Biden to make announcements on extreme heat, offshore wind
President Biden on Wednesday will make announcements aimed at bolstering offshore wind and protecting people from extreme heat. A White House official said that Biden will try to help communities facing extreme heat through additional funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which helps state and local governments deal with natural disasters and hazards. The Biden administration will also issue a new guidance related to a program that helps low income families with energy costs. The official did not specify what the
Read MoreThe Memo: Cracks grow in US response on Ukraine
Questions are mounting over America’s response to the crisis in Ukraine, even as the Eastern European nation’s first lady prepares to address Congress. Olena Zelenska is scheduled to address lawmakers on Capitol Hill around 11 a.m. Wednesday. She is already in Washington, where she has met separately with first lady Jill Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power. President Biden also greeted Zelenska at the White House on Tuesday, though the two did not have a formal meeting
Read MoreSmall-business owners blitz Capitol Hill
Thousands of small-business owners descended on Capitol Hill this week in a bid for congressional support as they brace for a looming recession that threatens to wipe out numerous mom-and-pop stores. Small-business owners, who employ nearly half of all U.S. workers, say they’re being hammered by inflation, hiring difficulties, supply chain snags, child care shortages and limited access to capital. Weathering the storm will get much harder if a recession dents consumer demand for their goods and services. But it’s unclear to many business owners whether Congress is
Read MoreWhat the strong dollar means for Americans
The U.S. dollar is getting stronger amid a global battle with high inflation. Americans are getting less bang for their buck at home, but a stronger dollar makes foreign goods more affordable and international travel relatively cheaper. The dollar broke even with the euro for the first time in 20 years last week, and the dollar’s value has climbed against a slew of other global currencies as the U.S. economy runs ahead of the rest of the world. Higher U.S. interest rates set by the Federal Reserve have also made the dollar more valuable to
Read MoreWhat your state constitution says about same sex marriage
Story at a glance Thirty-five states have statutes or constitutional amendments in place prohibiting same-sex marriage. State-level efforts to repeal such measures have seen limited success. On Tuesday, House lawmakers passed legislation that would require states to legally recognize same-sex marriages if those unions are valid in the states in which they were performed.
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