Category: Federal

  • Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee holds confirmation hearing for Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs

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    The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs on Jan. 21, 2025. The committee scheduled a meeting for Jan. 23 to vote on Collins’ nomination. Collins must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can be put up for a confirmation vote…

  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing for Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador

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    The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Elise Stefanik for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Jan. 21, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Stefanik must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can…

  • 196 bills on the administrative state introduced in 2025 sessions so far

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    Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Legislation Tracker captured 196 bills introduced in the 2025 legislative session as of Jan. 17. Legislators in 28 states and Congress filed bills, including policy proposals related to oversight of regulations, judicial deference to agencies, agency use of artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance, regulation budgets and limitations, cost-benefit analysis requirements, agency appointment processes,…

  • The Food and Nutrition Service issues final rule for SNAP work requirements

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    On January 16, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 final rule went into effect. This rule reaffirmed requirements laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) with three main provisions governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — previously called food stamps. These…

  • Summary of the Trump administration’s history on Medicaid work requirements

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    Donald Trump (R) was inaugurated as president for his second term on January 20, 2025. During his first term, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) invited states to apply for Section 1115 waivers, which, if approved by CMS, allow states to implement work requirements and other conditions for Medicaid. Between 2018 and 2020,…

  • Banks exit net-zero alliance

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    What’s the story? Three major banks announced over the last several days that they are leaving the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Bank of America indicated they would exit the group. Why does it matter? The announcements follow similar actions from Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo last month. They are part of a…

  • Senate Judiciary Committee holds confirmation hearing for Pam Bondi for attorney general

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    The Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for Pam Bondi for attorney general on Jan. 16 and 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Bondi’s nomination. Bondi must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can be put up…

  • Senate Finance Committee holds confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent for secretary of the treasury

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    The Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent for secretary of the treasury on Jan. 16, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Bessent’s nomination. Bessent must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can be put…

  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds confirmation hearing for Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security

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    The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Kristi Noem for secretary of Homeland Security on Jan. 17, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Noem’s nomination. Noem must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her…

  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds confirmation hearing for Lee Zeldin for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

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    The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a confirmation hearing for Lee Zeldin for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 16, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Zeldin’s nomination. Zeldin must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before…