Latest news with #TedLieu
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US House calls early summer recess to block voting on release of Epstein files
Republicans announced Tuesday that the House of Representatives will call it quits a day early and head home in the face of persistent Democratic efforts to force Republicans into voting on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The chamber was scheduled be in session through Thursday ahead of the annual five-week summer recess, but on Tuesday, the Republican majority announced that the last votes of the week would take place the following day. Democrats in turn accused the GOP of leaving town rather than dealing with the outcry over Donald Trump's handling of the investigation into the alleged sex trafficker. 'They are actually ending this week early because they're afraid to cast votes on the Jeffrey Epstein issue,' said Ted Lieu, the vice-chair of the House Democratic caucus. Republicans downplayed the decision to cut short the workweek, while arguing that the White House has already moved to resolve questions about the case. Last week, Trump asked the attorney general, Pam Bondi, to release grand jury testimony, although that is expected to be only a fraction of the case's documents. 'We're going to have committee meetings through Thursday, and there's still a lot of work being done,' said the majority leader, Steve Scalise. 'The heavy work is done in committee and there is a lot of work being done this week before we head out.' He declined to answer a question about whether votes were cut short over the Epstein files. At a press conference, the House speaker, Mike Johnson, insisted that Congress must be careful in calling for the release of documents related to the case, for fear of retraumatizing his victims. 'There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing. And so this is for political games,' he said. 'I'm very resolute on this, we can both call for full transparency and also protect victims, and if you run roughshod, or you do it too quickly, that's not what happens.' Questions surrounding Epstein's 2019 death and his involvement in running a sex-trafficking ring that allegedly procured underage girls for global elites flared up earlier this month after the justice department announced its determination that he committed suicide in a federal prison, and he had no client list that could be released. The disclosure, along with the department's statement that it would release no further information about the case, sparked an uproar among many supporters of the president, who believed he would get to the bottom of a supposed 'deep state' plot to cover up Epstein's ties to global elites. Some of Trump's own officials had promoted such expectations, including Bondi, who in February told Fox News that Epstein's client list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review'. Congressional Democrats have sought to capitalize on the rare split between the president and his supporters, with an eye towards retaking the majority in the House next year. The venue for those efforts has been the rules committee, the normally low-key body that all legislation must pass through before it is considered by the full House. Democrats on the committee last week repeatedly offered amendments to unrelated legislation that were designed to compel the release of the Epstein files, forcing Republicans to vote them down – a politically difficult vote for many in the party, as it could potentially be used to accused them of wanting to keep the files secret. Frustration among the GOP peaked on Monday, when Democrats planned to use a rules committee hearing to offer more Epstein amendments, and the GOP reacted by refusing to vote on any more rules, essentially paralyzing the House floor. Johnson has attempted to stem the controversy by agreeing to allow a vote on a non-binding resolution on the file's release, but that won't happen before the August recess. On Tuesday, a House oversight subcommittee approved a subpoena proposed by Republican congressman Tim Burchett for the testimony of Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of Epstein who is serving a 20-year prison sentence related to the sex trafficking case. The justice department is also seeking to speak with her, and it is unclear when she might appear before Congress. Meanwhile, Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who has repeatedly broken with his party, and Democratic congressman Ro Khanna have collaborated on a legislative maneuver that will force a vote on releasing the Epstein files, though that is not expected to take place until after the House returns from its recess, in the first week of September. Joe Morelle, the number-two Democrat on the House appropriations committee, warned that cutting short the workweek costs time that lawmakers could use to consider spending legislation that must be passed by the end of September to prevent a government shutdown. 'We haven't done appropriation bills, and yet we're going to take extra days off simply because we don't want to go through the discomfort of pushing the president to do what he's promised to do, what the attorney general has promised to do, what the FBI director has promised to do, that they're now violating their pledge and their commitment to do,' Morelle said.
