The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on April 16 to discuss the U.S. Forest Service's Fiscal Year 2014 budget request. The senators also used the opportunity to discuss a number of issues of concern, including prevention of future forest fires.

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A U.S. Senate vote could come as early as next week on an online sales tax bill, coming before the full chamber without first going through the Senate Finance Committee whose leaders largely dislike the proposal.

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In two key hearings April 16, the U.S. Congress tackled several key aviation issues. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee examined the progress of various aviation safety initiatives. Across the Capitol, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood appeared before the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee regarding how the Obama Administration’s budget proposes to pay for its robust transportation spending.

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Republicans and Democrats agree that student loan interest rates on need-based loans cannot double from the current rate of 3.4 percent – which will happen for 7.4 million students July 1 – without congressional action.

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Just hours after Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) laid out the principles of their new immigration-reform bill, the president said the bill contained several strengths but disagreed with many elements of it.

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A sweeping Senate immigration proposal is set to be released on Tuesday April 16 that would offer the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a chance at citizenship, representing the most ambitious overhaul of the nation's immigration system in 30 years.

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Consumer advocate Ralph Nader has a new crusade for 2013 – raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, where it has stagnated since President Obama took office in 2009.

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The bipartisan Senate immigration "Gang of Eight" is seat to reveal its immigration reform proposal on April 16. CNN reports the deal includes a 13-year path to citizenship for undocumented persons.

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The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled an April 16 markup of a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

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Student loans in the United States, a non-dischargeable debt amounting to more than $1trillion, is set to reemerge as an issue on Capitol Hill.

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