In the News

by Jim PuzzangheraA bipartisan group of House lawmakers joined Friday to force a vote in the coming weeks to reopen the Export-Import Bank, whose charter expired this summer because of opposition from key congressional leaders.The move is a victory for supporters of the 81-year-old bank, which helps U.S. companies export their goods.But even if a reauthorization bill passes the House, expected as early as Oct. 26, its fate in the Senate remains unclear.Still, House members who have been working ... Read more

by Jennifer BenderyWASHINGTON -- House Republicans created a special committee on Wednesday to investigate abortions, fetal tissue procurement and the use of federal funds at Planned Parenthood.Lawmakers voted 242-184 on a resolution establishing the committee, which will function as an Energy and Commerce subcommittee and will have the power to subpoena documents and testimony. Its stated mission, among other things, is to examine "medical procedures and business practices used by entities invo... Read more

by Mark Schoeff Jr.The battle over a Labor Department proposal to raise investment advice standards for retirement accounts reached a new level of nasty last week, as supporters and opponents dug in for months of fighting ahead.Over the course of a few days, the author of a bill that would stop the rule lashed out at Democrats for backing away from her measure, a prominent senator forced a critic of the bill out of a Washington think tank and a DOL official promised to charge ahead while acknowl... Read more

Congresswoman Gwen Moore sat down with Patrick Paolantonio to talk about Pope Francis' historic visit to Washington.To watch the full video, please click here. Read more

By Lauren Victoria BurkeAs Republicans in the House try and figure out a new way to defund Planned Parenthood after Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced he would resign on October 31, some Democrats in the House are moving to protect the organization.On Monday on Capitol Hill, two members of Congress introduced reporters to three people who said Planned Parenthood greatly assisted them with their health care. Along with the members, they defended the group in strong terms and asserted that link... Read more

By Vicki NeedhamFour House Democrats on Tuesday urged congressional leaders to immediately vote on legislation that would reopen the Export-Import Bank.Led by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), the group sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) arguing that all sizes of U.S. businesses are feeling the negative effects of the bank’s shutdown, which happened more than two months ago.“The businesses that were to receive that assistance — as wel... Read more

By Bryce CovertFirst, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) laid out his vision for how to help America’s poorest. Now a colleague from the same state has laid out hers and challenged him to back up his rhetoric.Last week, Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore re-introduced the RISE Out of Poverty Act, which would significantly overhaul the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, also known as welfare. This is not the first time Moore has put these ideas forward; in fact, she came to Congress wit... Read more

By Gwen MoreAs one of the most significant foreign policy decisions of our time, the urgency of the Iran nuclear deal demands balanced consideration and sensible reflection from Congress. Sadly, some of the agreement's opponents have no interest in a thoughtful debate. Their objective is clear: defeat the deal by arousing fear.The historic nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 is an important achievement for international diplomacy and U.S.-Iran relations. Secretary of State John Kerry and... Read more

By Gwen MooreWhat do you do when the largest city in your state is quickly drowning in a sea of violent shootings? If you’re Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, the answer is simple: water down your existing gun laws.Last month, one of the newest Republicans to join the presidential race traveled to my hometown of Milwaukee to celebrate his recent victory for the National Rifle Association. It was just the latest win Gov. Walker scored in his persistent efforts to drastically expand gun rights stat... Read more

By Politico StaffTwenty members of Congress — 19 Democrats and one Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona — are accompanying President Barack Obama on his trip to Kenya and Ethiopia.According to the White House, half of the lawmakers will fly on Air Force One to Kenya, and the other half will return on the presidential plane on the way back from Ethiopia. The group includes three senators; the rest are House members, all members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Flake is one of a small number o... Read more