KEVIN FREKING

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, May 7, 2024. A promising start has given way to challenging political realities for supporters of a bipartisan commission to tackle the federal government's growing debt challenges. Johnson lauded the idea of establishing such a commission on his first day in office. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

America’s debt tops $34 trillion, but a commission to address it appears dead in Congress

A promising start has given way to challenging political realities for supporters of a bipartisan commission to tackle the federal government’s growing debt challenges.

FILE - Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, is pictured during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Feb. 1, 2023, in Washington. The independent office that reviews allegations against House members has found probable cause that Nehls converted campaign funds to personal use. The finding and a 6-0 recommendation to investigate further was contained in a new disclosure revealed Friday, May 10, 2024, to meet public disclosure requirements. But leaders of the committee emphasized that the disclosure does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, and the investigation is ongoing. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel, File)

Ethics review finds probable cause that Rep. Troy Nehls misused campaign funds

The independent office that reviews allegations against House members has found probable cause that Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas converted campaign funds to personal use.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after she tried and failed to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, her long-shot effort swiftly and resoundingly rejected by Democrats and Republicans tired of the political chaos, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House rejects Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from office

Hardline Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has tried and failed to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. Her long-shot effort was swiftly and resoundingly rejected Wednesday by Democrats and Republicans tired of the political chaos.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., says she'll call a vote next week on ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Rep. Greene, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, is forcing her colleagues to choose sides after Democratic leaders announced they'd provide the votes to save the Republican speaker's job. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene vows to force a vote next week on ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll call a vote next week on ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., meets with reporters following a closed-door GOP strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Johnson and other Republicans are calling for an end to the student protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict, even encouraging intervention by the National Guard. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democrats say they will save Speaker Mike Johnson’s job if Republicans try to oust him

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats will vote to save Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s job should some of his fellow Republican lawmakers seek to remove him from the position, Democratic leaders said Tuesday, likely assuring for now that Johnson will avoid being ousted from office like his predecesso

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to reporters just after lawmakers pushed a $95 billion national security aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies closer to passage, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Ukraine, Israel aid advances in rare House vote as Democrats help Republicans push it forward

The House has pushed a $95 billion national security aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies closer to passage. A key procedural vote gained approval Friday to move ahead with the bill, Democrats joining Republicans in a rare assist.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks with reporters to discuss his proposal of sending crucial bipartisan support to aid Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after weeks of inaction, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democrats weigh prospect of helping Johnson save his job as House speaker

Some Democrats are entertaining the prospect of helping House Speaker Mike Johnson save his job should Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia force a vote seeking his ouster.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and the House Republican leadership meet with reporters following a closed-door Republican strategy session as Johnson pushes towards separate votes on aid for Israel and Ukraine, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House leaders toil to advance Ukraine and Israel aid. But threats to oust speaker grow

House congressional leaders are toiling on a delicate, bipartisan push towards weekend votes to approve a $95 billion package of foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as several other national security policies.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., right, speaks with reporters to discuss his proposal of sending crucial bipartisan support to aid Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after weeks of inaction on Capitol Hill Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

What’s inside the $95 billion House package focused on aiding Ukraine and Israel

Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled a long-awaited package of bills that will provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks with reporters to discuss his proposal of sending crucial bipartisan support to aid Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after weeks of inaction, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House’s Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden’s support as Speaker Johnson fights to keep his job

President Joe Biden says that he strongly supports a proposal from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

FILE - Then Attorney General William Barr appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 1, 2019. A congressional committee is accusing China of fueling the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. A report released Tuesday by a House select committee says China is directly subsidizing the manufacturing of materials used by drug traffickers to make fentanyl outside the country. Barr says the committee’s report “uncovered persuasive evidence” that China’s government is “knee deep” in sponsoring and facilitating the export of fentanyl precursors. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

House panel says China subsidizes fentanyl production to fuel crisis in the United States

A congressional committee is accusing China of fueling the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. A report released Tuesday by a House select committee says China is directly subsidizing the manufacturing of materials used by drug traffickers to make fentanyl outside the country.

FILE-- Gavels and law books are shown, July 14, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. Adeel Mangi, the nominee who could become the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge is fighting back against characterizations of his work by law enforcement groups that has jeopardized his nomination. The White House and Senate are doubling down on their efforts to win over lawmakers on the fence, but it may be too late. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)

First Muslim American appellate court nominee faces uphill battle to salvage nomination

The nominee who could become the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge is fighting back against characterizations of his work by law enforcement groups that are jeopardizing his nomination.

The site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and the container ship that toppled it, Dali, are seen from a debris retrieval vessel, the Reynolds, April 4, 2024. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

Maryland lawmakers say coming bill will clarify that feds fully pay for replacing Baltimore bridge

Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation say they’ll soon introduce a bill that’ll make clear the federal government will fully cover the cost of rebuilding the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.

