Author

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Summer hurricanes, wildfires and storms loom as FEMA faces pressure to step up

By: - 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.

Lesions on hands of people who contracted monkeypox

CDC expects more monkeypox cases in the U.S.

By: - 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: - 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: - 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: - 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: and - 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: - 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: - 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: - 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: - 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 […]

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House October 15, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

Biden tangles with Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott: ‘I think the man has a problem’

By: - 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: - 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 […]