DC BUREAU

Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.

STAFF

Jane Norman

DC Bureau Chief

Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories.

Jacob Fischler

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.

Ashley Murray

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Jennifer Shutt

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Ariana Figueroa

DC Bureau Reporter

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

STORIES

Census delay in releasing population data throws states, Pa.’s May primary into question

BY: - February 14, 2021

The latest pandemic-spurred delay, announced by bureau officials on Friday, hugely scrambles the once-a-decade redistricting process for states with deadlines looming this year. 

Pa.’s Toomey, Casey vote to convict Trump for Capitol insurrection; Senate votes to acquit

BY: - February 13, 2021

In a statement after the vote, Trump blasted the impeachment process as “yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country,” and said that the movement he created “has only just begun.”

CDC issues detailed strategy for safely reopening K-12 schools

BY: - February 12, 2021

The agency said it cannot force schools to reopen but can only stress that steps such as wearing masks and physical distancing of at least 6 feet are key to mitigating the spread of coronavirus.

Billions of dollars for Medicaid expansion dangled in front of holdout states

BY: - February 11, 2021

Holdout states include Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania already has opted into the expansion.

Pa.’s Toomey, Casey vote to move Trump impeachment trial forward

BY: - February 10, 2021

Toomey said Tuesday evening that Trump’s attorneys “had a weaker case to start with, and I don't think it was very persuasive.”

What Pa.’s Toomey, Senate Republicans are saying about Trump’s impeachment trial

BY: - February 9, 2021

“I'm going to listen to the arguments on both sides and make the decision that I think is right,” Toomey said Sunday on CNN. 

Pa. Republicans stand by QAnon congresswoman as House votes to strip committee assignments

BY: - February 4, 2021

WASHINGTON — Eight out of nine of Pennsylvania’s Republican U.S. House members voted against removing Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments on Thursday night. According to an official House roll call, U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser, R-9th District; Scott Perry, R-10th District;  Lloyd Smucker, R-11th District; Fred Keller, R-12th District; John Joyce, R-13th […]

Biden’s education secretary nominee says teachers should be prioritized for vaccines

BY: - February 4, 2021

President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Education Department said Wednesday that he wants teachers at the front of the line for vaccinations as local leaders debate reopening schools amid the pandemic.

State health leaders appeal to Congress for more vaccines, better communication, increased funding

BY: - February 3, 2021

States say they need the 3 Ms from Congress: More doses, more information to guide their planning, and more money.

Ag nominee Vilsack battles skepticism from Black farmers ahead of Tuesday confirmation hearing

BY: - February 1, 2021

Black farmers also say that at the USDA under Vilsack, agricultural census data was distorted to falsely show that there was a boom in the number of Black farmers. 

Election reform to return as a priority for Dems in Congress

BY: - February 1, 2021

The 791-page For the People Act was given the bill number of H.R. 1 by House Democrats to signify its importance.

Pa.’s Toomey leads criticism of Biden’s HUD pick, Marcia Fudge, during Senate hearing

BY: - January 28, 2021

Fudge, D-Ohio, pledged to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee that if confirmed, she will work across the aisle to alleviate the country’s housing crisis