Tuesday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) weighed in on COVID-19’s origins after a newly released video appears to show bats were being used for research purposes at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Graham told host Sean Hannity that he smells “a rat when it comes to the bats.” He called for China to be imposed with sanctions until the country’s leadership cooperates with an investigation into the virus’ origins. “I smell a rat when it comes to the bat,” Graham declared. “So, here’s the deal — how do you find the truth when China won’t cooperate with you? The world has to make China come clean on this, and how do you do that? Impose sanctions until they cooperate with the world as to how the virus was — where it originated, how it was spread. But Tom Cotton, who’s been right about this more than anybody, had legislation that we introduced and passed through the Judiciary Committee last year, allowing an American citizen to take the Chinese … [Read more...]

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) threatened Wednesday to delay President Biden Joe Biden Mellman: Trump voters cling to 2020 tale FDA authorizes another batch of J&J vaccine Cotton warns of China collecting athletes' DNA at 2022 Olympics MORE ’s national security nominees, saying he would place a hold on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) positions until the president visits the southern border. Scott’s comments came as he noted his support for forwarding Biden’s nominee to lead DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). “I clearly support Jen Easterly to be the director of CISA — she’s got the right background to be able to do the job. It has no reflection on her nomination, but I am going to hold all nominations including hers until the president visits the border, and I think the president needs to visit the border and tell us how he is going to address the crisis,” he said in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs … [Read more...]

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved two of President Biden Joe Biden Mellman: Trump voters cling to 2020 tale FDA authorizes another batch of J&J vaccine Cotton warns of China collecting athletes' DNA at 2022 Olympics MORE 's nominees to serve in the nation's top cybersecurity positions. The committee approved former National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director Chris Inglis to serve in the newly created national cyber director role at the White House, and approved former NSA official Jen Easterly to serve as director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). While the nominations advanced unanimously, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said following the vote that he intended to place a hold on Easterly’s nomination and others until Biden visits the U.S.-Mexico border to address a surge in migration. ADVERTISEMENT “I clearly support Jen Easterly to be the … [Read more...]

A group of Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee introduced a bill Thursday aimed at encouraging businesses to hire workers who have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation would expand the work opportunity tax credit — a tax break designed to incentivize employers to hire people from groups who often face barriers to employment, such as the long-term unemployed, veterans, ex-felons and recipients of certain federal benefits. “The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a proven program that has long given veterans and vulnerable Americans the help they need to get back to work,” Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “This expansion will make it even better and more effective!” ADVERTISEMENT Rep. Steven Horsford Steven Alexander Horsford Workers and seniors deserve investments in home care infrastructure Biden unveils plan for racial equity at Tulsa Race Massacre centennial Tulsa marks race massacre centennial as US grapples with … [Read more...]