Senate expands federal hate crimes laws to cover gender and sexual orientation

WASHINGTON — People attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender would receive federal protections under a Senate-approved measure that significantly expands the reach of hate crimes law.

Senate takes up hate crimes bill extending protections to gays, disabled

WASHINGTON — Legislation to extend federal hate crimes protections to gays and the disabled reached the Senate floor Wednesday with the best prospects in years to become law.

Senate panel approves bill removing obstacles to military voting

WASHINGTON — Legislation to remove some of the red tape that causes the ballots of thousands of military personnel to be lost or uncounted won the approval of a Senate panel Wednesday.

With House vote, Senate poised to approve $106 billion war-funding bill

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that this is the last time Congress will go through the ordeal of passing an expensive, unpaid-for war spending bill. It may also be one of the more difficult.

No smoking, kids: Big anti-tobacco bill heads for Obama signature, aiming to cut teen smoking

WASHINGTON — No more “light” cigarettes or candy-flavored smokes. Bigger, scarier warning labels. Fewer ads featuring sexy young smokers.

Historic anti-smoking vote would give regulators more say over nicotine content, cigarette ads

WASHINGTON — Congress struck the government’s strongest anti-smoking blow in decades Thursday with a Senate vote to give regulators new power to limit nicotine in cigarettes, drastically curtail ads and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people.

Senate rejects challenge to bill giving FDA control over tobacco products

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday rejected the main challenge to legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration sweeping controls over tobacco products, easing the way for passage of the measure this week.

House approves funds for 50,000 new officers under Clinton-era community police program

WASHINGTON — The House approved money Thursday to help local police departments hire and retain 50,000 officers over the next five years, expanding a Clinton-era community policing program that struggled to survive under the Bush administration.