A bipartisan group of senators is floating a proposal that would avoid the doubling of rates on student loans on July 1.
Students applying for financial aid for the coming school year could find some comfort in a bipartisan student loan compromise taking shape in the Senate that would prevent interest rates from doubling and set a single rate...
By saying he intends to bargain with Russia over new reductions in nuclear weapons rather than make cuts on his own President Barack Obama is asking for cooperation from a former Cold War foe in no mood to agree.
By saying he intends to bargain with Russia over new reductions in nuclear weapons, rather than make cuts on his own, President Barack Obama is asking for cooperation from a former Cold War foe in no mood to agree.
The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she opposes the force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is pressing the Pentagon to establish a more humane...
The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she opposes the force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is pressing the Pentagon to establish a more humane treatment.
Secretary of State John Kerry called the Afghan president twice in the past 24 hours to ease Hamid Karzai's anger over the way the Taliban announced the opening of their political office in Qatar.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday made his second call to the Afghan president in 24 hours to ease Hamid Karzai's anger over the rollout of the Taliban's new political office in Qatar - a rift that...
President Barack Obama is planning a major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on promises he made at the start of his second term.
President Barack Obama is planning a major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on promises he made at the start of his second term.
A wide-ranging farm bill the House is considering would cut food stamps by $2 billion a year and make it more difficult for some people to qualify for the domestic food aid program.
House passage of a massive farm bill could turn on the level of food stamp cuts as key backers scrambled Wednesday to secure support for the five-year, half-trillion dollar measure.
The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria.
The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria.
President Barack Obama's 26-hour whirlwind visit to Berlin caps three days of international summitry for the president, and marks his return to a place where he once summoned a throng of 200,000 to share his...
Summoning the harsh history of this once-divided city, President Barack Obama on Wednesday cautioned the U.S. and Europe against "complacency" brought on by peace, pledging to cut America's deployed nuclear weapons by...
The head of The Associated Press says the Justice Department violated its own rules when it secretly seized records for thousands of phone calls to and from AP journalists as part of a leak investigation.
The Justice Department violated its own rules when it secretly seized records for thousands of phone calls to and from journalists for The Associated Press as part of a leak investigation, the head of the company said...
A new report says homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure must wait too long for their loan modification applications to be reviewed by some of the nation's top mortgage servicers. Such delays can plunge borrowers...
Homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure must wait too long for their loan modification applications to be reviewed by some of the nation's top mortgage servicers, according to a report released Wednesday. Such delays can...
Supporters of a far-reaching immigration bill in the Senate see fresh momentum from a report by the Congressional Budget Office that the measure would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits by billions of...
Illegal immigration into the United States would decrease by only 25 percent under a far-reaching Senate immigration bill, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office that also finds the measure reduces...
An influential Republican senator says the Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic...
Already reeling from a pair of scandals, the Internal Revenue Service is drawing new criticism over plans to hand out millions of dollars in employee bonuses.
House lawmakers are beginning work on a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind education law that would give states more authority and Washington less.
House Republicans on Wednesday finished their rewrite of GOP President George W. Bush's prized No Child Left Behind Act, sending to their colleagues a bill that would strip Education Secretary Arne Duncan and his...
House Republicans are pushing to eliminate money for high-speed rail and a popular grant program for transportation projects.
House Republicans are pushing to eliminate money for high-speed rail and a popular grant program for transportation projects.
President Barack Obama will renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles during a speech in Berlin Wednesday.
Appealing for a new citizen activism in the free world, President Barack Obama renewed his call Wednesday to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear stockpiles and to confront climate change, a danger he called "the global threat of...
FBI Director Robert Mueller is cautioning Congress to give careful consideration before making any changes to the National Security Agency programs for mass collection of people's phone records and information...
FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday urged Congress to move carefully before making any changes that might restrict the National Security Agency programs for mass collection of people's phone records and information...
Vice President Joe Biden is hailing Frederick Douglass for his work to bring about equal justice, leading a series of tributes at the unveiling of a statue of the 19th-century orator and writer.
Vice President Joe Biden is hailing Frederick Douglass for his work to bring about equal justice, leading a series of tributes at the unveiling of a statue of the 19th-century orator and writer.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she now supports gay marriage, becoming the third Senate Republican to do so.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she now supports gay marriage, becoming the third Senate Republican to do so.
Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their...
Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear...
Senators are seeking cost-cutting opportunities in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders say America cannot afford...
Senators sought cost-cutting opportunities Wednesday in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders said America couldn't...
