U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough bipartisan questioning about his COVID-19 policies in a Senate committee hearing. On Thursday, Democratic senators clashed with Kennedy over his changes to vaccine recommendations, while some Republican senators also expressed concerns. Kennedy praised President Donald Trump for the Operation Warp Speed initiative but criticized the safety of mRNA vaccines. He defended the firing of the CDC director, claiming she was dishonest. Kennedy's actions, including replacing a vaccine advisory panel with skeptics, have drawn criticism from medical groups. They warn his policies could increase vaccine-preventable diseases and have called for his resignation.
By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and LEAH ASKARINAM Associated Press
Updated
House Republicans have propelled President Donald Trump's big trillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage. Republicans overcame multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package Thursday before a Fourth of July deadline. GOP leaders worked overnight, and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to his desk to become law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a record-breaking speech against the bill. It's $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, with $1.2 trillion in cuts to government programs.
By KEVIN FREKING, LISA MASCARO and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
Conservative lawmakers are heading to the White House to discuss President Donald Trump's tax breaks and spending cuts bill. Many are criticizing the legislation as straying from the party's fiscal goals. But Trump and House Republican leaders are determined to get it over the finish line and say the time for changes is over. House Republican leaders want a Wednesday vote on Trump's bill, just one day after it cleared the Senate. The bill would extend and make permanent various individual and business tax breaks Republicans passed in Trump's first term, plus temporarily add new tax breaks, such as no income taxes on tips and overtime.
By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
Senators are hunkering down to consider proposed amendments to President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts. The grind is expected to take all day Monday in what's called a vote-a-rama and could churn into the night. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledges final action could slip. The White House says it's counting on Republican lawmakers to "get the job done." With Democrats united against the Republican president's legislation, they are proposing dozens of changes, all likely to fail. Republicans are racing to meet Trump's Fourth of July deadline to pass the bill. The House is being called back to session for votes as soon as Wednesday, if the Senate can pass the bill.
