Policy

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., released a framework for artificial intelligence regulation Wednesday that includes a major role for the federal government in setting safety standards and testing models for catastrophic risk. The six-point framework, which does not include legislative text, stands in contrast to a focus from the White House and […]

A majority of the Supreme Court appeared skeptical Monday of an effort by Boulder, Colo., to hold major oil producers accountable in state courts for the harms caused by climate change. Across almost two hours of oral arguments, the justices raised concerns about upsetting the balance between states and the federal government and Congress’ power […]

The Trump administration’s buyouts of offshore wind leaseholders to stifle the nascent clean energy projects have drawn plenty of criticism from Democrats and environmental groups. Now comes a new argument from a nonpartisan watchdog group: Taxpayers are taking it on the chin from the controversial lease deals — which cost the Treasury nearly $4 billion […]

A bipartisan bill aimed at pressuring state utility regulators to reduce data center-related costs stalled in the Senate again Wednesday after a procedural vote to take up the bill fell short of the 60 supporters needed to move forward. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed was 57-43, keeping the measure bottled up for the […]

In the last two months of the fiscal year that ends Wednesday, the Pentagon spent tens of billions of mandatory dollars from last year’s reconciliation law, intensely accelerating spending from its unusually large overall budget for the year, congressional sources said this week.  The Pentagon spends scores of billions of dollars each year, and the Sept. […]

The Transportation Department released a final rule Monday that aims to “reset” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fuel economy standards, rolling back substantial required mileage increases for automakers’ fleets implemented under the Biden administration. Dubbed “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” by the department, the 892-page rule will impact Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars […]

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., has proposed legislation that seeks to address artificial intelligence-fueled shifts in the workforce as his party works to define a clear position on the controversial technology ahead of the midterms and beyond. Introduced Thursday, his bill would rely on new artificial intelligence and digital advertising taxes on the largest technology companies […]

Congressional Democratic leaders filed a lawsuit Thursday aiming to prevent the Trump administration from following through on statements that they are considering sending armed federal agents to polling places in November. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader […]

The Senate could vote on legislation next week aimed at blocking demolition of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts without congressional approval. A draft bill has bipartisan backing from the top appropriators who oversee Kennedy Center funding: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chair of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, […]

Republicans and Democrats alike on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee tried repeatedly with little success to elicit opinions from the White House’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Heidi Overton, on health policy or a pledge to assert the agency’s independence. Throughout the hearing Thursday, Overton told senators she would “follow statutory guidelines” […]