Congress

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Politics

China owns 300,000 acres of land in the U.S. Here's where

Chinese companies and individuals own farmland across America. But lawmakers in Washington are pushing to block any purchases that could be connected to the Chinese Communist Party.
Ximena Bustillo

Connie Hanzhang Jin
Politics

Jayapal reintroduces Transgender Bill of Rights

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) is once again trying to codify federal protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people across the country.
Paige Browning

Katie Campbell
Politics

Sen. Maria Cantwell questions Southwest over holiday cancellations

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell wants to know how airlines can avoid another debacle like the one that led to more than 16,000 Southwest Airlines cancellations last December.
Katie Campbell
Government

Barriers prevent rural communities from accessing climate funds

Federal grants to help communities prepare for the effects of climate change are a major portion of the 2021 infrastructure law, but requirements like a "local match" can be a big barrier to rural jurisdictions accessing those funds.
Libby Denkmann

Hans Anderson

Sarah Leibovitz
Politics

Jayapal: Chaos around House speaker vote signals 'a very difficult two years' ahead

The work of Congress has stalled with the U.S. House's failure to elected a House speaker. The House has so far failed to elect a House Speaker. And despite wanting today off to mark the second anniversary of the January 6th attacks on the Capitol, representatives are headed back to the floor today.
Paige Browning

Katie Campbell
Government

Murray becomes first woman president pro tem of the Senate

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said she is looking forward to her new duties as the first woman president pro tem of the chamber.
David Hyde
Politics

Farmworkers brace for more time in the shadows after latest effort fails in Congress

A legalization path for farmworkers failed to pass this month and faces an even steeper climb in a Republican-controlled House in the next Congress.
Ximena Bustillo
Politics

Joe Kent concedes, but is 'not done yet'

Six weeks after the November election, Joe Kent announced that he has conceded the election for Washington's 3rd Congressional District. He called his opponent, Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, Wednesday morning to make it official.
Dyer Oxley
Politics

Lawmakers unveil a $1.7 trillion U.S. spending bill as shutdown deadline looms

Leaders are racing to complete passage before a midnight Friday deadline or face the prospect of a partial government shutdown going into the Christmas holiday.
The Associated Press
Government

Jan. 6 panel announces 4 criminal referrals for Donald Trump

After more than a year of investigating, the House Select Committee probing the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol is set to hold what is expected to be its final public hearing today. The panel will vote on criminal referrals, including for former President Donald Trump. Today's hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
NPR Staff

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