The 19th-century orator and writer Frederick Douglass will once again stand tall in the U.S. Capitol.
The 19th-century orator and writer Frederick Douglass will once again stand tall in the U.S. Capitol.
Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: "Not so fast."
Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: Not so fast.
The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason. The U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties...
The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason. The U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board...
Farm-state lawmakers are scrambling to win bipartisan votes for a five year, half-trillion dollar farm bill on the House floor this week.
Farm-state lawmakers are scrambling to win bipartisan support for a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill on the House floor this week.
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says it appears the much-criticized national electronic surveillance program foiled "dozens" of terrorist plots.
The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on...
There's no guarantee that President Barack Obama's health care law will launch smoothly and on time, congressional investigators say in the first in-depth independent look at its progress.
There's no guarantee that President Barack Obama's health care law will launch smoothly and on time, congressional investigators say in the first in-depth independent look at its progress.
A key committee in the Republican-led House is preparing to cast its first votes on immigration this year, on a tough enforcement-focused measure that Democrats and immigrant groups are protesting loudly.
Sweeping immigration legislation moving toward a vote in the Senate would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, at the same time it would bestow legal status on an...
The abortion wars return to Congress in a big way with House legislation to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed a far-reaching anti-abortion bill that conservatives saw as a milestone in their 40-year campaign against legalized abortion and Democrats characterized as yet another example of a...
A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers.
A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers.
A Democratic congressman has released the full transcript of congressional investigators' interview with an Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican who said the close scrutiny...
An Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican said the close scrutiny of tea party groups' tax forms originated in his Cincinnati IRS office and not in Washington, according to a full...
Military leaders are ready to begin tearing down the remaining walls that have prevented women from holding thousands of combat and special operations jobs near the front lines.
Declaring "the days of Rambo are over," a top general said Tuesday that cultural, social and behavioral concerns may be bigger hurdles than tough physical fitness requirements for women looking to join the military's...
Defense officials say four U.S. troops were killed Tuesday at or near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Defense officials say four U.S. troops were killed Tuesday at or near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Google is asking the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to lift its long-standing gag order on how often the company is asked to turn over data about its customers to the federal government.
Google on Tuesday sharply challenged the federal government's gag order on its Internet surveillance program, citing what it described as a First Amendment right to divulge how many requests it receives from the...
The Education Department is offering states more time to enact promised reforms in exchange for permission to ignore unworkable parts of No Child Left Behind.
States can ask for another year before being required to use student test results to decide whether to keep or fire teachers, Education Secretary Arne Duncan told school chiefs on Tuesday.
A new study finds that same-sex couples are treated less favorably than heterosexual couples when seeking information about rental housing advertised online.
Same-sex couples are treated less favorably than heterosexual couples when seeking information about rental housing advertised over the Internet, according to a first-of-its-kind national study from the Department of Housing...
House Republicans have unveiled slashing cuts to a program that helps localities build community development projects. Their rivals in the Democratic-controlled Senate are moving to restore Republican cuts to...
Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to...
Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.
Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.
Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill says she is supporting a super political action committee encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016.
Sen. Claire McCaskill endorsed an outside political group encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, saying it was important for Democrats to build a groundswell of support for the former secretary of...
The leaders of major economic powers are declaring themselves dedicated to a political solution to Syria's bloody civil war, even as President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin stake out...
Now a veteran of the international summit scene, President Barack Obama wielded significant influence over the agenda at this week's Group of Eight meetings, but had only modest success in achieving the results he sought.
The White House is reporting progress on President Barack Obama's initiatives to reduce gun violence, but says the most important step would be getting a reluctant Congress to pass new firearms laws.
A scrappy Vice President Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to "beat the gun lobby" by ultimately passing stronger firearm laws and said some lawmakers who voted against background checks have privately told him they want another...
By The Associated Press Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace...
By The Associated Press Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace talks. A...
Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new...
Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new system.
Civil rights lawyers say they plan to ask a federal judge to declare the New York Police Department's spying programs directed at Muslims to be unconstitutional, and to order police to stop their surveillance and...
The New York Police Department's widespread spying programs directed at Muslims have undermined free worship by innocent people and should be declared unconstitutional, religious leaders and civil rights advocates said...
President Barack Obama is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
President Barack Obama is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Two officials say that Secretary of State John Kerry has chosen Russ Feingold, a former Democratic senator from Wisconsin, as the new U.S. special envoy for Africa Great Lakes region.
Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday that he has chosen former Sen. Russ Feingold as the new U.S. special representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the Congo.
