Marty Walsh, President Joe Biden's Labor Secretary, is set to leave the administration to become head of the National Hockey League Players Association. He is the designated survivor for the State of the Union, and his departure will leave a vacancy in the Biden administration. Walsh will take over the NHLPA from Don Fehr, who has held the job since 2010.
Posts tagged as “Arizona Senate”
In his 2021 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden congratulated the new members of Congress and the new Speaker of the House, and expressed his desire to work together. He discussed the progress the United States has made in the past year, and the need for further progress in areas such as infrastructure, climate change, and immigration. He concluded his speech by expressing his optimism for the future of the United States and was well-received by members of Congress.
On Saturday, the US successfully brought down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemning President Xi's "brazen incursion" into US airspace. President Joe Biden responded to a reporter's question about shooting down the balloon, saying "We're gonna take care of it," and the US is now attempting to recover the debris of the balloon to investigate the potential for Chinese espionage.
Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have introduced the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act to prevent the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from regulating or banning existing gas stoves. The bill is a response to false claims of federal agents seizing gas kitchen appliances and is seen as an attempt to protect the fossil fuel industry from potential regulation. Environmental groups have criticized the bill, arguing that it does not address the real issue of climate change. The bill is currently under review by the Senate.
Nancy Pelosi has expressed her support for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) if Sen. Dianne Feinstein decides not to run for re-election in 2022. Schiff has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and a leader in the fight for gun control and immigration reform. If Feinstein retires, the California Senate race is expected to be a competitive one between Schiff and any potential Republican challengers.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address next week. The selection is typically reserved for people the party views as up-and-coming leaders, and Sanders said Republicans are "ready to begin a new chapter in the story of America." President Biden's address is expected to reflect on his first two years in office, and Sanders' response will be a chance for her to showcase her leadership skills and articulate the Republican vision for the future.
Nancy Pelosi has endorsed fellow Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff for the U.S. Senate if Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California retires. House Republicans are expected to vote on a resolution to remove Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, but the resolution is not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. The vote on Thursday will have a significant impact on the future of the House.
More than 65 current and former Democratic US senators, members of the US House, governors, mayors and legislators from a dozen Southern states have sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, urging them to select Atlanta as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The letter argues that the choice would solidify the party's gains in Georgia and demonstrate commitment to the entire region, as well as thank the people of Georgia for their support in the 2020 election. Houston's mayor has also joined Atlanta's bid, adding his name to the letter in the hopes that their message will be heard and that Atlanta will be chosen as the host city.