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US House calls early summer recess amid turmoil over Epstein files
Republicans announced Tuesday that the House of Representatives will call it quits a day early and head home in the face of persistent Democratic efforts to force Republicans into voting on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The chamber was scheduled be in session through Thursday ahead of the annual five-week summer recess, but on Tuesday, the Republican majority announced that the last votes of the week would take place the following day. Democrats in turn accused the GOP of leaving town rather than dealing with the outcry over Donald Trump's handling of the investigation into the alleged sex trafficker. 'They are actually ending this week early because they're afraid to cast votes on the Jeffrey Epstein issue,' said Ted Lieu, the vice-chair of the House Democratic caucus. Republicans downplayed the decision to cut short the workweek, while arguing that the White House has already moved to resolve questions about the case. Last week, Trump asked the attorney general, Pam Bondi, to release grand jury testimony, although that is expected to be only a fraction of the case's documents. 'We're going to have committee meetings through Thursday, and there's still a lot of work being done,' said the majority leader, Steve Scalise. 'The heavy work is done in committee and there is a lot of work being done this week before we head out.' He declined to answer a question about whether votes were cut short over the Epstein files. At a press conference, the House speaker, Mike Johnson, insisted that Congress must be careful in calling for the release of documents related to the case, for fear of retraumatizing his victims. 'There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing. And so this is for political games,' he said. 'I'm very resolute on this, we can both call for full transparency and also protect victims, and if you run roughshod, or you do it too quickly, that's not what happens.' Questions surrounding Epstein's 2019 death and his involvement in running a sex-trafficking ring that allegedly procured underage girls for global elites flared up earlier this month after the justice department announced its determination that he committed suicide in a federal prison, and he had no client list that could be released. The disclosure, along with the department's statement that it would release no further information about the case, sparked an uproar among many supporters of the president, who believed he would get to the bottom of a supposed 'deep state' plot to cover up Epstein's ties to global elites. Some of Trump's own officials had promoted such expectations, including Bondi, who in February told Fox News that Epstein's client list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review'. Congressional Democrats have sought to capitalize on the rare split between the president and his supporters, with an eye towards retaking the majority in the House next year. The venue for those efforts has been the rules committee, the normally low-key body that all legislation must pass through before it is considered by the full House. Democrats on the committee last week repeatedly offered amendments to unrelated legislation that were designed to compel the release of the Epstein files, forcing Republicans to vote them down – a politically difficult vote for many in the party, as it could potentially be used to accused them of wanting to keep the files secret. Frustration among the GOP peaked on Monday, when Democrats planned to use a rules committee hearing to offer more Epstein amendments, and the GOP reacted by refusing to vote on any more rules, essentially paralyzing the House floor. Johnson has attempted to stem the controversy by agreeing to allow a vote on a non-binding resolution on the file's release, but that won't happen before the August recess. On Tuesday, a House oversight subcommittee approved a subpoena proposed by Republican congressman Tim Burchett for the testimony of Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of Epstein who is serving a 20-year prison sentence related to the sex trafficking case. The justice department is also seeking to speak with her, and it is unclear when she might appear before Congress. Meanwhile, Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who has repeatedly broken with his party, and Democratic congressman Ro Khanna have collaborated on a legislative maneuver that will force a vote on releasing the Epstein files, though that is not expected to take place until after the House returns from its recess, in the first week of September. Joe Morelle, the number-two Democrat on the House appropriations committee, warned that cutting short the workweek costs time that lawmakers could use to consider spending legislation that must be passed by the end of September to prevent a government shutdown. 'We haven't done appropriation bills, and yet we're going to take extra days off simply because we don't want to go through the discomfort of pushing the president to do what he's promised to do, what the attorney general has promised to do, what the FBI director has promised to do, that they're now violating their pledge and their commitment to do,' Morelle said.
