Robert Menendez Shrugs Off Injury to Champion Ukraine Plan

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez didn’t let something as trivial as being struck by a taxi late Thursday derail his defense of a Ukrainian aid package that faced its own obstacles.

Hispanic Caucus Regroups as Obama Promises Deportation Review

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will hold off on pursuing a resolution calling for the White House to take action to decrease deportations after President Barack Obama on Thursday evening promised to closely examine the issue.

• Schumer: If GOP Doesn't Act, Obama Will Reduce Deportations
• Obama Considering Immigration Enforcement Changes

Cantor: Pelosi Should Apologize for 'Hungry Children' Comment (Updated)

Updated 12:04 p.m. | House Majority Leader Eric Cantor wants House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to apologize for saying that an anonymous Republican friend told her the party does not care about struggling families and hungry children.

Democrats Clear Primary Field in Competitive Virginia House Race

Democrats have cleared the primary field in Virginia’s 10th District, one of the party’s top open-seat targets this cycle.

Ralph Hall Challenger Commits to Term Limits

The Republican primary challenger to longtime Texas Rep. Ralph M. Hall says 4th District voters should not expect a Hall-length tenure from him if elected.

Reports: Utah Prosecutors Call for DOJ Probe Into Reid, Lee

Two district attorneys in Utah are calling for the Department of Justice to launch an investigation involving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, according to reports from ABC News and The Washington Times.

Eshoo Launches Anna PAC In Her Bid for Ranking Member Slot

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo advanced her bid for Energy and Commerce ranking member on Wednesday night with the launch of her new political action committee, Anna PAC.

Commission: End U.S. Ban on Transgender Troops | Topic A: Defense

The Associated Press reports that “the United States should join the dozen other nations that allow transgender people to serve in the armed forces, a commission led by a former U.S. surgeon general said in a report released Thursday that concludes there is no medical reason for the decades-old ban and calls on President Barack Obama to lift it.”

Top Intelligence Appropriator Blasts CIA, Wants Torture Report Released

CIA Director John O. Brennan is facing new pressure from the Senate Democrat in charge of the agency’s secret budget.

• Amid Spying Debate, Senate Confirms Top CIA Lawyer

Use War Money to Pay for 'Doc Fix,' Reid Tells Boehner

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is renewing his call to use unspent war funds to spare doctors from a severe cut in Medicare payments slated to begin next month.

EMILY's List Endorses Debbie Dingell

EMILY’S List has endorsed Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan to replace her husband in Congress.

Report: Power Grid Preparedness Not Good Enough | Topic A: Energy

The New York Times reports that “nearly all the utilities that participated in two-day exercise last November to test the preparedness of the power grid for online and physical attacks said that their planning was not good enough, according to a report by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which organized the drill.”

Republicans Block Democratic Attempt to Force Public Issa Apology on House Floor (Updated) (Video)

Updated 8:12 p.m. | Republicans once again blocked a Democratic resolution demanding a House floor apology from Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa for silencing Rep. Elijah E. Cummings last week during an IRS hearing.

Bipartisan Unemployment Extension Deal Reached

Five Senate Democrats and five Republicans unveiled a deal on extending expired unemployment insurance benefits for five months, which should be enough to overcome a GOP filibuster and get the package out of the Senate later this month.

Reid, Durbin Accuse GOP of Putting Koch Brothers Ahead of Ukrainians

Senate Democratic leaders lit into Republicans Thursday over reports of an effort to tie aid to Ukraine to a move to block the IRS from clamping down on the political activities of tax-exempt groups.

New Hampshire House Backs D.C. Voting Rights

The District’s right to full-fledged voting membership in Congress got a thumbs up in New Hampshire on Thursday.

GOP Could Force Vote to Negate Obamacare Carve-Out for Unions

Senate Republicans have at least one arrow in their quiver to force an uncomfortable Obamacare vote for Democrats seeking re-election in 2014.

Paul Ryan Says His 'Inner City' Comments Were 'Inarticulate'

House Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan responded Thursday to criticism that he engaged in racial rhetoric when talking about his philosophy on poverty, saying that he was “inarticulate” in the point he was trying to make.

Mike Simpson Launches First TV Ad of Cycle

Rep. Mike Simpson, an eight-term Idaho Republican facing a tea-party-backed primary challenger, went up Thursday with his first TV ad of the cycle.

Graham to Kerry: 'Let Me Know What I Can Do' to Help With Boehner (Video)

Following remarks Wednesday from Speaker John A. Boehner saying IMF aid to Ukraine is unnecessary, Sen. Lindsey Graham personally offered assistance to Secretary of State John Kerry as the House and Senate continue to debate the appropriate response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Ethics Committee Gets New Staff Director

The Ethics Committee announced a major staffing decision Thursday, with a longtime committee staffer becoming the staff director and chief counsel.

White House, Democrats Cry Foul Over GOP Push to Enforce Immigration, Other Laws

A House Republican bill aimed at forcing President Barack Obama to enforce immigration and other laws as they are written drew sharp rebukes Wednesday from the White House and House Democrats, who ripped the measure as anti-immigrant.

Will U.S. Fracked Gas Help Ukraine? | Topic A: Energy

Scientific American reports that Ukraine’s “vulnerability” with Russia over energy “may not persist indefinitely… In fact, this could conceivably be the last time Moscow will be able to use gas as a weapon. The world’s fracking-enabled natural gas boom may, over time, upset this status quo, if not as soon as U.S. politicians would like because fracked gas cannot serve as a bargaining chip in the current crisis.”

Dingell Has 'Minimally Invasive' Heart Procedure in Detroit Hospital (Updated)

Updated 12:55 p.m. | Rep. John D. Dingell underwent a “minimally invasive” heart procedure today at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and is “resting comfortably,” according to his office.