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Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau
House Democrats pummel postmaster over sharp declines in on-time mail delivery
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 24, 2020
In a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Democrats pressed DeJoy over an internal report made public over the weekend showing steep declines in on-time mail deliveries since July — challenging GOP claims that Democrats manufactured the crisis.
Pa. should use up its $1B reserve before asking Congress for more COVID cash, Republicans say
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 23, 2020
With relief talks in park and no signs of a restart, Pa. Republicans on Capitol Hill say their home state needs to spend what it has before asking for more.
House passes bill to boost post office funding by $25 billion, block service changes
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 22, 2020
The Democratic-led chamber passed a bill 257-150 that would infuse $25 billion into the agency as it prepares for a surge in mail-in ballots and bar it from changing operations or service levels in place at the beginning of the year.
Postmaster general insists it’s his ‘sacred duty’ to ensure election mail on time
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 21, 2020
Rebutting allegations that he’s acting at Trump’s bidding, DeJoy said he had not spoken to Trump about policy changes he has made since taking the position and has only informed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin of his general intention to improve processes and save costs at the cash-strapped agency.
Ahead of U.S. Senate hearing, Postal Service boss backs off from proposed changes
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 18, 2020
A Senate oversight panel will hear from the postmaster general on Friday about sweeping policy changes at the U.S. Postal Service that critics fear could jeopardize the fall elections
Republican senator presses reluctant GOP leadership for billions in state, local aid in next relief deal
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - August 4, 2020
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is pressing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for $500 billion in assistance to states.
Pa.’s Fitzpatrick votes with Dems as House passes package to rescue child care industry
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau and John L. Micek - July 30, 2020
The U.S. House stepped in Wednesday to try to rescue the nation’s child care system from collapse under the weight of the pandemic.
With unemployment benefits for millions on the line, Senate recesses without action
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - July 25, 2020
Senate Republicans were expected to unveil the details of the proposal but adjourned without doing so, virtually ensuring a gap in benefits.
Lawmakers seeking to crack down on toxic chemicals suffer another setback
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - July 21, 2020
The Senate isn’t expected to include a provision creating a national drinking standard in its version of the bill.
In ruling with Pa. implications, U.S. Supreme Court hands victories to religious employers in health care, employment
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - July 8, 2020
Reproductive rights advocates say the ruling potentially affects hundreds of thousands of people seeking birth control.
Pa’s Fitzpatrick votes with Dems to pass massive infrastructure bill; GOP calls it ‘nonsense’
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau and John L. Micek - July 1, 2020
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House cleared a massive $1.5 trillion package Wednesday that backers said would not only shore up the nation’s crumbling infrastructure but also create jobs at a time of widespread unemployment, protect the planet from a warming climate and narrow long-standing racial disparities. The bill takes “bold, broad and transformational action to rebuild […]
Pa.’s Fitzpatrick, Houlahan make another push to crack down on toxic PFAS chemicals
By: Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington Bureau - July 1, 2020
Federal lawmakers from Pennsylvania and other states are making another push to crack down on a widespread class of “forever chemicals” linked to cancer.