- January 7, 2021, 2:16 PM
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao this afternoon announced her resignation effective Monday, January 11, citing “a traumatic and entirely avoidable event [yesterday] as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed” in a letter to colleagues. Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), has guided the Department of Transportation (DOT) with an experienced, and largely non-partisan, hand since she took office in February 2017.
While her remaining time was short at the DOT Chao was staged to be replaced by Mayor Pete Buttigieg after the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden the resignation is nothing short of a protest over events that transpired yesterday on Capitol Hill. “As I m sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside,” she said.
The prodding, pressure and German street conversation that helped save Plum Island
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Thursday, December 31, 2020
The United Kingdom (UK) approved its second COVID-19 vaccine this week, while the European Union (EU) moved forward quickly with distribution of its first-approved vaccine to its Member States. United States (US) President Donald Trump signed another COVID relief measure linked to an Omnibus appropriations bill late on Sunday, after objecting initially to a number of provisions and calling for additional congressional action, which has kept the US Congress in Washington this week.
On the eve of Christmas Day, the UK and EU secured a deal outlining terms for the two trading partners after Britain exits the Customs Union on 31 December. This week, the EU also secured a deal with the People’s Republic of China (“China” or “PRC”) that addresses investments. Meanwhile, the US Government unveiled its new Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis (AIM) system and released two reports – one focused on human trafficking in the seafood su
McConnell Rejects Initial Moves to Pass $2,000 Stimulus Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell heads to his office from the floor of the Senate on December 20, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum / Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) blocked initial attempts by Democrats in the Senate on Tuesday to hold a vote on increasing coronavirus stimulus check payments to Americans from $600 to $2,000, halting for the time being a bill that has already been passed in the House of Representatives.
As part of a bill that passed earlier this month addressing the economic hardships many are dealing with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, payments of $600 were planned to be sent to every eligible adult in the country, plus $600 per dependent child, up to certain income levels earned by individuals and couples. The $600 figure was the result of months of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, with members of the latter party wanting a lower amoun
On Monday, CNBC reported that the Treasury Department anticipates being able to start delivering the $600 direct stimulus payments included in the COVID relief legislation by the end of this week, according to a senior Treasury Department official.
In response to Trump’s calls for a $2,000 payment to Americans, the House of Representatives voted 275-134 Monday evening to approve legislation which increases stimulus checks to $2,000 for eligible Americans.
“The President must immediately call on congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a statement after Trump signed the stimulus legislation Sunday evening. “Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need.”
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