Senate Passes Bill to Protect Minors Online
The U.S. Senate passed two bills to increase the protection of children and teens online. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), and the Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) were approved with a vote of 91-3 on July 30, 2024. The COPPA 2.0 bill is sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., […]
Senator Dianne Feinstein Leaves a Legacy
California senator Dianne Feinstein died September 29, 2023, at age 90. She was the oldest and longest-serving female U.S. senator. Feinstein’s career in the Senate spanned three decades. Throughout that time, she supported gun control, environmental issues, and review of federal interrogation methods. She will also be remembered for breaking many barriers for women in […]
Senate Acts After Train Derailment
A train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed last month in eastern Ohio. U.S. senators have introduced a new rail safety bill to prevent future railroad disasters and held a hearing to learn more about the incident. Details continue to emerge about the environmental and health impacts on the community. Here, btw takes a closer look at the accident, […]
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Chile’s Congress Approves Same Sex Marriage Equality Last week, both houses of Chile’s Congress voted to approve same-sex marriage equality. This makes Chile the eighth Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, the ninth country in the Americas, and the thirty-first country in the world. The vote passed in Chile’s Senate 21-8 (with three people […]
First Native American Nominated to National Parks Service
The National Park Service was formed more than a century ago by President Woodrow Wilson. It protected the thirty-five national parks and monuments that existed at that time in 1916. Today, the National Parks Service oversees more than four hundred locations totaling 85 million acres in all fifty states. Now, for the first time, President […]
Liz Cheney Ousted for Speaking Against Trump
This week’s Election Central post examines the recent congressional leadership change demanded by the Republican Party. Is someone who speaks out against their own political party’s leadership being brave, or being disloyal? Should that person be commended or asked to step down? These are some of the questions circulating around Republican Liz Cheney, who was […]
AAPI Heritage Month: Senator Mazie Hirono
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the AAPI community. While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing demographic group in the United States, they remain drastically underrepresented in all levels of government, including Congress. This week btw gets to know a […]
Senate Briefed on Foreign Threats
Last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee received a briefing on national security threats from the top U.S. intelligence officials. The intelligence officials named four major foreign threats to U.S. security: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Here, btw takes a closer look at their remarks, and at what the Biden administration plans to do to […]
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Democrats Win Runoffs and Take Control of Senate Last week, while the nation focused on the events unfolding at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., a quieter battle was taking place: the race for Georgia’s Senate seats. These twin runoff Senate races had been the focus of nationwide speculation and campaigning ever since November. So […]
The Final Days of the 2020 Election
The most recent story on Election Central catches you up on the last minute events in the 2020 election season. There are only a few days remaining in this 2020 election season. It has been a very unusual presidential campaign. The party primaries were interrupted by the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The national conventions […]