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Federal pipeline standards backed by top energy regulator after Colonial Pipeline hack
By: Jacob Fischler - January 20, 2022
In Pa., some state officials, including Gov. Tom Wolf, have previously asked the federal government to expand its oversight over pipeline construction
Pa. to get $1.6B in new bridge funding from feds, though toll plans still on amid funding shortfalls
By: Stephen Caruso and Jacob Fischler - January 18, 2022
Pennsylvania will get $1.6 billion in extra federal funding over the next five years to fix more than 3,000 bridges across the commonwealth. The funding comes from $26.5 billion in funds for distressed bridges authorized under the recent infrastructure law. The law will also waive the requirement that states and local governments provide matching funds, […]
In ‘paradigm shift,’ U.S. Forest Service to use logging, controlled burns to prevent wildfires
By: Jacob Fischler - January 18, 2022
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will announce Tuesday it is using $3 billion from last year’s infrastructure law to revamp the federal approach to wildfire management, introducing a 10-year plan to deal with the large swaths of the West scientists consider most at risk of destructive blazes. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa […]
U.S. Supreme Court blocks Biden workplace vaccine rule, allows health care workers mandate
By: Jacob Fischler - January 13, 2022
The rulings came less than a week after the justices heard arguments on the mandates – an unusually fast turnaround for the court.
Capitol Hill Dems push to rescue climate plan in Biden’s spending package
By: Jacob Fischler - January 4, 2022
WASHINGTON — A group of congressional Democrats on Tuesday called for preserving the climate portions of President Joe Biden’s stalled domestic spending bill as Democrats in the U.S. Senate rewrite the measure. U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Tina Smith of Minnesota and John Hickenlooper of Colorado, along with Reps. […]
Federal judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for Head Start workers in 24 states
By: Jacob Fischler - January 3, 2022
A Louisiana federal judge has put a hold on President Joe Biden’s mandate that Head Start workers be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Federal law still treats marijuana as an illegal drug, creating headaches for states | Analysis
By: Jacob Fischler - December 23, 2021
36 states, including Pa., allow either full legalization for adult use or wide scale medical use, putting them at odds with federal law
Biden extends student loan repayment pause three more months
By: Jacob Fischler - December 22, 2021
President Joe Biden will continue a pandemic-spurred pause on student loan repayments until May 1, he said Wednesday. Loan repayments were set to restart Jan. 31, following months of the U.S. Education Department not requiring payments during the pandemic. Biden told the department to extend the moratorium initially placed by President Donald Trump’s administration. It […]
Schumer vows U.S. Senate action on voting rights and social policy, as Manchin rift deepens
By: Jacob Fischler - December 21, 2021
In a letter to Democratic colleagues Monday, Schumer, of New York, said the Senate would vote in early January on a new version of President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion social spending and climate bill, as well as voting rights legislation deemed essential by many Democrats in advance of the midterm elections.
As U.S. House passes anti-Islamophobia bill, Pa.’s Perry calls sponsor Ilhan Omar ‘anti-Semitic’
By: Jacob Fischler - December 15, 2021
Perry, the head of the House Freedom Caucus, is among the GOP members who have slammed the Minnesota Democrat
Infrastructure law fixes Amtrak funding woes, U.S. House panel hears; How Pa. could benefit
By: Jacob Fischler - December 10, 2021
The $22B Amtrak allotment is part of $66B the law provides for passenger rail. Amtrak would also be eligible for competitive grant funding.
Biden’s oil and gas policy falls short on climate goals, House Democrats say
By: Jacob Fischler - December 4, 2021
The White House's plans are welcome, but insufficient, a senior lawmaker says