Author

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Medication tablets, capsules and pills are placed on $100 bills.

Overuse of antibiotics leading to dangerous ‘superbugs’ examined by U.S. Senate panel

By: - July 11, 2023

WASHINGTON — Experts on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections on Tuesday urged Congress to pass legislation that would address the issues that lead to so-called superbugs. Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, the top Republican on the panel and an OB-GYN, said the issue is critically important for Congress because more than 3 million Americans will be diagnosed this […]

Å Medical Form document with stethoscope and ink pen placed atop it

Biden administration to crack down on ‘junk’ health insurance plans, surprise billing

By: - July 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced new initiatives Friday that could reduce health care costs, though none will take effect immediately. The changes include a proposed rule that would reduce the amount of time short-term health insurance plans can last and require companies that offer the plans to be more transparent about what is covered […]

President Joe Biden speaks about his economic plan at the Flex LTD manufacturing plant on July 6, 2023, in West Columbia, South Carolina.

Biden in South Carolina calls out Republicans who tout major legislation they opposed

By: - July 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden traveled Thursday to South Carolina — home of the first-in-the-nation 2024 Democratic presidential primary as well as two GOP presidential candidates — to rebuke Republicans for voting against bills in Congress that are now providing billions in federal dollars. “All those members of Congress who voted against it, suddenly realize […]

Members of the crowd bow their heads in prayer at the start of the Faith & Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton on June 23, 2023

Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on national abortion bans, restrictions

By: - June 26, 2023

WASHINGTON — The 2024 Republican presidential primary marks the first time in half a century that candidates will debate whether abortion should be restricted or banned at the federal level without the Roe v. Wade ruling making most of their proposals moot. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last summer to overturn the nationwide, constitutional right […]

The exterior of a Planned Parenthood clinic in New Jersey

On eve of Dobbs anniversary, Biden at campaign rally warns national abortion ban is next

By: - June 23, 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged Friday to hold the line against attempts to restrict reproductive rights and abortion access during a campaign rally with the country’s leading abortion rights organizations. “The court got Roe right 50 years ago, and I believe Congress should restore the protections of Roe v. Wade once and for all,” […]

U.S. Senate spending panel sets funding levels for annual bills

By: - June 22, 2023

WASHINGTON — A group of U.S. Senate Democrats on Thursday approved funding levels for dozens of federal departments for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 — setting up a likely clash with House Republicans as a deadline approaches later this year. The move to advance the spending plan was essential if Congress is going […]

Members of Congress protested in support of abortion rights ahead of an arrest at the U.S. Capitol on July 19, 2022. Members left to right are Cori Bush of Missouri (in black shirt), Nydia Velazquez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jackie Speier of California, Carolyn Maloney of New York, Alma Adams of North Carolina and Barbara Lee of California.

Democrats predict abortion access, reproductive rights will be key issues in 2024

By: - June 22, 2023

WASHINGTON — Democrats on Wednesday released new campaign ads and detailed how they plan to talk about abortion access and reproductive rights leading up to the 2024 elections. Top Democratic campaign leaders said during a press call they expect the issues will be key to regaining control of the U.S. House and keeping control of […]

People protest in response to the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022.

A year after Dobbs: Congress takes a back seat on federal abortion policy

By: - June 19, 2023

WASHINGTON — One year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the courts rather than a divided Congress are leading the way on decisions on reproductive rights that would affect the entire nation. Congress has not enacted federal legislation to either preserve reproductive rights or to restrict abortion in the […]

People enter a voting precinct to vote in the Michigan primary election at Trombly School Aug. 7, 2018 in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.

Iowa, New Hampshire Democratic presidential contests remain in flux after DNC panel meets

By: - June 16, 2023

New Hampshire Democrats will have at least 90 more days to change when and how the state plans to hold its 2024 Democratic presidential primary after the national party approved an extension in a committee meeting Friday. Iowa, which proposed both a mail-in and an in-person caucus process, was found not compliant. But the state […]

The lighted exterior of the U.S. Capitol at night

D.C. spending standoff ahead as U.S. House Republicans demand $130 billion in cuts

By: - June 15, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans outlined Wednesday how they would cut $130 billion from the dozen annual government funding bills — producing a plan with significantly lower spending than the level both parties agreed to in the debt limit deal just two weeks ago. The spending levels likely set up a stalemate later this year […]

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, left, Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, center, and North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning at a press conference on contraception access outside the U.S. Capitol

Democrats in Congress renew push to protect access to birth control

By: - June 14, 2023

WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress reintroduced a bill Wednesday that would guarantee access to birth control regardless of any future Supreme Court rulings. The measure would ensure people have the right to use contraception and that health care providers have a right to share information about contraception as well as provide it. The legislation would […]

Close up of African-American psychologist taking notes on clipboard in therapy session for children

Social media, trauma, hate speech add to youth mental health crisis, U.S. Senate panel told

By: - June 8, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. senators agreed during a hearing Thursday the country’s children are going through a youth mental health crisis, though some of the committee’s members disagreed about what role Congress has to play. Senators detailed a complicated patchwork of issues that contribute to youth mental health challenges, including violence and trauma within schools and […]