Congress

Rep. Mike Quigley, whose Washington, D.C. office doubles as his home away from Chicago, lays his mattress onto the floor before going to sleep. While some see a political benefit, "it's not something I'm thrilled about," Quigley said. "It's just circumsta

Meet The Lawmakers Who Sleep, Shower, Work — All On Capitol Hill

6:57am December 26, 2015

by Susan Davis

Call it the "couch caucus." At least 40 members of Congress sleep in their offices — from freshman Kristi Noem to Speaker Paul Ryan. It's one way to save a buck, until you see a mouse.

LISTEN: House Speaker On 'Decentralizing' Power And The Zen Of Sausage-Making

11:17am December 23, 2015

by Susan Davis

Paul Ryan became the reluctant speaker of the House after John Boehner resigned. Ryan has the unenviable task of trying to unify a fractious party. He sat down with reporters, including NPR.

No Government Shutdown Likely; Here's What's In The Spending Bill

2:07pm December 16, 2015

by Susan Davis

House Speaker Paul Ryan looks like he will avoid what would've been a government shutdown at midnight with a massive $1.1 trillion spending package. But he had to appeal to Democrats to do it.

AIDS activists poured cat litter on an image of Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli during an October protest in New York.

Senate Questions 'Egregious' Price Hikes For Specialty Medicines

4:27pm December 09, 2015

by Alison Kodjak

Some companies have bought the patents for old drugs, then abruptly upped the prices — from $13 per pill to $750 in one case. Irate senators call it price gouging.

Is This Congressman's 'Oversight' An Effort To Hobble Climate Science?

5:43pm December 07, 2015

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas is formally investigating a recent study on global warming. Smith calls the timing of the study's publication "suspicious," but many scientists call his tactics "bullying."

Queue Listen Now

President Obama attended the plenary session of the international climate conference Monday, just outside Paris. By using regulations instead of treaties, Obama hopes to continue to cut U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases.

How Obama Hopes To Achieve U.S. Climate Goals

7:04pm December 02, 2015

by Christopher Joyce

Past U.S. leaders tried to commit the nation via treaty to steep cutbacks in greenhouse gases. But without congressional support, those pledges fizzled. President Obama is trying regulation, instead.

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Congress Strikes Deal On 5-Year Transportation Bill

5:13pm December 01, 2015

by Laura Wagner

For the first time in a decade, congressional leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement on a long-term bill to fix, maintain and expand the nation's roads, bridges, rails and mass transit.

National

Congressional LGBT Caucus Launches Task Force On Transgender Equality

2:47pm November 18, 2015

by Camila Domonoske

The new group of House members was announced during Trans Awareness Week. The LGBT caucus also held the first-ever congressional forum on violence against trans people.