• White House and congressional staff test positive for virus
• Officials say cases underscores importance of vaccinations

4.07pm BST

We have another infrastructure update, with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer saying the bipartisan group is “close to finishing their product”. Cloture vote at 2.30pm local time.

Schumer says the bipartisan group “is close to finishing their product” on infrastructure. Says senators should be “comfortable” moving ahead with the bipartisan bill. Reiterates that the procedural bill will come around 2:30 pm et today

Wyden on @LeaderMcConnell debt limit comments in @PunchbowlNews AM: “Mitch McConnell is clearly part of an effort to hold our economy hostage. We aren’t going to let anybody do that.”

They said they will lift the debt limit soon. It should’ve happened “yesterday,” Wyden said. pic.twitter.com/UAF0VBVEfr

Sen. Chuck Schumer on the debt ceiling: “Leader McConnell should not be playing political games with the full faith and credit of the United States. Americans pay their debts.” pic.twitter.com/6FvcQOynGi

3.50pm BST

Julie Chung, the acting assistant secretary for the state department’s bureau of western hemisphere affairs, just posted a series of tweets about how the US will handle the situation in Cuba.

After years of simmering tensions, Cubans have taken to the streets in protest over food shortages, high prices and communist rule. At least 140 have been disappeared or detained, and one has been killed in the demonstrations.

We are going to focus on applying hard-hitting sanctions on regime officials responsible for the brutal crackdown.

Cuban officials responsible for violence, repression, & human rights violations against peaceful protestors in Cuba must be held accountable.
(6/7)

Continue reading…
Source: The Guardian