Washington Policy Watch

Immigration Policy Advances

• 🔥 Senate Funding Push: Congress moved closer to advancing legislation that would add about $70 billion in funding...

Congressional alert: Late April 2026 bill, the End the H-1B Visa Abuse Act, proposes a three-year H-1B pause, slashed cap, and axing related...

• Senate advances $70B funding for ICE/CBP through 2029, ramping up enforcement.
• Trump's White House speech touts reduced illegal crossings, drug...

South Carolina legislative subcommittee approved delaying congressional primaries to August from June and reopening candidate filings—if a new map passes. Key move in ongoing redistricting talks.

APRA advances in Congress as a major federal privacy framework, covering:

• Protected data types, dark patterns, and private right of action
• Bias,...

Key revelations from Reuters probe:

• Eight states targeted with investigations, raids, and demands for balloting systems and voter records
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On Day Eight of his second term, President Trump directed a revert to the counterterrorism rules of engagement used during his first administration.

Congressional Legislation Highlights

• 🔥 Senate Passes Elder Care Protection Bill: The Senate has officially approved the Elder Care Protection...

Key House win after 7+ years: Passed Farm, Food and National Security Act 224-200 on April 30, with 14 Democrats joining.

• Compromises secured:...

Legal check on immigration enforcement: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court struck down the Trump admin's mandatory ICE detention policy, ruling it...

Key moves signaling broader immigration tightening:

• Congress drops the HARDEST H-1B bill yet, targeting skilled work visas.
• White House reviews...

• Sen. Lindsey Graham tells Republicans to 'be smart' as they push to redistrict South Carolina.
• Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette urges SC Senate GOP to...

Dual-track diplomacy ramps up:

• Peace wait: US awaits Iran's response to proposal reopening Strait of Hormuz and ending war that's killed...

Ahead of 9/11's 25th anniversary, the White House unveiled a broadened America First counterterrorism plan.

• Widened threats: Adds violent left-wing...

Historic Senate approval of the Elder Care Protection Bill, led by Bernie Sanders, signals major changes for retirees.

Key implications:
-...

Tennessee congressional redistricting advances amid partisan clash:

• Gov. Lee signed the new map into law hours after lawmakers passed it
• Rep....

President Trump targets billions in government waste and abuse, gaining Tea Party insights from Chairman Jenny Beth Martin in a National Desk interview. Essential context for fiscal policy watchers.

• New DOJ offensive: Acting AG Todd Blanche warns of revoking US citizenship from immigrants who obtained it illegally via lies or financial fraud.
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Congress considers the Workforce Transparency Act, directing DOL to collect and publish voluntary employer data on AI use in workplaces. Key step to track AI's labor impacts.

119th Congress began early 2026 work on post-2021 surface transportation legislation, as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act expires Sept. 30—covering highways, bridges, and mass transit every ~5 years.