Congress' Top Travelers Say Globetrotting on Private Dime Essential

As one of the top travelers in Congress, Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette likes to give this advice to incoming House freshmen: “Pick one or two countries and really get deeply involved in the politics and culture.”

McCain Outraged by CodePink Protesters, Police Response

Sen. John McCain’s reaction to protesters who disrupted a hearing, calling one “low-life scum,” garnered media attention Thursday, but the incident also has sparked calls for an investigation into the Capitol Police’s response to the rowdy CodePink protesters.

Senator Presses NFL on Domestic Violence Ahead of Super Bowl

Sen. Richard Blumenthal isn’t convinced the National Football League is doing everything possible to address domestic violence.

Memo Plants Seeds for GOP's New Immigration Strategy

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent House Republicans a legislative memo Thursday, laying out a February agenda of repealing Obamacare, taking on unfunded mandates, and permanently providing a tax deduction for charitable giving.

Keystone Confrontation With White House Ahead

A veto showdown moved closer on Thursday after the Senate passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline and yank the decision out of President Barack Obama’s hands.

Cornyn: Loretta Lynch Likely to Be Confirmed

The No. 2 Senate Republican said Thursday Loretta Lynch will “likely” be confirmed as attorney general, although he hasn’t yet made up his mind about how he will vote.

Tim Scott Lauds Possible Lindsey Graham 2016 Campaign

Tim Scott lauded the possibility of fellow South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham vying for the Republican presidential nomination but stopped short of an endorsement.

Senators Confirm Re-Election Bids for 2016

The 2016 cycle could feature the fewest open Senate seats in at least a decade.

• Why Even Democrats Love Talking About Joni Ernst

A Democrat's Choice to End Subtlety on Divisive Issue

Yet another measurement of the current congressional polarization, and yet another reminder that nothing happens on the Hill without suspicion of political motive, arrived Wednesday on the op-ed page of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Obama Budget Aim: Roll Back Sequester Spending Cuts

President Barack Obama’s budget will increase spending on domestic and defense programs, he plans to tell House Democrats at their retreat in Philadelphia Thursday.

GOP Senators Seek to Put Focus Back on VA Scandal

A group of Republican senators hopes to return attention to accountability issues at the Veterans’ Affairs Department that have disappeared from the headlines.

Democrats Court Ex-Congressman for Rematch

Former Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., visited Capitol Hill this week to meet with party leaders about a potential rematch in 2016, according to a House Democratic official.

Heritage Action Urges Congress to Reject D.C. Bills

Heritage Action for America, a conservative advocacy group, is calling on Congress to reject two District of Columbia Council bills, which, the group argues, infringe upon religious liberty. It is the first time the group has weighed in on a District initiative.

Republican Champion of Dodd-Frank Changes Goes After Elizabeth Warren

When your greatest legislative achievement is passing one of the most contentious provisions in the 113th Congress — a Dodd-Frank rollback that lobbyists literally helped write — taking credit for the legislation is a delicate art.

Menendez Changes His Tune

Robert Menendez has gone from administration goat to hero in a week.

An Off-Ramp in Immigration Showdown

Republican leaders may have found the eventual off-ramp in their showdown with the White House over immigration.

• Conservatives Take Credit for Derailing Border Security Bill
• Boehner Plans to Authorize House Suit Against Obama Over Immigration

Next Drone Incursion: Reasons to Buzz Capitol Hill

In light of the recent event at the White House, let's review Capitol Hill rules: No flying drones allowed.

Bowser Talks Marijuana, Statehood With Boehner

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to discuss local issues with lawmakers, including Speaker John A. Boehner.

Chuck Grassley Talks Twitter Secrets

Never one for false modesty, Sen. Charles E. Grassley thinks he’s pretty good at using Twitter.

Cannon Parking Garage Now for Members Only (Updated)

New parking rules adopted Tuesday dictate that only members of Congress will be allowed to park in the Cannon House Office Building parking garage.

Score One for Norquist, GOP on 529 College Savings Accounts

Somewhere, Grover Norquist is happily tweeting over his latest victory.

A Mild Journey to the Heart of Pentagon City (Video)

“You can’t be subtle in this town.”

Cochran's Top Appropriations Goal: Regular Order

Kicking off his second tour as Senate Appropriations chairman, Thad Cochran says one of his top priorities is to ensure spending bills are open to amendments on the floor. Ever the institutionalist, the seven-term Mississippi Republican puts a premium on so-called regular order: moving each of the 12 annual spending bills through committee and on the floor, with unlimited debate and input from all senators before the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year. But restoring more orderly consideration of appropriations bills will be a tall order after years of Senate dysfunction, particularly given tight fiscal 2016 spending caps.

Gowdy: 'Southern Politeness' Isn't Working in Benghazi Probe

Well, that honeymoon is over. After months of public deference toward one another, the top Republican and the ranking Democrat on the House Benghazi committee put on the gloves Tuesday.

How the Presidential Race Threatens the 2016 August Recess

The first voting is almost a full year away, and already the presidential campaign is upsetting the regular rhythms of Congress.

• First Look: Can Democrats Win the Senate in 2016?
• DCCC Chairman Says Majority Is ‘Definitely Going to Be in Play.’ Really?

Protesters Arrested at Fast-Track Trade Hearing

Capitol Police arrested three sign-carrying, slogan-shouting demonstrators who disrupted a Tuesday morning Senate Finance Committee hearing on the president’s trade policy agenda.

‘Compared to What’ Team Campaigns to Bring Flick to D.C.

Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler, the documentarians who filmed former Rep. Barney Frank throughout the Massachusetts Democrat’s final year in Congress, have launched an online fundraising effort to help spread their still-in-need-of-fine-tuning project nationwide.

Conviction of Reid Bundler Upheld, Next Stop: SCOTUS?

A prominent Nevada lobbyist convicted of making illegal contributions to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2010 re-election campaign is preparing to ask the Supreme Court to revisit campaign finance limits, following a Monday federal appeals court decision.

Feinstein Disputes CIA Report on Spying on Senate

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee is disputing findings of a CIA Accountability Board review that determined no one should be punished for accessing Senate computer files.

Gardner, Rangel Co-Headlining 2015 Washington Press Club Foundation Dinner

Newly minted Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and veteran Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., will effectively be campaigning for the biggest laughs on Feb. 4, when they face off at the Washington Press Club Foundation’s 71st Annual Congressional Dinner.

Anti-Disclosure Backlash Carries Risks for GOP

At a private gathering of conservative political donors last year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell applauded the state of American elections today, which he described as more deregulated than at any point in recent memory.

K Street Files: Realtors Rack Up Record Lobby Tab

If you’re looking to pick a fight with the National Association of Realtors, the group just may have coded a message into its recent lobbying disclosures: Watch out.

Even Among Supporters, Paid Parental Leave for Capitol Hill Staff Varies

Even for Congress’ most ardent supporters of paid maternity and paternity leave, there is wide variance in their own office policies.