senate

Facing a major budget shortfall, the Senate approved an extra $1.5 billion for the Veteran's Affairs administration yesterday. The added money will largely go to fund medical centers operated by the agency. Over the past two years, the VA has been hard hit by the increased costs of providing healthcare to veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After first suggesting that they didn't need the money, the Bush Administration asked for it in the face of strong pressure from …

Congress is expected to take up the debate over embryonic stem cell cloning again this week after a break for the Memorial Day holiday. The debate now moves to the Senate. On Sunday, Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), a leader of the movement against the legislation, called for new rules which would limit the number of embryos fertility clinics can produce. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would allow federal funding for research on embryos left over from fertility treatments. "This is not …