Politico
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A new push for AI rules from Washington
TECH MAZE California Rep. Ted Lieu thinks regulating artificial intelligence is an area where Republicans and Democrats like him can work together. 'I hope that we're going to be able to pass some AI legislation this term,' said Lieu, who with California Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte co-chaired the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence last Congress, at The Hill's Nation Summit in Washington on Wednesday. State of play: The task force issued a report last year with more than 80 recommendations that focused on 'demonstrable' harms of AI but took a conservative approach to passing new laws. During the report's development, many health care groups, including those representing doctors, medical device makers, technology developers, hospitals, health systems and insurers, told POLITICO they wanted the federal government to regulate AI — albeit with a light touch. Although the task force hasn't been renewed this Congress, Lieu is hopeful lawmakers can still make progress: 'A number of those recommendations can easily become legislation,' he said. When asked whether they could get the White House on board, Lieu pointed to Trump allies' failed effort to freeze AI enforcement in the states and suggested they might not have a choice. 'What we're facing now is not whether AI is going to have laws and regulations put on it,' Lieu said. 'It's do you want Congress to do it, or do you want 27 states to do it?' What's next: Lieu said the United States must move forward with building AI data centers, despite environmental groups' concerns about the amount of energy and water they use. If we don't, he warned, the U.S. won't stay competitive globally. But the U.S. should still build thoughtfully, he added, and focus on expanding renewable energy to meet the country's rising needs. 'It's not really a smart approach to say, 'Don't build these things because of energy,'' Lieu said, adding, 'Then they're going to be built in another country. I'd rather have them built in America.' WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. A scholar of meditation at Harvard is warning that, while mostly positive, meditation can lead to suffering in some. He's calling for more research to better understand why that's the case. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Danny Nguyen at dnguyen@ Carmen Paun at cpaun@ Ruth Reader at rreader@ or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@ Want to share a tip securely? Message us on Signal: Dannyn516.70, CarmenP.82, RuthReader.02 or ErinSchumaker.01. WORLD VIEW Global health funding has dropped this year to 2009 levels, threatening decades of progress against infectious diseases globally, the Seattle-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation warns in a new report. How so: IHME estimates that cuts in U.S. health funding for low-income countries this year, coupled with reductions from other major donor countries such as the U.K., will put total foreign-aid funding for health at $38.4 billion, where it was in 2009. This represents a sharp decline from 2021, when global health funding reached $80.3 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic. IHME estimates the U.S. government reduced its global health funding by 67 percent this year, which accounts for more than $9 billion. The institute's preliminary estimates suggest that the Gates Foundation has, for the first time, surpassed the U.S. government as the largest source of funding for development assistance for health. But the total global health funding is expected to continue declining and is estimated to reach $36.2 billion in 2030, according to the IHME report. Why it matters: This funding drop could have profound consequences, IHME warns. 'It is likely that people are losing access to lifesaving health care services,' the report notes. Mitigating the impact of the funding cuts hinges on beneficiary countries' ability to mobilize their own domestic resources. But that varies widely, which will see some countries facing cuts in health services or needing to improve their health system's efficiency. One such example is Zambia, which is digitizing its health system to serve more people and improve their access to medicines, particularly in rural areas, the report notes.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump ‘reverse Robin Hood' tax bill is driving up the cost of buying a home, Democrats say
The cost for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage crept up to levels not seen since February, reflecting bond market fears over Trump's plan to pay for tax cuts with an estimated $3.8 trillion in new debt. 'Trump and Republicans are directly responsible for the spike in the 30-year Treasury bond yield and mortgage rates,' argued Ted Lieu, the fourth highest-ranking Democrat in the House. Democrats say President Trump's proposed tax bill is responsible for pushing up the cost of owning a home as bond markets revolt against the prospect of trillions of dollars in new borrowing added on top of the national debt. The average cost of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage—which closely tracks long-dated Treasury yields—hit 6.86% this week, according to data from U.S. state-owned property lender Freddie Mac. It is the highest since mid-February when Trump hadn't yet sparked fears of a recession with his steep tariffs. 