Senators have confirmed a veteran of U.S.-Asian engagement and security as the State Department’s second-ranking diplomat.

It’s a big year for congressional elections, and already it’s known there will be some attrition with candidates who won’t mount reelection bids in 2024.

A federal judge has rejected a request from Oregon Republican state senators who boycotted the Legislature to be allowed on the ballot after their terms end.

Five women state senators from South Carolina who formed a bipartisan coalition to filibuster a near-total abortion ban in their state have been chosen to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award this year.

A group of Democratic senators is asking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to take action against medical credit cards such as CareCredit, saying the cards’ deferred interest features are confusing and often lead to consumers paying high interest rates after a promotional period has ended.

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $115,675,266 in federal funding to lower home heating costs for low-income Virginians.

California lawmakers have voted to make vasectomies cheaper for men.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Richard Blumenthal, and Susan Collins introduced the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, which will eliminate copayments for contraception covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

A bipartisan group of senators is eyeing an infrastructure deal with $579 billion in new spending as part of a $1 trillion total package.

Millions of dollars in federal funding are being used to help ensure Virginians have a roof over their heads. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced that $95,560,265 in federal funding is going towards helping Virginians get safe and affordable homes. “We’re glad to see these federal funds go toward providing housing resources for individuals who are struggling to stay afloat amid COVID-19,” said the Senators. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), which provides grants to states and local governments to help people access affordable housingThe Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program helps people who are experiencing a housing crisis and/or are homeless find somewhere to stay. The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) grant program provides housing assistance and additional supportive services to local units of government, states, and non-profit organizations for projects that help low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families.

This was a big day, especially for the House and Senate leadership lane, one of my specialties. Smith Goes to Washington” you've seen my work area since a press gallery scene from the movie was filmed there more than 70 years ago. (The Senate chamber, however, was a soundstage). The mob was out of the building by then and, strangely, it almost seemed boring, waiting for the Capitol to be declared safe. The Daily Press Gallery where I work had not been breached.

The duo were the architects of the $1.8 trillion CARES Act, the landmark relief bill passed in March. Here are the top issues for the end-stage COVID-19 relief talks. ___JOBLESS BENEFITSThe CARES Act created a $600 per-week bonus COVID-19 unemployment benefit that sustained household incomes and consumer demand during the springtime shutdowns. House Democrats support the idea, but it is unpopular with many Senate Republicans and was left out of a scaled-back Senate GOP plan. ___LIABILITY SHIELDBusinesses reopening during the pandemic have for months been seeking a shield against lawsuits claiming negligence for COVID-19 outbreaks.

I think we’re both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package,” McConnell said. Some conservatives, including Republicans from COVID hotspots like North Dakota and Iowa, said they were comfortable with an aid package carrying the almost $1 trillion price tag. Added Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.: “There’s a bipartisan package for $908 billion that will really help people." Biden is supporting an additional aid package that's as large as possible now. Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend.

Biden said the developing aid package "wouldn’t be the answer, but it would be the immediate help for a lot of things.” He wants a relief bill to pass Congress now, with more aid to come next year. He has acknowledged that another infusion of aid to states and local governments, a key Pelosi demand, probably will pass eventually. His top deputy, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said GOP leaders might agree to merging the bipartisan proposal with McConnell's bill. Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend. Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin struggled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election, discussing legislation of up to $2 trillion.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Virginia House committee has passed a controversial assault weapons ban bill that will advance to the full floor. According to bipartisan advocates who watched the proceedings, the bill bans assault weapons, including popular AR-15-style rifles. The bill also sets a definition for assault weapons to include magazine sizes, which would have a limit of 12 rounds. Democrats and gun control advocates are applauding the move, and gun rights supporters are voicing frustration. A version of this bill failed to pass the Virginia Senate, so if this clears the House, Senators would still have to vote for it before it hits the governor’s desk.

(CNN) - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted a controversial judicial nominee out to the full Senate on Thursday over the vigorous dissents of Democrats, but the panel held over another at the request of the White House. His nomination will now move to the full Senate, which will vote on his life time appointment in the coming weeks. But Judge Halil Suleyman "Sul" Ozerden, who had been nominated for a seat on the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will be held over at the request of the White House. Ozerden's nomination is on thin ice after he lost the support of Republicans on the committee including Sens. Before serving in the White House, Menashi worked as Acting General Counsel at the Department of Education.