NSA leaker Edward Snowden is defending his disclosure of top-secret U.S. spying programs in an online chat with The Guardian and attacking U.S. officials for calling him a traitor.
President Barack Obama defended top secret National Security Agency spying programs as legal in a lengthy interview Monday, and called them transparent - even though they are authorized in secret.
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
The Obama administration is threatening to veto a measure being considered by House Republicans that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
The Obama administration is threatening to veto a measure being considered by House Republicans that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon.
Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in...
The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, 5-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry.
The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, five-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry.
The Supreme Court says states cannot require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.
States can't demand proof of citizenship from people registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision complicating efforts in...
President Barack Obama will appeal to Northern Ireland's youth to sustain their peace in his first opportunity to highlight the role the United States has played helping bring about reconciliation in the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Barack Obama on Monday that their positions on Syria do not "coincide" but the two leaders said during the G-8 summit that they have a shared interest in stopping the violence...
The Republican Party's hope of running stronger presidential races by revamping immigration is about to hit a big hurdle: House Republicans.
The Republican Party's hope of running stronger presidential races by revamping immigration is about to hit a big hurdle: House Republicans.
The Supreme Court says deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal.
Deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal and therefore can be challenged in court,...
Republican Sen. John McCain is questioning President Barack Obama about political appointees' use of secret government email accounts to conduct official business.
Republican Sen. John McCain on Monday questioned President Barack Obama about his political appointees' use of secret government email accounts at work, saying that Congress cannot tell the American people what its...
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press 1948 - Law passed making women a permanent part of the U.S. military services
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press 1948 - Law passed making women a permanent part of the U.S. military services
The State Department says it sees nothing new in North Korea's offer of high-level talks with the U.S.
The State Department says it sees nothing new in North Korea's offer of high-level talks with the U.S.
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that...
Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington scrutinized the very first application from a tea party group seeking tax-exempt status - and dozens of others, including some requests that languished for more than a year...
The Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions in five cases and agreed to hear two important appeals in the fall. Among the court's actions:
The Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions in five cases and agreed to hear two important appeals in the fall. Among the court's actions:
An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul.
An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul.
The Supreme Court has agreed to decide another dispute involving race, whether people must prove they were victims of intentional housing discrimination to win lawsuits under federal law.
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to take on another dispute involving race, deciding whether people must prove they were victims of intentional housing discrimination to win lawsuits under federal law.
The Supreme Court says lawyers may not obtain personal information from state driver license records to recruit clients for lawsuits.
The Supreme Court says lawyers may not obtain personal information from state driver license records to recruit clients for lawsuits.
The Supreme Court says a jury should have the final say on facts that can trigger mandatory minimum sentences in criminal trials.
The Supreme Court says a jury should have the final say on facts that can trigger mandatory minimum sentences in criminal trials.
The Supreme Court won't reconsider a jury's decision that an off-duty Seattle police officer who was cut off in traffic violated a man's rights by detaining him at gunpoint.
The Supreme Court won't reconsider a jury's decision that an off-duty Seattle police officer who was cut off in traffic violated a man's rights by detaining him at gunpoint.
Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support - or sabotage - the immigration overhaul being debated in the Senate, two lawmakers who helped write the proposal...
Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support - or sabotage - the immigration overhaul being debated in the Senate, two lawmakers who helped write the proposal warn.
A U.S. official says the United States and Cuba will resume talks on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts.
The United States and Cuba will resume talks this week on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts, a U.S. official...
The White House says President Barack Obama and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye (goon-hay) have discussed North Korea's proposal for high-level talks with the U.S.
The White House says President Barack Obama and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye (goon-hay) have discussed North Korea's proposal for high-level talks with the U.S.
Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans'...
Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans' civil...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at...
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that...
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that languished...
Current and former top U.S. officials are supporting the government's collection of phone and Internet data following new revelations about the secret surveillance programs aimed at disrupting terrorist plots.
Current and former top U.S. officials on Sunday defended the government's collection of phone and Internet data following new revelations about the secret surveillance programs, saying the operations were essential in...
One of the authors of a bipartisan Senate proposal is warning fellow Republicans that if they fail to pass an immigration overhaul, the party's prospects of winning the White House are dim.
Republicans are "in a demographic death spiral" and will fail in their effort to win the presidency if the party blocks an immigration overhaul, a leading GOP senator said Sunday.
A new report shows that park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police officers suffered more assaults and threats by visitors last year than in 2011.
Park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police experienced more assaults and threats from visitors last year than in 2011, according to a group that represents federal resource workers.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says his health is "nothing short of a miracle."
