News

Nearly 50 senators have signed on to a letter pledging to oppose taxpayer funding of abortions. Senate Pro-Life Caucus chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced the letter on Friday, as “a unified message” to Democratic leadership that the 47 signers would “vote to block any bill that would undermine the Hyde Amendment or any other pro-life protections.” “We are united in our resolve to guard against any changes to Federal law that would unsettle nearly half a century of bipartisan consensus against taxpayer funding for abortion on demand, or otherwise threaten the lives of unborn children,” the letter states. The Hyde

There has been one law nipping at the heels of the U.S. Postal Service for the past 15 years. It requires USPS to put money toward retiree health benefits some 50 years ahead of schedule. The mandate has the Postal Service funding benefits for workers it has yet to hire. And the burden has contributed to budget challenges as the USPS cuts staff and reduces post office hours. Montana has frequently been on the short list for cuts. Now, after years of postal workers lobbying Congress to deliver relief, it appears lawmakers might give their stamp of approval to removing

Early flashpoints in the Biden administration’s environmental agenda came to a head last night on the Senate floor, as Republicans used a marathon session of budget votes to put Democrats on the record on drilling and the Keystone XL pipeline. While nonbinding and largely symbolic, the handful of energy and environment votes during the budget resolution “vote-a-rama” that went into this morning’s early hours offered a preview of the legislative fights to come, with Republicans seeking to wield tensions within the Democratic caucus against Biden’s early executive actions. Democrats initially turned the tables on one attack by uniting as a

Two Senate Democrats are facing criticism for voting to defy President Biden and overrule his decision to kill the Keystone XL oil pipeline — before later voting to reverse themselves. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia initially voted for a Republican amendment that would have put support for the pipeline in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that Democrats are drafting under budget reconciliation. Their votes meant the amendment passed 52-48 just before midnight, threatening to reverse Biden’s decision last month to end construction of the pipeline from Canada, citing environmental concerns but costing thousands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday introduced the bipartisan TRICARE Retiree Protection Act to ensure that America’s military retirees will not lose their healthcare as a result of new policy changes that took effect on January 1st, 2021. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) cosponsored the legislation. “Our servicemembers bravely fought for our nation and as they retire after years of selfless service, it is our duty to ensure they’re taken care of,” Manchin said. “I introduced the TRICARE Retiree Protection Act to extend the grace period from 180 days to 12 months to enroll in a payment

The Postal Service seeks to cut costs and its regulator gave the agency greater flexibility setting higher mail rates, but Congress could have a far greater impact putting the Postal Service on firmer financial footing — if it chooses to act. Members of the House and Senate have introduced variations of the same postal reform bill in recent years, but nearly all failed gain much momentum. Lawmakers this week, however, brought forward the first major postal reform bill of the new Congress. Reintroduction of this bill, which passed the House last year — along with other recent postal actions on