congress Archives - Ponca City Now

Trump’s decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seen

Monday, October 19 by AP

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., asks former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith questions at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia days before they... Read More.

Oklahoma AG Drummond urges Congress to regulate AI industry

Monday, September 28 by News 6

Associated Press OKLAHOMA -Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging Congress to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, joining a coalition of 25 other attorneys general seeking federal safety standards and continued state oversight. Key Takeaways Oklahoma AI regulation: Drummond is asking Congress to establish federal AI safeguards. 26 attorneys general: Oklahoma joined 25 other attorneys general... Read More.

Oklahoma food banks lobby Congress to delay SNAP cost share plan

Thursday, September 24 by News 6-Alex Cameron

Washington, D.C. - Nonprofits and charities fighting hunger in Oklahoma say there are more mouths to feed in the wake of the changes Congress made last year to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP.) Now, states with high error rates must begin covering some of the program’s cost a year from now. Food banks are... Read More.

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Drummond urges Congress to help states fight Medicaid fraud

Thursday, August 6 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY– Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging the U.S. House and Senate to pass two pieces of legislation that would expand the ability of states to investigate and prosecute Medicaid recipient fraud. He and 16 attorneys general sent a letter to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Finance about... Read More.

Sen. Lankford defends plan to keep Congress working during shutdown threats

Friday, July 24 by AP

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. James Lankford is renewing his push to prevent government shutdowns as Congress faces another funding deadline this fall. During more than three hours of testimony before a House committee, Lankford argued lawmakers, not federal workers, should bear the consequences when budget negotiations stall. His proposed Prevent Government Shutdowns Act would require Congress to... Read More.

Congress avoids shutdown, but DHS funding remains unresolved

Monday, February 9 by News 9

WASHINGTON - Federal lawmakers avoided a full government shutdown this week, but funding uncertainty remains as negotiations over the Department of Homeland Security enter a critical final stretch. Congress approved a short-term funding package that reopened most of the federal government after a brief partial shutdown. Lawmakers, however, excluded DHS from the deal amid growing political... Read More.

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Trump ends partial government shutdown, but DHS challenge looms for Congress

Wednesday, February 4 by News 9-Alex Cameron

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed legislation Tuesday to fund the majority of the government through the end of the fiscal year, while providing temporary funding to the Department of Homeland Security for the next two weeks. In the wake of two fatal shootings of protesters by federal agents in... Read More.

House Republicans push to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress over Epstein probe

Thursday, January 22 by AP

Bill and Hillary Clinton(AP) WASHINGTON - House Republicans are starting a push Wednesday to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, opening the prospect of the House using one of its... Read More.

Congress returns, facing new deadline to avert another government shutdown

Tuesday, January 6 by CBS News

WASHINGTON -Lawmakers return to Washington this week, staring down an end-of-month deadline to avert another government shutdown. The next funding fight comes fresh off a revolt from moderate Republicans over rising health care costs, and as the conflict with Venezuela and frustration with the Justice Department’s handling of the rollout of the Epstein files... Read More.

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Congress passes defense bill boosting military pay, protecting Oklahoma bases

Monday, December 22 by News 9

WASHINGTON - Congress has approved a sweeping national defense bill that raises military pay and secures key missions at Oklahoma bases, even as lawmakers head into the new year with unresolved fights over government funding and health care policy. The newly approved National Defense Authorization Act authorizes more than $900 billion in defense spending, the largest... Read More.

Vice President Vance says troops will be paid as pressure builds on Congress to end the shutdown

Wednesday, October 29 by AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday he believes U.S. military members will be paid at the end of the week, though he did not specify how the Trump administration will reconfigure funding as pain from the second-longest shutdown spreads nationwide. The funding fight in Washington gained new urgency this week as millions... Read More.

Ex-FBI chief James Comey pleads not guilty to charges of lying to Congress during 2020 testimony

Thursday, October 9 by CBS News

WASHINGTON -Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from congressional testimony he gave five years ago, appearing in court for an arraignment Wednesday after the Justice Department criminally charged the ex-FBI chief and Trump foe in late September. The proceeding at the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, came nearly two weeks after a... Read More.