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says his health is "nothing short of a miracle."
The White House says it wants "credible negotiations" with North Korea that will lead to a nuclear-free North.
The Obama administration said Sunday it was receptive to North Korea's proposal for high-level talks, but wants "credible negotiations" that will lead to a nuclear-free North.
The White House is congratulating Iranians on their presidential election but says the Tehran government created an intimidating environment that limited free expression.
Offering praise for Iranians and reproaching their government, the Obama administration said Saturday it respected the results of a presidential election conducted under restrictive conditions.
Top U.S. intelligence officials say information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other...
Top U.S. intelligence officials said Saturday that information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other...
The Republican Party's chairman is asking religious conservatives to support the GOP's plans to expand.
Facing lingering tensions in his party, the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP's plans to expand.
After months of caution, President Barack Obama suddenly is positioned more aggressively on Syria than the global leaders he's joining at a summit Monday, now that he has authorized weapons and ammunition...
After months of caution, President Barack Obama suddenly is positioned more aggressively on Syria than the global leaders he's joining at a summit Monday, now that he has authorized weapons and ammunition shipments to...
President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide.
President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide.
Facebook's top attorney says after a week of negotiations with national security officials, the company is allowed to make new revelations about government orders for user data.
Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said Friday night that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about...
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told religious conservatives Friday that the future of the nation's economy depends upon immigrants in part because they "are more fertile" and create more businesses than...
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told religious conservatives Friday that the future of the nation's economy depends upon immigrants in part because they "are more fertile" and create more businesses than native-born...
A year after President Barack Obama made an emphatic pitch to Europe's economic powers to focus more on economic growth than austerity, much of the eurozone remains mired in or near recession. Obama's appeals...
When leaders of the nation's biggest economies gathered at the presidential retreat of Camp David last year, European elections had rattled the continent with a rejection of austerity measures. President Barack Obama was...
Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state with a potential presidential bid aimed at winning over...
Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope as he charts his future, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state with a potential presidential bid aimed at...
A Pentagon inspector general's report says U.S. special operations forces who participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were in uniform and wearing nametags during a CIA award ceremony attended by the...
U.S. special operations forces who participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were in uniform and wearing nametags during a CIA award ceremony attended by the writer of the film "Zero Dark Thirty," a Pentagon...
The Agriculture Department says it has no indications that genetically modified wheat found in Oregon last month has spread beyond the field in which it was found.
The Agriculture Department says it has no indications that genetically modified wheat found in Oregon last month has spread beyond the field in which it was found.
President Barack Obama is honoring the WNBA champion Indiana Fever, calling the players an inspiration to young athletes - even those on his daughter Sasha's basketball team.
President Barack Obama honored the WNBA champion Indiana Fever on Friday, calling the players role models for young athletes - even those on his daughter Sasha's basketball team.
President Barack Obama is tapping his former campaign finance chairman, an HBO executive and the head of a major Catholic charity to be U.S. ambassadors.
Handing plum European posts to key campaign boosters, President Barack Obama on Friday nominated his former finance director to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark and tapped two major fundraisers for postings in Spain and Germany.
A House proposal to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks has been revised to include rape and incest exceptions after the Republican sponsor raised a storm by saying that very few rapes...
House Republicans have modified a tough anti-abortion bill to include exceptions for rape and incest after the GOP sponsor of the legislation raised a firestorm by declaring that very few rapes result in pregnancies.
The House is heading toward passage of a sweeping defense bill that reflects the outrage among lawmakers over the growing number of sexual assaults in the military.
The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping, $638 billion defense bill on Friday that imposes new punishments on members of the armed services found guilty of rape or sexual assault as outrage over the crisis in the military...
President Barack Obama's decision to authorize lethal aid to Syrian rebels marks a deepening of U.S. involvement in the two-year civil war. But U.S. officials are still grappling with what type and how much...
President Barack Obama's authorization of military aid to the Syrian rebels "dramatically" increases U.S. support for the opposition, the White House said Friday, while acknowledging that it will take time for the...
President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got.
President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got.
The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of new advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs.
The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs.
Attorney General Eric Holder says national security has been damaged as a result of leaks about a pair of government surveillance programs and that the U.S. will punish the person who is responsible.
Attorney General Eric Holder says national security has been damaged as a result of leaks about a pair of government surveillance programs and that the U.S. will punish the person who is responsible.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell's Tidewater Virginia drawl could make the word "court" sound as if it had two syllables. And Justice Clarence Thomas, though he doesn't talk much, speaks in a deep...
Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell's Tidewater Virginia drawl could make the word "court" sound as if it had two syllables. And Justice Clarence Thomas, though he doesn't talk much, speaks in a deep baritone.
The Arizona Senate is poised to pass an $8.8 billion state budget Thursday that includes the Medicaid expansion sought by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer as she embraces a signature part of President Barack Obama's...
The Arizona Legislature embraced a signature component of President Barack Obama's health care law Thursday after a drawn out battle that divided the state's Republican leadership and saw GOP Gov. Jan Brewer work...
Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is excited to call the Clinton Foundation "my home" for a number of new initiatives at the organization founded by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
As she considers another White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton intends to work in the nonprofit world on issues like improving early childhood education, promoting the rights of women and girls, and finding ways to improve...
US officials say the Obama administration has concluded that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons against the opposition seeking to overthrow him, crossing what President Barack Obama...
President Barack Obama has authorized sending weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, U.S. officials said Thursday, after the White House disclosed that the United States has conclusive evidence President Bashar...
The House has backed mandatory minimum sentences of two years for members of the armed services convicted of rape or sexual assault in a military court.
Angered by the epidemic of sexual assault in the military, the House on Thursday endorsed a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for a member of the armed services convicted of rape or sexual assault in a...
By KIMBERLY DOZIER Associated Press A top House lawmaker says those who want to harm the U.S. are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. surveillance programs.
Two senior Republican lawmakers said Thursday that terrorists are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. data gathering programs, but they offered no details.
A backup chorus that included Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sebelius and actress Linda Carter has helped singer Mary Wilson serenade congressman John Dingell in a ceremony honoring the longest-serving member of Congress.
A Capitol ceremony honoring Rep. John Dingell for becoming Congress's longest-serving member in history featured the expected, such as praise and jokes from Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner. It...
Of the handful of tea party-backed Republicans eyeing a 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is emerging as the most forceful in pushing libertarian principles.
Of the handful of tea party-backed Republicans eyeing a 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is emerging as the most forceful in pushing libertarian principles, especially on anti-terrorism issues.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were meeting Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting, who were visiting Washington on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the...
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting, who were visiting Washington on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the tragedy to push...
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
The Senate has voted to kill a GOP measure preventing immigrants here illegally from taking the first steps toward citizenship until the U.S.-Mexico border has been under control for six months.
Key Senate Republicans are working to develop a compromise on border security that would satisfy GOP demands for stronger enforcement language in a far-reaching immigration bill without costing Democratic support, lawmakers...
FBI Director Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) is nearing the end of his 12 years as head of the law enforcement agency that is conducting high-profile investigations of the Boston Marathon bombings, the attack in...
FBI Director Robert Mueller is leaving the law enforcement agency that he has run every day since the week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the same way that he entered it: being grilled about how the FBI is...
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology...
The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously threw out attempts to patent human genes, siding with advocates who say the multibillion-dollar biotechnology industry should not have exclusive control over genetic information...
Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent graduates looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries.
Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy...
The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds.
The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds, two days after a broader anti-demonstration law was declared unconstitutional.
The fight for the soul of the Republican Party intensifies this week as GOP leaders gather in Washington to court social conservatives.
A fresh debate has erupted within the GOP over social issues.
President Barack Obama's health care law is called the Affordable Care Act, but a glitch could make it unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and...
It's called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama's health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says commanders must remain part of the legal process in dealing with major offenses in the military such as sexual assault.
In a story June 12, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was the only Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who supported a measure to remove commanders from decision-making on...
A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative judge who's alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments.
A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative judge who is alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments.
For the first time, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, the government said Thursday. It's a historic shift that shows how young people are at the forefront...
In a first, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, reflecting sweeping changes by race and class among young people. Due to an aging population, non-Hispanic whites last...
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't accept watered-down background checks as the price for pushing gun control legislation through the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't accept watered-down background checks as the price for pushing gun control legislation through the Senate.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he will move "expeditiously" to review about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas and will make decisions by the end of the year.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he will move "expeditiously" to review about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas and will make decisions by the end of the year.
Rural America is losing population for the first time ever, largely because of waning interest among baby boomers in moving to far-flung locations for retirement and recreation, according to new census estimates.
Living in a rural Nevada town, Moe Royels recalls a more bustling time years ago when retirees poured in to enjoy the warm desert climate, nearby casinos and quiet community. But soon boom turned to bust, and years after the...
One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade...
One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy, with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade pact.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, the first woman to hold the post.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, who will be the first woman to hold the post.
