, March 20 (IANS) Facing rising health care costs and access gaps, US senators advanced bipartisan proposals on drug pricing, maternal care and insurance reform.At a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing, lawmakers from both parties pitched a wide range of bills aimed at lowering costs, expanding access, and addressing workforce shortages.Opening the session, Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy stressed the need for practical solutions. “As chair, my focus is cu…