'Trump and Republicans are directly responsible for the spike in the 30-year Treasury bond yield and mortgage rates,' wrote Ted Lieu, the fourth highest-ranking Democrat in the House as caucus vice-chair. Fortune reached out to the White House for comment, and will update should it respond. The higher borrowing cost stems from concerns over the affordability of Trump's tax cuts, which prompted Moody's downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt last week. A poorly received Treasury auction of long-dated debt appears to be proving billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones right, that bond markets would choke on Trump's regressive tax cut agenda, financed by new borrowing. Should Senate Republicans send the bill to Trump for approval, it could lead to the closing of hospitals and nursing homes across the country, many in politically conservative rural areas. 'They will still—with their tax bill—be adding over $4 trillion to the national debt to cover their tax break for the wealthiest people in our country,' former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said this week on the floor of Congress. 'This is Robin Hood in reverse: taking resources from where it is most needed, the people who need it most, and giving it to those who need it least.' Mortgage rates have been higher, hitting 7.79% in October 2023, according to Freddie Mac. This peak, however, came shortly after Jay Powell hiked the Fed Funds rate one final time to a minimum of 5.25%. Starting this past September, his FOMC policy-setting committee has since reduced the overnight interest rate by a full percentage point. Therefore, the current cost of a 30-year fixed mortgage is still very high, given the Fed's recent easing on the short end of the yield curve. Investors are gradually reassessing their financial risks under the current administration, especially following years in which money managers overweighted their portfolios in favor of U.S. assets. UBS anticipates that international investors will reverse 60% of their five-percentage-point increase in ownership of U.S. equity markets since 2018. 'We think there has been a fundamental shift in how institutional investors view their U.S. exposure,' the Swiss bank wrote in a research note on Friday. According to an analysis this week by the Congressional Budget Office, the bill's tax cuts will add $3.8 trillion to the deficit even as it slashes $698 billion off of Medicaid, which provides healthcare for low-income Americans. It would also eliminate $267 billion that goes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), aka food stamps. In return, the debt ceiling will be raised, and the 2017 Trump tax cuts, due to sunset at the end of this year, will be made permanent. Other boons include more generous State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions and the preservation of the carried interest loophole, which benefits hedge funds and family offices, among other professional money managers. House minority whip Rep. Katherine Clark said the resulting debt will burden future generations. 'It is taking away healthcare for nearly 14 million Americans, it is the biggest cut to food programs we've ever seen,' the second-highest ranking House Democrat said on Thursday. 'What we have is a bill that is almost like it's constructed by cartoon villains.' Even Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, has warned Republican leadership against passing legislation that would hurt their MAGA base. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hill Roundtable: What's next for AI infrastructure
The following is an executive summary from a roundtable breakfast that focused on discussing roadblocks and solutions surrounding the integration and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) into our everyday lives. Participants cautioned against oversimplifying AI as 'magic' and emphasized the importance of understanding its actual capabilities and limitations. It was held under Chatham House Rules, prior to The Hill's Energy & Environment Summit on May 6 in Washington, D.C. The discussion featured a diverse group of more than 20 attendees, including U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), co-chair of the AI Caucus, and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), vice chair of the Democratic Caucus as well as business and philanthropy leaders, researchers and policy advisers. The discussion was moderated by The Hill's Technology reporter Miranda Nazzaro and Bill Sammon, SVP of Editorial Content for The Hill. Introduction Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, so much so that there's even a term for it. 