President Joe Biden waves to members of the media as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 22, 2024, to travel to Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Biden signs $1.2 trillion funding package after Senate’s early-morning passage ended shutdown threat

President Joe Biden has signed a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills that Congress just passed, ending the threat of a potential partial government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., meets with reporters to discuss efforts to pass the final set of spending bills to avoid a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate passes $1.2 trillion funding package in early morning vote, ending threat of partial shutdown

The Senate has passed a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills that pushes any new threats of a government shutdown into the fall. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., right, smiles as he is joined by, from left, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as they attend a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for surviving members of a top-secret WWII unit, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Congress unveils $1.2 trillion plan to avert federal shutdown and bring budget fight to a close

Lawmakers have introduced a $1.2 trillion spending package that sets the stage for avoiding a partial government shutdown for several key federal agencies this weekend.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and the House Republican leadership meet with reporters as lawmakers work to pass the final set of spending bills to avoid a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Congressional leaders sell $1.2 trillion spending package to members before shutdown deadline

Congressional leaders are working to put a positive light on a $1.2 trillion spending package that lawmakers look to approve before funding expires at midnight Friday for several key government agencies.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Biden and congressional leaders announce a deal on government funding as a partial shutdown looms

President Joe Biden and congressional leaders have reached an agreement on this fiscal year’s final set of spending bills. Now, the question is how fast lawmakers can get the bills passed to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Negotiators race to finish government funding bills after reaching deal on Homeland Security bill

Negotiators from Congress and the White House are scrambling to complete work on funding government agencies for the fiscal year and avoid a partial shutdown that could begin this weekend.

Devotees of TikTok monitor voting at the Capitol in Washington, as the House passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app if its China-based owner doesn't sell, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Lawmakers contend the app's owner, ByteDance, is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's consumers in the U.S. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House passes a bill that could lead to a TikTok ban if Chinese owner refuses to sell

The House has passed a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell. Lawmakers are concerned the company’s current ownership structure is beholden to the Chinese government and poses a U.S. national security threat.

FILE - The TikTok Inc. building is seen in Culver City, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

House Republicans move ahead with TikTok vote even as Trump voices opposition to possible ban

House Republicans are moving ahead with a bill that would require Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States even as former President Donald Trump is voicing opposition to the effort.

The U.S Capitol photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Biden signs a package of spending bills passed by Congress just hours before a shutdown deadline

President Joe Biden has signed into law a package of spending bills passed by the Senate in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies. He signed the legislation Saturday while offering thanks to leaders and negotiators from both parties.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., walks outside the chamber as he tries to assemble enough lawmakers to begin the final steps of completing a partial government funding bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 8, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Congress passes first package of spending bills just hours before shutdown deadline for key agencies

The Senate has approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies.

FILE - Fans sit under a TikTok ad at a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, April 14, 2023, in New York. A bill that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being unavailable in the United States is quickly gaining traction in the House. Lawmakers advanced legislation against TikTok Thursday as they voiced concerns about the potential for the platform to surveil and manipulate Americans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Bill that could make TikTok unavailable in the US advances quickly in the House

A bill that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being unavailable in the United States is quickly gaining traction in the House.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined by fellow Republicans, speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The House is expected to vote to keep money flowing to scores of federal agencies before a midnight Friday shutdown deadline. A significant number of House Republicans oppose the measure, forcing Johnson to use an expedited process to bring the bill up for a vote. That process requires two-thirds of the House to vote for the measure for it to pass. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House passes $460 billion package of spending bills. Senate expected to act before shutdown deadline

The House has passed a $460 billion package of spending bills that would keep money flowing to key federal agencies through the remainder of the budget year.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech during the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction at Keidanren Kaikan building in Tokyo, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

Congressional leaders invite prime minister of Japan to address Congress in April

Congressional leaders have invited the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, to address a joint meeting of Congress on April 11.

The Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building is visible from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Congressional leaders come out with 6 spending bills in a drive to avoid a partial shutdown

Congressional leaders have come out with a package of six bills setting full-year spending levels for some federal agencies.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, flanked by Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, left, and Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, discusses President Joe Biden for his policies at the Mexican border during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Congress approves short-term extension to avoid shutdown, buy more time for final spending agreement

Congress has passed another short-term spending measure that would keep one set of federal agencies operating through March 8 and another set through March 22.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., arrives to speak to members of the media outside the West Wing after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Congressional leaders reach a tentative deal to avoid government shutdown. But Ukraine aid stalls

Congressional leaders have announced a tentative agreement to prevent a government shutdown, for now. Wednesday’s deal comes days before an end-of-the-week deadline that risked shuttering some federal operations.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a press availability on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Washington. President Joe Biden implored the top four leaders of Congress to act quickly to avoid a looming government shutdown early next month and to pass emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel, as a legislative logjam in the GOP-led House showed no signs of abating. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Biden and party leaders implore Speaker Johnson to help Ukraine in ‘intense’ Oval Office meeting

Congressional leaders emerged from an “intense” Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden speaking optimistically about the prospects for avoiding a partial government shutdown beginning this weekend.