Hawley is only senator to vote against Finland, Sweden NATO membership
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the only senator to vote against a resolution on Wednesday backing Finland and Sweden’s entry to NATO. The Senate approved the resolution in a 95-1 vote. One senator, Rand Paul (R-Ky.), voted present. The resolution backs Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The House approved a resolution in a bipartisan 394-18 vote last month that formally supported the two Nordic countries joining the military alliance. All opposition in the House came from the Republican Party. Hawley’s vote against the resolution did not come as a surprise. He had
Read MoreThese 11 GOP senators voted against the Honoring Our Pact Act
The U.S. Senate passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on Tuesday night in an 86-11 vote, expanding health care for 3.5 million of America's veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits in the post 9/11-era. The legislation also covers health benefits for other veterans exposed to chemicals, such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, during their
Read MoreIowa school district sued over transgender student policy
Story at a glance An Iowa school district was sued this week over its adoption of a policy designed to protect transgender students through the development of “gender support plans.” The group suing the school district, Parents Defending Education, has said the policy infringes on the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of students, as well as their parents’ right to make decisions about t
Read MoreThe future of farm and food policy
Congress will soon begin the process of reauthorizing legislation that will navigate the future of federal farm and food policy. Hearings on the next farm bill have already begun at a time of substantial political divide. Historically, the farm bill reauthorization process has been a beacon of bipartisanship. After all, no matter your political affiliation — everyone needs food. Reauthorization comes at a time when farmers are facing challenges on several fronts. The harsh realities of climate cha
Read MoreDurbin calls on DOD watchdog to probe 'wiped' Jan. 6 texts
Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is calling for an investigation following news that the texts for top Department of Defense (DOD) officials were not preserved, losing their communications on Jan. 6. American Oversight, a group that had sued for the texts following a public records request, disclosed that DOD notified them in March that it “wiped” the phones of former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy in the days after the attack on the Capitol. “The disappearance of this critical information could jeopardize e
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