Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testified at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on President Trump's 2018 budget proposal for his department. The senators on the panel mostly asked about parochial issues affecting their states, including oil and gas development in Alaska and wetlands reclamation projects in Louisiana. The hearing was truncated because Senate Democrats did not consent for committee hearings that day to last beyond the first two hours.
Speaker Paul Ryan pledged that the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress would overhaul the tax code in 2017, arguing lawmakers could not "let this once-in-a-generation moment slip by." The speaker made the remarks at the National Association of Manufacturers' conference in Washington, DC.
Vice Admiral David Pekoske (Ret.) testifies at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on his nomination to be the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator and the Homeland Security assistant secretary.
Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe denied President Trump's claims that the agency was in disarray under fired FBI Director James Comey. Testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce & Justice on the 2018 FBI budget request, McCabe said that Director Comey "enjoyed a deep and positive" relationship with the men and women of the FBI.
After the first in a series of four rounds of talks with Chinese officials on a broad range of issues, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis spoke to reporters about the day's meetings. Topics included North Korea as a "top security threat," maritime claims and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, cybersecurity, nuclear nonproliferation, and human rights.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine the problems associated with the international gang known as MS-13. The criminal group originated in Los Angeles and has spread through North America. Senate members heard from various federal law enforcement representatives about its activities and tactics for recruiting unaccompanied alien children, and federal efforts to counter the threat. Witnesses included the acting chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, and officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Justice Department. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) chairs the committee.
Sen. King talks about people losing insurance under the GOP plan, and Ernst says its unsustainable, and Iowa especially hard hit by the lack of, or no exchanges
Queen Elizabeth II attended the official State Opening of Parliament and gave a speech that outlined the government's priorities for the coming year. The speech is written by the government and given to the Queen to read in front of the members of both Houses of Parliament. Highlights from the speech included ensuring a smooth transition for the U.K.to leave the European Union, new counterterorism legislation, and reunification efforts with the poltiical parties in Northern Ireland. At the conclusion of the speech, the Queen mentioned the State visit of the King of Spain later in the year but did not mention the State visit of President Trump. This omission led to several British media reporting that the President's state visit had been postponed.
Following the State Opening of Parliament, members from the House of Commons began debate on the legislative proposals set out by the government in the Queen's speech. British Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn kicked off the debate and were interrupted several times by members who had additional questions on a range of issues not addressed in the speech. Brexit negotiations and the Prime Minister's ability to form a full majority government with the Democratic Unionist Party dominated this hour-long portion of the debate.
After the first in a series of four rounds of talks with Chinese officials on a broad range of issues, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis spoke to reporters about the day's meetings. Topics included North Korea as a "top security threat," maritime claims and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, cybersecurity, nuclear nonproliferation, and human rights.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine the problems associated with the international gang known as MS-13. The criminal group originated in Los Angeles and has spread through North America. Senate members heard from various federal law enforcement representatives about its activities and tactics for recruiting unaccompanied alien children, and federal efforts to counter the threat. Witnesses included the acting chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, and officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Justice Department. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) chairs the committee.
Sen. King talks about people losing insurance under the GOP plan, and Ernst says its unsustainable, and Iowa especially hard hit by the lack of, or no exchanges
David Pekoske, President Trump's nominee to be the next administrator for the Transportation Security Administration testified before the Senate Commerce Committee. If confirmed, Mr. Pekoske will be responsible for the security operations at airports and for surface transportation like railways including Amtrak.
