Jacqueline Klimas

House members question $17 billion VA request

Lawmakers questioned Thursday morning how the Department of Veterans Affairs could ask for more than $17 billion in emergency funding, but only provide a handful of pages to describe how the money would be spent. Published July 24, 2014

Women entrepreneurs tell Senate they face funding discrimination

The real war on women is being waged by loan officers and capital investors, a group of successful female entrepreneurs told a Senate panel Wednesday. Published July 23, 2014

McDonald nomination unanimously referred to full Senate

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously endorsed Robert McDonald on Wednesday to be the next secretary of the VA, sending his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. Published July 23, 2014

McDonald promises to choose hard right over easy wrong at VA

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on Tuesday said they were confident VA secretary nominee Robert McDonald would be confirmed, noting that his background as both a member of the military and as a top CEO made him uniquely qualified to lead the department. Published July 22, 2014

VA secretary nominee faces Senate grilling, full plate if approved

President Obama's choice to be the next secretary of veterans affairs will inherit a bureaucratic nightmare that not only gave rise to the scandal of secret waiting lists at VA hospitals but also left the department facing cost overruns, physician shortages and systemic mismanagement. Published July 21, 2014

Kelly Ayotte: Moscow behind plane crash

Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire Republican, said Friday that she believes investigators will find that Moscow is behind the attack on a Malaysian Air commercial plane. Published July 18, 2014

Rep. Gregory Meeks: European nations should sanction Russia

Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York Democrat, said Friday that European nations should place sanctions on Russia if it's found to be responsible for the Malaysian Airlines plan shot down earlier this week. Published July 18, 2014

MH17: Americans safe to fly after Malaysia Airlines shoot-down: DOT secretary

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Friday that Americans are safe to fly following Thursday's Malaysian Airlines crash, though his organization will continue monitoring the situation in the Ukraine. Published July 18, 2014

Obama needs to skip the jokes, show leadership: Rep. King

Rep. Peter King, New York Republican, said Friday that the president needs to be a better world leader in foreign affairs, especially his handling of a Malaysian Airlines being shot down over Ukraine on Thursday. Published July 18, 2014

Martin Heinrich: Unaccompanied minors deserve due process

Published July 17, 2014

Christie unpopular among Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire: poll

A new poll released Thursday shows New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's popularity among Republicans is low in Iowa and New Hampshire, two key states for the presidential election. Published July 17, 2014

Senators offer bipartisan plan for family leave

Lawmakers are working to ensure hourly employees get paid family leave to take care of a child or aging parent through a bipartisan bill introduced this week. Published July 17, 2014

Hillary Clinton most liked candidate for 2016, poll shows

Hillary Clinton is the most well-known and liked of 16 presidential contenders in both parties, a poll released Thursday found. Published July 17, 2014

VA can fix system in two years, acting secretary says

Acting Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson said Wednesday that he believes the department can regain the trust of veterans and Americans within two years. Published July 16, 2014

Hillary Clinton wants a home office with no corners in 2016

Hillary Clinton said Tuesday night that for her next job, she wants an office in her home with no corners. Published July 16, 2014

Immigration is the most important issue for Americans

Fixing the immigration system is the top issue for Americans, according to a poll released Wednesday. Published July 16, 2014

Rep. Sean Duffy: Send unaccompanied minors back

Rep. Sean Duffy, Wisconsin Republican, said Tuesday that the unaccompanied minors who crossed the border must be sent back to their home country so more children don't embark on the dangerous journey seeking amnesty. Published July 15, 2014

Texas lawmakers act on unaccompanied minors crisis at the border

Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, said Tuesday that cartels have found a "gap" in the U.S. immigration law and the problem of unaccompanied minors crossing the border will only get worse unless Congress acts. Published July 15, 2014

One-quarter of Americans say midterm elections should clean house: poll

Almost one-quarter of Americans think the best way to fix Congress is to clean house and bring in all new people, said a new poll released Tuesday, suggesting that there could be high turnover in November's midterm elections. Published July 15, 2014

Vet suicides ‘horrible human cost’ of VA dysfunction: lawmaker

After two deployments with the Marine Corps left him depressed, anxious and unable to hold a job, Sgt. Clay Hunt appealed his 30 percent disability rating with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA approved his appeal 18 months later, but it was too late. He died five weeks earlier of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Published July 10, 2014