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

Sara Hill, nominee for federal judge in Oklahoma, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov. 15, 2023. (U.S. House webcast screenshot)

Oklahoma judicial nominee advances toward U.S. Senate confirmation, overcoming GOP opposition

BY: - December 8, 2023

WASHINGTON — Former Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill is one step closer to becoming the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge for the state of Oklahoma, despite objections from top state officials and some U.S. Senate Republicans. The Democratic-led U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Thursday favorably approved, 14-7, […]

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat, speaks on the floor of the House about a resolution to censure him, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Screenshot from U.S. House webcast)

New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman censured by U.S. House after he pulled fire alarm

BY: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Thursday to censure Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. The House voted 214-191 along party lines on a resolution to censure Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Sept. 30 while the House considered legislation to prevent a government shutdown. Censure amounts […]

Fourth Republican Presidential Debate Held In Tuscaloosa, Alabama

CNN to host GOP presidential debates ahead of Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary

BY: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — Republicans hoping to become their party’s presidential nominee will have two more chances to debate next month, following an announcement Thursday that CNN will host one debate in Iowa and another in New Hampshire. The first debate is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second debate […]

President Joe Biden signs an executive order at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the U.S. Department of Interior on Dec. 6, 2023 in Washington, D.C. President (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden meets with leaders of tribal nations, signs order easing access to federal funds

BY: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that would make it easier for tribal nations to access and invest federal funding on their own terms. “It’s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward,” Biden said. “But the actions we are taking today are […]

GOP debate

Haley draws fire from rivals in GOP presidential debate, as Christie calls Trump ‘unfit’  

BY: and - December 7, 2023

Half of the four Republican presidential candidates on a debate stage in Alabama on Wednesday night focused their attacks on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s vying for the prized second place in the nominating contest. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy teamed up early in the debate to repeatedly hit […]

U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks to advocates outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, about $16 billion in child care funding requested by the Biden administration. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding

BY: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic leaders on Wednesday called on Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental child care funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Child […]

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks with members of the media in the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. McCarthy, who was ousted as speaker on Oct. 3, announced his retirement on Dec. 6. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to exit Congress, along with a flock of other lawmakers

BY: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Wednesday joined the growing list of Congress members heading for the U.S. Capitol exits. McCarthy’s planned departure by year’s end, following the expulsion of disgraced New York Republican Congressman George Santos, will leave the House GOP with a razor-thin majority in 2024. The California Republican’s announcement also […]

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, introduced the “Fight Book Bans Act” at a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

Florida congressman proposes federal funding to help schools fight book bans

BY: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost unveiled legislation Tuesday to combat a nationwide surge in book bans. Frost, a Florida Democrat, is pushing the “Fight Book Bans Act,” which he discussed at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol alongside fellow House Democrats and advocacy groups. Frost’s bill would provide funding for school districts so […]

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., speaks to members of the press at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 4, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Lankford is the lead Republican negotiator in border talks. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Border talks stuck as Senate nears vote on package for Israel, Ukraine aid

BY: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — The success of the U.S. Senate in passing a $106 billion global security supplemental aid package hinges on a bipartisan agreement about U.S. border security, but any deal was at an impasse Tuesday. “There will not be a national security bill unless and until there is serious and significant changes in security at […]

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speaks to members of the press at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 15, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Tuberville on Tuesday, De. 5, 2023 gave up on his blockade of hundreds of military nominees. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Tuberville relents on months-long blockade of most military nominees, blaming Democrats

BY: - December 5, 2023

WASHINGTON — After blocking hundreds of U.S. military promotions for most of 2023 in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he will lift his holds on all of them except for a handful of four-star general nominees. The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, […]

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., talks to reporters prior to a Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on May 10, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Casey is pushing for defense policy legislation to include a Senate-passed amendment he and GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas sponsored. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania senator pushes review of U.S. investments in China but hits roadblock in House

BY: - December 5, 2023

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan measure that would require screening of U.S. private investments in high-tech enterprises in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia may not be included in Congress’ annual defense policy legislation. The Senate approved the so-called “outbound investment” amendment, 91-6, to its version of the National Defense Authorization Act in July, with proponents […]

Air Force airmen load munitions for a guided multiple launch rocket system onto a Boeing 767 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 11, 2022. The cargo was part of a security assistance package for Ukraine. The White House is asking Congress to approve additional Ukraine aid. (DOD Photo by Air Force Senior Airman Matt Porter)

White House points to defense spending in states in new plea for Ukraine aid

BY: - December 4, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is warning Congress that without more funding for Ukraine, the United States will no longer be able to provide that country with military assistance — and emphasizing the multiple states from Arkansas to Michigan to Pennsylvania where businesses already have benefited from earlier aid. Cutting off U.S. funding would not […]