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Summer hurricanes, wildfires and storms loom as FEMA faces pressure to step up
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 24, 2022
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is under intense pressure even as its portfolio balloons; it is pleading for more money from Congress but criticism is coming on several fronts.
CDC expects more monkeypox cases in the U.S.
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 23, 2022
he United States will see additional cases of monkeypox in the coming weeks, but officials cautioned that it’s harder to transmit the virus than it is to spread respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.
Federal judge allows continued Title 42 migrant expulsions at the border
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 20, 2022
WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Louisiana on Friday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from ending Title 42, a designation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that has allowed border patrol officials to turn migrants away at the border. The order from U.S. District Court Judge Robert Summerhays for a preliminary nationwide injunction […]
Under fire from Congress, FDA chief says baby formula shortage will improve soon
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 20, 2022
WASHINGTON — U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Robert Califf told Congress Thursday that the infant formula shortage will likely begin to improve in the coming days, though he declined to explain to unhappy lawmakers why his agency didn’t act sooner on a whistleblower report that detailed safety issues at an Abbott Laboratories facility in Michigan. […]
$40B in Ukraine aid cleared for Biden’s signature, but some in GOP balk
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators voted overwhelmingly Thursday to send President Joe Biden a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine that will provide additional economic, humanitarian and military support to the country. The 86-11 vote marks the second time Congress cleared a multibillion-dollar package since Russia invaded in late February. Negotiators opted both times to increase […]
Congress, White House scramble to ease baby formula shortage
By: Jennifer Shutt and Jacob Fischler - May 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — Both the Biden administration and Congress moved Wednesday to try to relieve a national infant formula shortage, as the White House invoked the Defense Production Act and the U.S. House approved $28 million for the Food and Drug Administration. President Joe Biden said he would use the law to address the formula shortage, […]
U.S. House Judiciary Committee debates abortion in advance of landmark court ruling
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — The national debate over abortion rights raged in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, as Democrats warned of the dangers of a potential end to the constitutional right and Republicans argued that legislatures should determine abortion laws. The hearing came just weeks after a leaked draft opinion from Associate Justice Samuel Alito […]
U.S. House to vote on $28 million for FDA to relieve infant formula shortage
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 18, 2022
WASHINGTON — Democratic appropriators in the U.S. House unveiled a $28 million emergency spending bill Tuesday intended to address a nationwide infant formula shortage that has left parents and caregivers struggling to find food for babies. The U.S. House is expected to vote this week on the bill, which would provide funding to the U.S. […]
Biden administration looks for ways to alleviate infant formula shortage
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 13, 2022
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration sought to assuage parents’ concerns over an ongoing infant formula shortage Thursday, though officials couldn’t offer a timeline for when store shelves would be fully stocked again. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration is working to “cut red tape,” increase imports of formula and broaden what types […]
U.S. House passes $40 billion Ukraine aid package with broad bipartisan support
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 11, 2022
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to provide an additional $40 billion in economic, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine as its troops continue fighting back against Russia’s invasion. The legislation, released just hours before, now goes to the U.S. Senate, where leaders hope to quickly send the bill to President Joe Biden’s […]
Biden tangles with Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott: ‘I think the man has a problem’
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 10, 2022
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged Tuesday to make a fight against inflation his top domestic priority while rebuking Republican economic proposals he said miss the mark — zeroing in on Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott. The president’s remarks at the White House came after Scott earlier in the day called on Biden to resign […]
Biden backs moving quickly on Ukraine relief without including U.S. COVID aid
By: Jennifer Shutt - May 10, 2022
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signaled Monday he can accept Congress postponing action on billions in COVID-19 funding his administration says is desperately needed in the interests of swiftly moving ahead on a multibillion-dollar Ukraine aid package backed by both parties. “Previously, I had recommended that Congress take overdue action on much needed funding for […]