Congressional reporter George Cahlink has nearly two decades of experience covering Capitol Hill and federal agencies. Most recently, he spent 10 years at CQ Roll Call in several editing and writing positions. He also covered the Defense Department as a staff writer for Government Executive magazine, a job that included stints as an embedded reporter in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Kosovo. He got his start in journalism at the Eagle Times and Argus Champion newspapers in New Hampshire. He has won national and regional reporting awards for his work and is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski today, in an extraordinary break with President Trump, said she is "struggling" to back his reelection and supported comments made by former Defense Secretary James Mattis that the president is trying to divide the country.
The Senate sent President Trump legislation yesterday that would ease lending rules for a popular pandemic relief program that has generated billions in federally backed loans for energy companies.
As Congress weighs responding to the ongoing civil unrest after a series of police-involved deaths of African Americans, lawmakers insist they are forging ahead with spending, infrastructure and public lands bills. But issues like environmental justice are likely to get more attention in the coming weeks.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will back House legislation that would ease rules for a pandemic relief loan program popular with energy companies.
After months of being sidelined by the more immediate needs of the COVID-19 pandemic, energy and environmental legislation is poised to rise on the congressional radar in the coming weeks.