Latest Legislation News

Lawmakers prepare for final lame-duck sprint before making way for next Congress

Nov. 11, 2024 12:30 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Keeping the federal government open. Providing more disaster aid. Passing a defense policy bill. And for Senate Democrats, confirming more judges. It's a short but important to-do list as Congress returns to Washington this week to begin what is known as a...

What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefits

Nov. 08, 2024 17:16 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected to try next week to pass a Social Security-related bill to ensure benefits for workers who are also eligible for other pensions despite a surprise move by hard-right Freedom Caucus leaders to derail the effort. It’s a quick turnaround to...

Australian states back national plan to ban children younger than 16 from social media

Nov. 08, 2024 01:23 AM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s states and territories on Friday unanimously backed a national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16. Leaders of the eight provinces held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss...

Georgia Senate Republicans keep John Kennedy as leader for next 2 years

Nov. 07, 2024 17:02 PM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia state Senate Republicans will stick with their same leadership team. After an election where every incumbent who was running won another term, majority Senate Republicans gathered behind closed doors Thursday to choose their leaders for the next two years. ...

Australia plans a social media ban for children under 16

Nov. 07, 2024 06:32 AM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government announced on Thursday what it described as world-leading legislation that would institute an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media, and hold platforms responsible for ensuring compliance. “Social media...

UN agency for Palestinian refugees urges world to save it from Israeli ban

Nov. 06, 2024 18:22 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees urged the world Wednesday to save it from an Israeli ban that would have “disastrous consequences” for millions of people caught up in the war in Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the agency known as...

Australian High Court overturns law that forced scores of migrants to wear tracking bracelets

Nov. 06, 2024 01:46 AM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s highest court ruled Wednesday that migrants can’t be forced by law to wear electronic tracking bracelets or to comply with curfews. The ruling is a blow to the government, whose lawyers have unsuccessfully argued that laws imposing...

Pakistan's parliament amends law to extend the tenure of military chiefs from 3 to 5 years

Nov. 04, 2024 12:21 PM EST

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s parliament passed legislation Monday to extend the tenures of military chiefs from three to five years, despite protests from lawmakers who said it was hastily passed without allowing comment from the opposition. The bill promoted by the administration...

Arkansas' 4 Republican US House members face challenges from Democratic rivals

Nov. 02, 2024 00:17 AM EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' four Republican U.S. House members face challenges in this year's election from Democratic rivals who are mounting uphill battles to break the GOP's hold on the state's federal delegation. Republican U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve...

House Speaker Johnson says GOP may try to repeal CHIPS Act, then walks it back

Nov. 01, 2024 21:56 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that Republicans “probably will” try to repeal legislation that spurred U.S. production of semiconductor chips, a statement he quickly tried to walk back by saying he would like to instead “streamline” it. Johnson...