Latest United States Senate News
Biden celebrates a 'crisis averted’ in Oval Office address on bipartisan debt ceiling deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden celebrated a “crisis averted" in his first speech to the nation from the Oval Office Friday evening, ready to sign a budget agreement that eliminates the potential for an unprecedented government default that he said would have been catastrophic for the...
Connecticut lawmakers vote to allow people to use deadly force as the bear population grows
Connecticut lawmakers voted Friday to take steps to protect people from the state's growing bear population. But they stopped far short of a bear hunt and restrictions on people unintentionally feeding the hungry animals. The legislation, which cleared the House of Representatives on...
As end of session nears, Louisiana lawmakers advance controversial LGBTQ+-related bills
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As Louisiana’s legislative session nears adjournment, lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature pushed forward controversial LGBTQ+-related bills, including advancing a resurrected ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths Friday. ...
Attorney says West Virginia governor refusing to pay judgment in coal lawsuit
DOVER, Del. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. James Justice is refusing to pay a balance of $1.9 million on a judgment against him and one of his family-owned coal companies in a federal lawsuit, an attorney for a Pennsylvania coal exporter said Friday. Justice, who is running for the...
Connecticut lawmakers vote to bar anyone under 18 from getting married
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut lawmakers voted Friday to tighten the state's marriage laws, prohibiting anyone under age 18 from being issued a marriage license under any circumstance. The legislation cleared the Senate unanimously, following a 98-45 bipartisan vote last month...
Abortion plays key role in closely watched Virginia primary involving Democratic 'pro-life' lawmaker
PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — On a recent Monday afternoon, Virginia state Sen. Joe Morrissey got a warm reception as he made his way through a neighborhood in Petersburg, knocking on doors, touting his credentials and asking residents for their votes in the upcoming Democratic primary. ...
How Biden and McCarthy struck a debt limit deal and staved off a catastrophe
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was advice that Mitch McConnell had offered to Joe Biden once already: To resolve the debt limit standoff, he needed to strike a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — and McCarthy alone. But after the first meeting of the top four congressional leaders with the president...
Just days to spare, Senate gives final approval to debt ceiling deal, sending it to Biden
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fending off a U.S. default, the Senate gave final approval late Thursday to a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, grinding into the night to wrap up work on the bipartisan deal and send it to President Joe Biden's desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline. ...
Oregon Democrats vote to fine absent senators amid GOP walkout
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Senate Democrats plan to start fining their absent colleagues amid a month-long Republican walkout, a move they hope will pressure boycotting lawmakers to return to the chamber as hundreds of bills languish amid the partisan stalemate. In a procedural move...
Bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths in Louisiana resurrected
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Amid mounting pressure from Republicans, a bill banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in Louisiana that was narrowly killed by a legislative committee last week has been resurrected. In a rare occurrence, the Senate voted to recommit...
