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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned congressional leaders Friday that failing to raise the debt ceiling would risk “irreparable harm to the U.S. economy and the livelihoods of all Americans.”
In a letter, Yellen said that she did not know how long the Treasury Department could prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt, which could carry catastrophic economic consequences. The debt ceiling is set to expire on Aug. 1.
“In recent years Congress has addressed the debt limit through regular order, with broad bipartisan support,” Yellen wrote. “I respectfully urge Congress to protect the full faith and credit of the United States by acting as soon as possible.”
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday said he would be willing to vote to raise the federal debt ceiling in exchange for a policy that could result in cuts to Social Security and Medicare, a proposed trade-off that progressive advocacy groups implored Democrats to reject.
With members of Congress staring down an August deadline to increase the debt limit the amount of money the federal government is legally permitted to borrow to meet its financial obligations Graham (R-S.C.) told
Bloomberg that he could bring himself to vote yes on a debt ceiling hike if Democrats agree to legislation establishing commissions tasked with crafting Social Security and Medicare reforms.
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In this June 23 photo Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, talks to reporters in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite
WASHINGTONÂ â Here s a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.
Along with roll call votes this week, the U.S. Senate also passed Senate Resolution 309, expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance; and the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act â S. 189 â to increase, effective Dec. 1, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
Patience has worn thin: Frustration mounts over vaccine holdouts
Patience has worn thin: Frustration.
Seven months after the first coronavirus shots were rolled out, vaccinated Americans - including government, business and health leaders - are growing frustrated that tens of millions of people are still refusing to get them, endangering themselves and their communities and fueling the viruss spread.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, on Thursday lashed out amid a surge of cases in her state, telling a reporter it s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks. The NFL this week imposed new rules that put pressure on unvaccinated players, warning their teams could face fines or be forced to forfeit games if those players were linked to outbreaks.
Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, is encouraging House and Senate leadership to include provisions to help increase the use and production of biofuels in the final language of the upcoming infrastructure legislation.
Axne on June 25 sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leaders Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell advocating for investments in biofuels infrastructure.
“Investments in biofuels infrastructure represents the best of all worlds as we are charting a path to an energy economy that allows us to reduce carbon emissions, be less reliant on foreign energy sources, and still support our rural communities and farmers,” she wrote. “Biofuels have been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least half for ethanol and upwards of eighty percent for biodiesel, all while supporting rural and agricultural communities. In fact, the Department of Agriculture anticipates reduction of up to sevent