'Ubiquitous AI' refers to the concept of AI being integrated into every aspect of our lives, from everyday devices to complex systems, making it accessible and beneficial to everyone, the concept sounds wonderful, putting it into practice is a different story. As lawmakers continue to grapple with how to regulate the technology, companies are scrambling to inform their opinions on the best way to create rules of the road for AI. How will AI continue to transform our society? How should we balance AI innovation and its potential risks? What will it take to reach 'Ubiquitous AI'? Using the energy sector as an example, which areas will be most impacted? And what does an informed, collaborative, and evidence-based approach to AI regulation and governance look like? 1. The Imperative of Public-Private Partnerships and Collaboration: Essential for Progress: There was a strong consensus that collaboration between the public and private sectors is not just beneficial but critical for the future development and responsible deployment of AI. This includes sharing expertise, resources, and understanding. Balancing Roles: The discussion explored the balance of leadership in AI policy. While industry drives innovation, government has a crucial role in setting top-line best practices, ensuring accountability, and establishing standards to foster trust. No single entity should operate in isolation. Government as an Enabler and Agenda Setter: Participants highlighted the government's potential to proactively shape the direction of AI development through funding initiatives, prize structures, and identifying areas where AI can address societal goals (e.g., wildfire prevention). Addressing the Government's Knowledge Gap: Lawmakers acknowledged the rapid pace of AI development and the need for Congress to learn from experts in the field. Initiatives like the Senate AI Caucus's events and the ASAP project aim to bridge this gap. 2. The Challenge of Pace and the Need for Adaptive Governance: Industry's Breakneck Speed vs. Government's Deliberation: A significant concern was the stark contrast between the rapid advancements in AI and the often-slower pace of governmental processes. This raises questions about the government's ability to keep up and regulate effectively. Regulation vs. Shaping: Participants suggested that instead of solely focusing on traditional regulation, the government should also focus on 'shaping' the market through incentives and strategic investments. The Need for Adaptability: Given the constant evolution of AI, rigid rules may become quickly outdated. The discussion emphasized the importance of adaptive systems, continuous information sharing, and iterative approaches to governance. Challenges for Higher Education: The rapid pace also presents challenges for educational institutions in developing relevant curricula that keep pace with industry changes. 3. Sectoral Regulation as a Preferred Approach: Targeted Expertise: Both Congressman Lieu and Senator Rounds advocated for a sectoral approach to regulation, where existing agencies with specific expertise (e.g., FAA, FDA, Department of Agriculture) tailor AI oversight to their respective domains, rather than a single, overarching AI bill. 4. The Profound Implications of Emerging AI Capabilities: AI Agents: The potential of AI agents capable of autonomously executing complex tasks based on simple prompts was highlighted as both 'amazing and alarming,' with uncertain societal and economic consequences. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): While considered further out, the long-term implications of AGI, including potential widespread unemployment across all skill levels, were raised as critical considerations for future planning. 5. The Critical Intersection of AI and Energy: Growing Energy Demands: The increasing energy consumption of AI, particularly for large language models and data centers, was identified as a significant challenge. Projections suggest a substantial increase in national electricity demand due to AI. AI for Energy Solutions: Conversely, the potential of AI to drive advancements in energy efficiency, material science, and the development of new energy sources was also acknowledged. Infrastructure and Permitting: The need for significant investment in energy infrastructure, including transmission and new generation capacity (potentially including small nuclear reactors), was discussed, along with the challenges of permitting and local acceptance. Resilience and National Security: Concerns were raised about the concentration of data centers in specific geographic areas and the need for a resilient and secure energy supply to support both the AI industry and national defense. 6. The Importance of Data Regulation: Enabling Innovation and Avoiding Fragmentation: The lack of comprehensive data regulation in the U.S. was identified as a hindrance to innovation and a potential driver of market fragmentation, as companies are forced to comply with varying international standards (e.g., GDPR in Europe). 7. The Uncertainty of Timelines and Adoption: Adoption S-Curve: The discussion acknowledged that the widespread adoption of AI may follow an S-curve, potentially taking longer than current rapid advancements might suggest. AGI Timeline Uncertainty: The timeline for achieving AGI remains highly uncertain, impacting the relevance of different policy approaches. Focus on Foundational Elements: Despite timeline uncertainties, investments in fundamental research, digital infrastructure, and energy solutions were deemed crucial regardless of the specific pace of AI development. Comparative and Absolute Advantage: The discussion highlighted that even with absolute advantages in certain tasks, AI adoption will also be influenced by factors like cost, practicality, and comparative advantages of existing solutions. In summary, the roundtable highlighted the urgent need for proactive and collaborative approaches to AI governance, focusing on sectoral expertise, adaptability, and addressing the significant implications for energy infrastructure and the future of work. The rapid pace of innovation necessitates continuous learning and engagement between policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