The director of the National Security Agency is making a forceful defense of spy operations that have stirred fears of government snooping and violations of privacy rights.
Once-secret surveillance programs were crucial in enabling the U.S. government to thwart dozens of terrorist attacks, says the director of the National Security Agency in a forceful defense of spy operations that have...
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening.
Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
An independent panel that studied the lack of technology in America's schools says most students can have access to high-speed Internet even sooner than President Barack Obama is calling for.
A week after President Barack Obama's call for U.S. schools to be outfitted with high-speed Internet within five years, an independent panel that studied the lack of technology at school says digital learning, including...
President Barack Obama is visiting Massachusetts on Wednesday to rally voters ahead of a special Senate election, as he presses ahead on a pledge to work harder to elect Democrats in his second term.
President Barack Obama put his second-term appeal to the test Wednesday in Boston and Florida, seeking to boost Democratic candidates as a fundraiser and a political drawing card even while trailed by controversies over...
Six months after the Newtown school shooting, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is stepping up his gun control campaign by asking donors not to support Democratic senators who opposed a bill to expand background...
Six months after the Newtown school shooting, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is stepping up his gun control campaign by asking donors not to support Democratic senators who opposed a bill to expand background checks on gun...
After years of showering U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin with stellar ratings and campaign endorsements, the National Rifle Association targeted the West Virginia Democrat with a TV ad launched Wednesday over his continuing...
After years of showering U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin with stellar ratings and campaign endorsements, the National Rifle Association targeted the West Virginia Democrat with a TV ad launched Wednesday over his continuing push for...
Lawmakers are voicing their confusion and concern, and some are calling for an end to sweeping surveillance programs by U.S. spy agencies after receiving an unusual briefing on the government's yearslong...
The director of the National Security Agency vigorously defended once-secret surveillance programs as an effective tool in keeping America safe, telling Congress on Wednesday that the information collected disrupted dozens...
President Barack Obama's top advisers will meet to air reservations about arming Syria's rebels, with officials saying the U.S. is unlikely to take any immediate action to arrest the Assad regime's...
Despite growing alarm over the Syrian government's military advances, Obama administration officials are split over whether to arm the country's rebel forces or make other military moves that would deepen U.S....
Backers of far-reaching immigration legislation are turning their attention to courting support and counting votes after the Senate pushed the contentious bill over early procedural hurdles.
Bickering across a deep divide, supporters of immigration legislation pushed back hard Wednesday against Republican demands for tougher border security measures before millions living illegally in the country could take the...
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell retired from his post Wednesday, after managing the resignation of former CIA Director David Petraeus (peh-TRAY'-uhs) over an extramarital affair, and defending the...
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who defended harsh interrogation techniques and was involved with the fallout after the attack on the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, announced his retirement Wednesday.
Jennifer Lopez says Latinos in the United States are starting to realize their power in politics and media, and that makes the timing good for her latest undertaking: Lobbying for greater diversity in TV programming.
Jennifer Lopez says Latinos in the United States are starting to realize their power in politics and media, making the timing good for her latest undertaking: lobbying for greater diversity in TV programming.
The House is girding for another wrenching debate on abortion after a House panel approved legislation that would ban almost all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The House is girding for another wrenching debate on abortion after a House panel on Wednesday approved legislation that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
A Senate panel has voted to allow the Department of Education to fund new construction projects for districts that have seen traumatic events in their schools.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday finished its sweeping rewrite of No Child Left Behind that eases coast-to-coast requirements for schools and gives states greater independence to set their own goals.
The director of the National Security Agency says he wants to provide as much public detail as possible on the agency's surveillance programs, arguing that they protect America while also guarding the...
The director of the National Security Agency says he wants to provide as much public detail as possible on the agency's surveillance programs, arguing that they protect America.
In a case that could end with the Supreme Court deciding how much free speech to allow on its own doorstep, a federal judge has thrown out a law barring processions and expressive banners on the Supreme Court grounds.
In a case that could end with the Supreme Court deciding how much free speech to allow on its own doorstep, a federal judge has thrown out a law barring processions and expressive banners on the Supreme Court grounds.
Major legal obstacles stand in the way of lawsuits challenging the government's massive collection of Americans' phone records.
The government's massive collection of Americans' phone records is drawing protests and lawsuits from civil liberties groups, but major legal obstacles stand in the way. Among them are government claims that national...
The House has approved a bill giving the Federal Housing Administration the power to make quick fixes to its financially-troubled reverse mortgage program.
