Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin defended the president's 2018 budget request for his department before the Senate Finance Committee. He also spoke about the administration's tax policy agenda and efforts to make changes to the tax code for individuals and businesses. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) chairs the committee while Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) serves as the ranking member.
The Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on synthetic opioids. The first panel included officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Postal Service on preventing the flow of foreign shipments of synthetic opioids into the U.S., especially fentanyl from China. The committee also heard testimony from a second panel which included former White House National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli and drug addiction specialists. They provided recommendations for combating the opioid epidemic including having increased access to drug treatment centers and regulating opioid prescriptions.
A House Ways & Means subcommittee and a House Oversight & Government Reform subcommittee held a joint hearing on preventing identity theft by reducing the federal government's use of social security numbers.
Reps. Nanette Barragan (D-CA) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) spoke about the challenges they encountered running for their seats as women and as minorities at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. The two were featured panelists in one of two panels focused on women in politics. Representatives from Emily's List, Three Point Strategies and Higher Heights for America organizations participated in the second panel. They outlined efforts to encourage women to run for public office.
White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney appeared before the Senate Budget Committee to discuss President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. While Republican committee members generally praised the proposal and its goal of balancing the federal budget over a 10-year period, Democrats spoke against it. Ranking member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said it was a budget "of the billionaire class, by the billionaire class, and for the billionaire class."
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) spoke about the Republican agenda including health care and tax policy at a forum hosted by the news media organization Axios. He also shared his thoughts about working with President Trump. Speaker Ryan spoke during an interview with one of Axios's co-founders, former Politico reporter Mike Allen.
The American Enterprise Institute hosted a conversation focusing on the future of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). White House officials and staffers were among the audience members listening to the panel discuss ways to improve outreach, recruitment and endowment efforts. On funding for these higher education institutions, panelists all agreed it's crucial to engage with the White House and Congress no matter which party is in control.
RealClear Politics congressional reporter James Arkin and HuffPost political reporter Jennifer Bendery discuss the week in politics and policy in Washington.
Immigration officials, law enforcement and advocates representing immigrants in the U.S. illegally took part in a discussion on sanctuary cities. President Trump's immigration-related executive orders have expanded Homeland Security's immigration enforcement priorities. Panelists examined the impact of the orders on immigrant populated communities, community and police relations and the potential loss of federal funds.
The American Enterprise Institute hosted a conversation focusing on the future of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). White House officials and staffers were among the audience members listening to the panel discuss ways to improve outreach, recruitment and endowment efforts. On funding for these higher education institutions, panelists all agreed it's crucial to engage with the White House and Congress no matter which party is in control.
RealClear Politics congressional reporter James Arkin and HuffPost political reporter Jennifer Bendery discuss the week in politics and policy in Washington.
Immigration officials, law enforcement and advocates representing immigrants in the U.S. illegally took part in a discussion on sanctuary cities. President Trump's immigration-related executive orders have expanded Homeland Security's immigration enforcement priorities. Panelists examined the impact of the orders on immigrant populated communities, community and police relations and the potential loss of federal funds.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly defended President Trump's proposed budget cuts for his department at a House Appropriations Subcommitee hearing. He told members that state and local governments are more prepared to deal with national security issues since 9-11 having the personnel in place to deal with a potential crisis without federal counterterrorism funding.
