by Ripon Advance News Service U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), ranking member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, urged subcommittee chairwoman U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to hold a hearing on the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) that examines initiatives aimed at improving the stockpile. “… COVID-19 has demonstrated that the SNS and the entire U.S. medical supply chain were not able to adequately respond to a pandemic event,” Rep. Burgess wrote in a May 8 letter sen... Read more

by Chris Larson U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) led a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions that discriminate against American energy companies and their workers—who are being hit very hard during the coronavirus pandemic. “As every sector of our economy struggles to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks financial stab... Read more

Governor bans jailing citizens for lockdown violations; Texas Republican Rep. Michael Burgess reacts. Published here. Read more

by Anne Gearan, Mike DeBonis and Brady Dennis President Trump is increasingly dismissing the consensus of health experts, scientists and some of his Republican allies that widespread testing is key to the safe end of restrictions meant to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, saying Friday that “testing isn’t necessary” and is an imperfect guide. The president has played down the need for testing as he overrides public health recommendations that would prolong the closures of schools, busin... Read more

by Ripon Advance News Service U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) on May 4 introduced a bipartisan bill that would provide $3 billion in funding to purchase crude oil produced in the United States for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). “I’m leading this bipartisan, bicameral legislation because it will not only support our energy industry but benefit American taxpayers with greater economic and national security,” Sen. Hoeven said. “We need to pass this legislation to fund the purchase of U.S. crud... Read more

by Patrick Thibodeau Citing unemployment levels not seen since the Great Depression, U.S. Senate and House Republicans sent letters Thursday urging President Trump to "suspend" guest worker visa programs until the economy recovers or for at least one year -- whichever comes first. "There is no reason why unemployed Americans and recent college graduates should have to compete in such a limited job market against an influx of additional H-1B workers, most of whom work in business, technology, or ... Read more

by Preston Huennekens Lawmakers in both the House and Senate called on President Trump to suspend nonimmigrant guest worker programs in two letters circulated today. These letters ask the president to consider the effects of allowing hundreds of thousands of guest workers to continue working in the United States, while 33 million Americans have been added to unemployment as a result of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-I... Read more

by Renee Jean A bipartisan coalition of oil state senators led by North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven and Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones has introduced an emergency measure in the Senate that would provide $3 billion in funding to purchase American crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Hoeven’s coalition includes Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., as well as Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, John Barra... Read more

Topic of discussion was re-opening the economy after COVID-19 required everyone to social distance and shelter in place. View on YouTube. Read more

by Jacob Jarvis Republican calls for the House of Representatives to reconvene continue to mount after the Senate returned amid the coronavirus pandemic. Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy yesterday outlined his vision for how the lower house of congress could get back to work, suggesting a phased plan beginning with committees meeting first. The Senate congregated on Monday, despite stay-at-home measures prompted by COVID-19 remaining in place in Washington, D.C., prompting questio... Read more