Tag - us-congress

 
 

US CONGRESS

Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 14, 2017
Trump's nominees stray from his path on Russia, torture
In two days of Senate confirmation hearings, Donald Trump's national security nominees have shown they aren't afraid of disagreeing with their boss, even on matters at the heart of his campaign promises.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 14, 2017
GOP embarks on Obamacare repeal with no replacement in sight
U.S. congressional Republicans completed the first step Friday toward their long-promised repeal of Obamacare, but now they face the much more difficult task of finding a way to unravel the massive health care law and replace it.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 9, 2017
Trump's defense pick Mattis to forfeit unvested options if confirmed
Retired U.S. Marine Gen. James Mattis will step down from his board position at General Dynamics Corp. and give up unvested equity awards if confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary, according to a letter submitted to the Defense Department's ethics lawyer.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 4, 2017
Tillerson to cede control of $240 million in Exxon as Trump pick
Rex Tillerson, former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive and President-elect Donald Trump's pick for U.S. secretary of state, will relinquish control of about $240 million in company shares if confirmed as he severs ties to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 4, 2017
Senator gets ball rolling on killing Obamacare, Ryan returned as Trump-era Congress kicks off, trips
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi introduced on Tuesday a resolution allowing for the repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health insurance program, which provides coverage to millions of Americans, Enzi's office said in a statement.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 14, 2016
Trump's choice for interior secretary said to be former SEAL and Montana lawmaker Ryan Zinke; stance on federal lands unclear
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen first-term Republican Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former U.S. Navy SEAL commander, as his interior secretary, a senior transition official said on Tuesday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 14, 2016
U.S. Democrats enlist experts to scour Tillerson's business record
U.S. Senate Democrats plan to enlist accountants and legal experts to pore through the business records of Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, Democratic aides said.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2016
Top U.S. spy agency has not embraced CIA assessment on Russia hacking, sources say
The overseers of the U.S. intelligence community have not embraced a CIA assessment that Russian cyberattacks were aimed at helping Republican President-elect Donald Trump win the 2016 election, three American officials said Monday.
WORLD
Dec 7, 2016
U.S. lawmaker: Sony breach may have inspired Russian election hacking
The U.S. failure to retaliate strongly for the 2014 cyber attack against Sony Pictures may have helped inspire Russian hackers who sought to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, a senior congressional Democrat said on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 3, 2016
U.S. spy agencies fight Congress over 'micromanagement' plan to probe covert Russian influence
The top U.S. intelligence officer has asked Congress to drop a provision in a bill that would create a special committee to combat Russian efforts to exert covert influence abroad, saying such a panel would duplicate current work and hinder cooperation with foreign allies.
WORLD
Dec 1, 2016
FBI to gain expanded hacking powers as Senate effort to block fails
A last-ditch effort in the Senate to block or delay rule changes that would expand the U.S. government's hacking powers failed Wednesday, despite concerns that the changes would jeopardize the privacy rights of innocent Americans and risk possible abuse by the incoming administration of President-elect...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 18, 2016
Ohio congressman Ryan challenges Pelosi for House Democratic leader
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio said Thursday he was challenging House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who has led the party in the chamber for 14 years, as Democrats question their strategy and leadership after a stinging general election defeat.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 16, 2016
Little-known Republican Chris Collins becomes Trump liaison in Congress
Paul Ryan, the top Republican in the U.S. Congress, says he talks to Donald Trump often, but the president-elect has tapped a little-known lawmaker from western New York to be his eyes and ears among congressional Republicans.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 12, 2016
Peru's leader suggests replacing TPP with new trade deal that excludes U.S.
Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski told Russian media that Pacific-rim countries can forge a new trade deal that includes China to replace the U.S.-led TPP that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to scrap.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 10, 2016
Trump top court pick would imperil Obama's health care, clean air, LGBT, other legacies
Republican Donald Trump's presidential election victory all but dooms major Obama administration initiatives that are already tied up in legal challenges and gives him the chance to appoint a pivotal fifth conservative justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 8, 2016
Fate of Obama legacy initiatives in hands of courts, successor
When President Barack Obama leaves office on Jan. 20 after eight years, several of his major initiatives will still hang in the legal balance, meaning the U.S. courts and his successor will play a major role in shaping his legacy.
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2016
Citing national security, U.S. senators urge panel to reject China metals giant's planned buyout of Aleris
Twelve U.S. senators on Wednesday urged that a national security review panel reject Chinese aluminum giant Zhongwang International Group Ltd.'s proposed $2.3 billion purchase of U.S. aluminum products maker Aleris Corp.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 1, 2016
U.S. stops Philippines rifle sale after Senate opposition
The U.S. Department of State halted the planned sale of some 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines' national police after Senator Ben Cardin said he would oppose it, Senate aides said Monday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 19, 2016
Trump pushes Congress term limits to 'drain the swamp' in Washington
Donald Trump called for term limits for members of Congress on Tuesday, saying it would help "drain the swamp" in Washington.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 9, 2016
Trump's groping tape threatens Republican's plan to retain control of Congress
One lewd tape of Donald Trump bragging 11 years ago about assaulting women and getting away with it has upended a year of carefully laid Republican strategy to keep control of Congress.

Longform

Sociologist Gracia Liu-Farrer argues that even though immigration doesn't figure into Japan's autobiography, it is more of a self-perception than a reality.
In search of the ‘Japanese dream’