Articles about Committee

• Lawmakers reviewed 27 bills on March 18, 2026, in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to update VA health care, accountability, education, and workforce programs, many unchanged for 30 years. • Proposals include 12 Republican-led and 15 Democrat-led bills expanding dental coverage, VA mental health for incarcerated veterans with PTSD, and aligning drug formularies with industry standards. • Chairman Bost stressed reauthorization as a tool to fix underperforming programs; bills also update leasing, contracts, and protect 30% veteran VA staff from layoffs via Rep. Tim Kennedy's act.

Republican senator’s nomination will now be considered by full Senate, where the GOP appears poised to confirm himSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence.Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs voted to advance Mullin’s nomination, with the sole exception of the panel’s chair, Rand Paul of Kentucky, who the day prior had harshly criticized his colleague for comments he made about a neighbor who assaulted Paul in 2017, and an incident six years later in which Mullin readied himself to fight a witness at a committee hearing. Continue reading...

Kennedy’s appointees promoted ‘treatments’ like bleach enemas, but new committee has only one autistic memberThe first public meeting of US autism advisers – notably, since Robert F Kennedy Jr reshaped the committee – was cancelled recently with few details, coinciding with the creation of a rival organization that has prompted some questions within the autistic community about their focus.Kennedy, the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who has long argued for a debunked link between vaccines and autism, chose entirely new members for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) in late January, with fewer autistic people and several anti-vaccine advocates. Continue reading...

• Trump 2.0 policies terminated or overhauled HHS advisory committees, including ACIP with all members replaced in January 2026 by RFK Jr., leading to weakened hepatitis B and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. • NIH advisory councils have not met, with the director's committee disbanded for over a year; USPSTF has not met since March 2025. • Senator Murray criticized leadership for prohibiting NIH grant processes; new ACIP includes controversial figures like an Alzheimer's patient from the withdrawn aducanumab trial.

• The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence convenes an open hearing on the 2026 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment on March 19 at 8:30 AM. • Session addresses global risks including ongoing Middle East conflicts and other geopolitical challenges. • Timing aligns with US-Iran war escalations and fresh intelligence on threats like China-Taiwan dynamics.

• House Committee on Appropriations convenes multiple subcommittees on March 26, 2026, covering agriculture, homeland security, financial services, labor, health, and commerce. • Hearings include Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration at 10:00 AM in Rayburn HOB 2362-A. • Sessions address critical budget areas amid ongoing fiscal deliberations for federal agencies.

Lawmakers on both sides of aisle have criticized justice department’s improper redaction of informationSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPam Bondi, the attorney general, has been formally subpoenaed to appear before a House panel to answer questions about the justice department’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and it’s release of the Epstein files.The move came amid growing criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over the justice department’s compliance with a law passed last year requiring the full release of Epstein-related files. Continue reading...

• Senate Judiciary Committee convenes hearing on March 17, 2026, titled 'Stealth Stealing: China's Ongoing Theft of U.S. Innovation,' examining intellectual property threats. • The session addresses national security risks from Chinese espionage, amid escalating U.S.-China tensions over trade and technology. • This hearing underscores bipartisan concerns about protecting American innovation, potentially influencing future legislation on tech exports and sanctions.

• The Senate Commerce Committee’s Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee will hold a hearing on March 17, 2026, on radio frequency allocations assigned by NTIA and FCC. • Frequencies are vital for US government and commercial space operations, though often overlooked by the space community. • The event addresses spectrum management essential for space communications and tech developments.

• Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, merging House H.R. 6644 and Senate S. 2651. • Provisions restrict large institutional investors from single-family home purchases, prohibit Federal Reserve digital dollar, and expand manufactured housing via HUD standards. • Bill reflects Trump administration priorities, eliminates chassis requirements for manufactured homes, and reauthorizes PRICE grants for community preservation.

• The U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on March 5 in a 34-17 vote after a 20-hour markup session. • GOP-proposed cuts to SNAP nutrition programs sparked partisan disputes, with Rep. Angie Craig warning they 'jeopardize the path forward for this bill.' • The 802-page bill sets policy and funding for food, agriculture, and conservation programs over five years, but faces hurdles needing Democratic support in the Senate's 60-vote threshold.

The House Committee on Ways and Means scheduled a hearing for March 17, 2026, titled 'Advancing America's Interests at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference,' to discuss U.S. trade strategies. The session will address tariff policies, global supply chains, and WTO reforms amid ongoing affordability concerns. Lawmakers aim to align positions ahead of the international meeting. This reflects heightened focus on trade legislation influencing domestic economic policy.

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced a full committee markup on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 10:00am ET, to consider multiple bills aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars and improving government accountability. The legislation includes reforms to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requiring annual reporting on unreported funds, including national security spending, and mandates federal agencies to publish settlement agreement details like dates, payments, and attorney fees in public databases. These measures address long-standing concerns over inefficient federal spending and lack of transparency, potentially saving billions by ensuring accurate data on USAspending.gov. The Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act would also define special districts in law and require OMB guidance for their eligibility for federal grants.

An FDA advisory committee has recommended the development of next year's flu vaccine, as new data from the CDC indicates the current 2025-2026 flu vaccine provides moderate protection against hospitalization for vaccinated individuals despite concerns about late-emerging H3N2 strains. The committee reviewed winter flu shot effectiveness reports published in the CDC's online MMWR journal, which showed moderate protective efficacy against severe outcomes requiring hospitalization. The timing of vaccine selection remains critical as late-emerging H3N2 variants can significantly undermine vaccine effectiveness, a concern flagged by the committee during this year's review. Current guidance continues to emphasize vaccination for those at high risk of severe illness, particularly elderly and immunocompromised populations.