The Federal Housing Administration could limit the size of initial lump-sum payments that lenders offer reverse mortgage borrowers and require escrow accounts to cover taxes and insurance, under legislation the House passed...
A House Republican drew a sharp response during debate on an abortion bill when he said that the number of pregnancies resulting from rape is very low.
A House Republican drew a sharp response during debate on an abortion bill when he said that the number of pregnancies resulting from rape is very low.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says four members of Army special forces in Tripoli were never told to stand down after the attack last year on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that four members of Army special forces in Tripoli were never told to stand down after last year's deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi,...
A new Triple-A study says using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply...
Dashboard technology that lets drivers text and email with voice commands - marketed as a safer alternative - actually is more distracting than simply talking on a cellphone, a new AAA study found.
House Speaker John Boehner says he will vote for a wide-ranging farm bill headed to the House floor this month, a major boost for the five year, half-trillion dollar legislation that stalled in the House last year.
House Speaker John Boehner says he will vote for a wide-ranging farm bill headed to the House floor this month, a major boost for the five year, half-trillion dollar legislation that stalled in the House last year.
Revelations of massive government collections of Americans' phone and email records have reinvigorated an odd-couple political alliance of the far left and right.
Revelations of massive government collections of Americans' phone and email records have reinvigorated an odd-couple political alliance of the far left and right.
Disparate interests including environmental activists and business interests are joining to support a first-of-its-kind deal between the U.S. and China to phase out a chemical blamed for climate change.
Disparate interests ranging from environmental activists to businesses and industry are lining up to support a first-of-its-kind deal between the U.S. and China to phase out a chemical blamed for climate change.
Senators are preparing to cast the first votes in the full Senate on a landmark immigration bill that offers the best chance in decades to remake the nation's immigration system and offer eventual citizenship to...
In Spanish and English, the Senate pushed contentious immigration legislation over early procedural hurdles with deceptive ease on Tuesday as President Barack Obama insisted the "moment is now" to give 11 million immigrants...
A spokesman for former White House chief of staff Bill Daley says the Chicago Democrat is "100 percent in" the 2014 race for Illinois governor.
A rare intra-party battle began taking shape Tuesday among big-name Democrats in Illinois, as former White House chief of staff Bill Daley positioned himself to try to unseat a governor he blames for failing to resolve the...
The Obama administration is considering whether to charge a government contractor with leaking classified surveillance secrets while defending the broad U.S. spy program that it says keeps America safe from...
Dogged by fear and confusion about sweeping spy programs, intelligence officials sought to convince House lawmakers in an unusual briefing Tuesday that the government's years-long collection of phone records and Internet...
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says Congress is considering stripping the military of its authority to prosecute sexual assault cases and shifting the responsibility to state prosecutors.
Ambitious legislation to stanch the growing number of sexual assaults in the armed forces by overhauling the military justice system faces an uncertain future due to vigorous objections from senior Defense Department leaders...
After years of gridlock, this may be the moment when Congress at last does something about the millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.
After years of gridlock, this may be the moment when Congress at last does something about the millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.
Another round of military base closings has hit a dead end.
Another round of military base closings has hit a dead end.
Child prostitutes would be considered victims of abuse rather than juvenile offenders and would have to be referred to child welfare officials under legislation in Congress aimed at strengthening care for them before...
Child prostitutes would be considered victims of abuse rather than juvenile offenders and be referred to child welfare officials under legislation in Congress aimed at extending care to them before they become ensnared in...
A major federal study has found that minority renters and homebuyers who test the housing market for discrimination were told about and shown fewer homes and apartments than their equally qualified white counterparts.
Minority renters and homebuyers deployed to test for housing discrimination did not run into the blatant discrimination of four decades ago, but were told about and shown fewer homes than their white counterparts with...
Don't look for the morning-after pill to move next to the condoms on drugstore shelves right away. But after a fight that's last more than a decade, it appears it really will happen. Backed into a corner by a...
Don't look for the morning-after pill to move next to the condoms on drugstore shelves right away - but after a decade-plus fight, it appears it really will happen. Backed into a corner by a series of court rulings, the...
The Fish and Wildlife Service says it wants to protect chimpanzees as endangered both in captivity and in the wild. The action could affect the use of chimpanzees in medical research.
The Fish and Wildlife Service Tuesday called for protection of all chimpanzees as endangered, an action that could affect use of the apes in medical research.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuits Tuesday against discount retailer Dollar General Corp. and a BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina over their use of criminal background checks to screen...
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuits Tuesday against discount retailer Dollar General Corp. and a BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina over their use of criminal background checks to screen out job...
