Highlights of the COVID-19 relief bill passed by House lawmakers

The House passed a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package early Saturday, 219-212, that includes $1,400 checks for most Americans and billions of dollars for schools, state and local governments and businesses. Here's a look at some highlights of the legislation.

House passes $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill on near party-line vote, sends it to Senate

The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they'd revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.

Andrew Yang helps photographer who was attacked on Staten Island Ferry

A man shoved a photojournalist on the deck of the Staten Island Ferry and was about to hit him with a metal rod when mayoral candidate Andrew Yang intervened.

CPAC 2021: Trump allies push his continued dominance in GOP, false fraud claims

The annual conference marks the first significant gathering of Republicans since the election and its aftermath as the party reckons with the faction that continues to support Trump and those who don’t.

Sen. Rand Paul criticized for questions during Dr. Rachel Levine's confirmation hearing

Sen. Rand Paul spoke during a hearing on the nomination for assistant secretary of health of Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender. He has been accused of making "ideological and harmful misrepresentations" during his questioning.

Amendment would ban 'servitude' by California prison inmates

Opponents want to end what they call a visage of slavery. They propose to amend the state Constitution’s ban on indentured servitude to remove an exemption for people who are being punished for crimes.

Texas House, Senate hold hearings about last week’s winter storm

Committees in both chambers of the Texas Legislature discussed what went wrong with the state's power infrastructure during last week's winter storm.

Senate parliamentarian rules minimum wage hike must be dropped from COVID relief bill

The Senate parliamentarian has dealt a potentially lethal blow to Democrats' drive to hike the minimum wage, deciding that the cherished progressive goal must fall from a massive COVID-19 relief bill the party is trying to speed through Congress, Democratic Senate aides said Thursday. 

US launches airstrike on facilities in Syria used by Iran-backed militia

The United States launched airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, targeting facilities used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The Pentagon said the strikes were in retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops.

Marjorie Taylor Greene puts up anti-transgender sign outside office in feud with Illinois congresswoman

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene put an anti-transgender rights placard outside her DC office across from a transgender flag raised by her neighbor, Illinois Rep Marie Newman, part of an escalating feud between the two congresswomen.

FOX 7 Discussion: Texas power failures, disaster response

State Rep. Donna Howard joins FOX 7 Austin to discuss Gov. Abbott's statewide address and what the next steps are for the Texas Legislature.

Biden's choice for budget chief, Neera Tanden, faces new hurdles in Congress

The increasingly slim odds — and surprisingly thin outreach from the White House — for Neera Tanden’s nomination as head of the Office of Management and Budget are raising growing questions about how long the president will stick with her, in an early test of how he will use his limited political capital.

Biden nominates 3 to USPS board amid increased scrutiny over persistent mail delays

The nominees are Ron Stroman, a former deputy postmaster general; Amber McReynolds, a mail voting advocate who leads the nonprofit National Vote at Home Institute; and Anton Hajjar, the former general counsel of the American Postal Workers Union.