President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will have a hearing before a Senate panel Tuesday, five months after he was nominated. But the confirmation of B....
It was remarkable enough that President Barack Obama's choice to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives got a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Only one other nominee to lead...
The Obama administration is declassifying a handful of details that say its PRISM Internet spying program intercepted a key email and unraveled a 2009 terrorist plot in New York.
The Obama administration declassified a handful of details Tuesday that credited its PRISM Internet spying program with intercepting a key email that unraveled a 2009 terrorist plot in New York.
The State Department's internal watchdog has asked outside law enforcement experts to review how misconduct complaints against American diplomats are investigated amid charges that some probes have been...
Outside law enforcement experts are looking into how the State Department investigates allegations of sexual crimes and other serious misconduct by diplomats, amid charges that senior officials have improperly halted such...
Government crackdowns against protesters in Turkey could test the close ties between President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH'-jehp TY'-ihp UR'-doh-wahn), a...
Government crackdowns against protesters in Turkey could test the close ties between President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strategically important U.S. ally in a tumultuous region.
That annual summer ritual of forced harmony known as the White House congressional picnic? Not going to happen.
That annual summer ritual of forced harmony known as the White House congressional picnic? Not going to happen.
President Barack Obama is wishing for a "speedy recovery" for ailing former South African President Nelson Mandela.
President Barack Obama is wishing for a "speedy recovery" for ailing former South African President Nelson Mandela.
The Energy Department's inspector general says former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson collected $450,000 in questionable payments from the nation's federally funded nuclear labs after she left office.
Former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson collected nearly half a million dollars in questionable payments from four federally funded nuclear labs after she left office, the Energy Department's inspector general says in a new...
The Democratic chairman of the Senate education committee says good intentions in the No Child Left Behind law have not translated to good policy.
The good intentions of No Child Left Behind have not yielded good policy, the Democratic chairman of the Senate education panel said Tuesday as lawmakers began to rewrite the sweeping legislation that governs all schools...
A federal appeals court has reinstated two charges against an alleged Somali pirate that had been dismissed by a lower court judge.
A federal appeals court has reinstated two charges against an alleged Somali pirate that had been dismissed by a lower court judge.
Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg calls the revelations by a government contractor on U.S. secret surveillance programs the most "significant disclosure" in the nation's history.
Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg calls the revelations by a government contractor on U.S. secret surveillance programs the most "significant disclosure" in the nation's history.
House Speaker John Boehner says it is "inconceivable" that top White House officials didn't tell President Barack Obama once they learned the Internal Revenue Service had been targeting conservative political...
House Speaker John Boehner says it is "inconceivable" that top White House officials didn't tell President Barack Obama once they learned the Internal Revenue Service had been targeting conservative political groups for...
The Senate Finance Committee has approved Michael Froman, a law school classmate of President Barack Obama and a senior White House economic adviser, to be the next U.S. Trade Representative.
The Senate Finance Committee has approved Michael Froman, a law school classmate of President Barack Obama and a senior White House economic adviser, to be the next U.S. Trade Representative.
The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today.
The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon is reviewing all private contractors as the department deals with budget cuts and the lucrative payment to an NSA leaker casts a spotlight on the outside work.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon is reviewing all private contractors as the department deals with budget cuts and the lucrative payment to an NSA leaker casts a spotlight on the outside work.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has joined Twitter, describing herself as a "pantsuit aficionado" and a "hair icon."
Twitter, meet (at)HillaryClinton.
The Senate is poised to pass a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that would expand government subsidies for crop insurance, rice and peanuts while making small cuts in the food stamp program.
The Senate on Monday passed a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that expands government subsidies for crop insurance, rice and peanuts while making small cuts to food stamps.
The Obama administration faced fresh anger Monday at home and abroad over U.S. spy programs that track phone and Internet messages around the world in the hope of thwarting terrorist threats. But a senior...
The Obama administration faced fresh anger Monday at home and abroad over U.S. spy programs that track phone and Internet messages around the world in the hope of thwarting terrorist threats. But a senior intelligence...
A Senate committee has voted unanimously to approve President Barack Obama's nominees to head the Commerce and Transportation departments.
A Senate committee has voted unanimously to approve President Barack Obama's nominees to head the Commerce and Transportation departments.
Many American troops on the battlefield today were on playgrounds when Congress gave the president broad authority to wage the war on terror.
President Barack Obama and Congress need to rethink the broad authority for the use of military force in the war on terror, a law written when many U.S. troops now on the battlefield were on playgrounds, a House Democrat who...
