Reuters US Domestic News Summary

The media outlets reported that House of Representatives Republicans will unveil the plan Sunday night. US climate envoy John Kerry to leave Biden administration Former U.S. senator and secretary of state John Kerry will leave his post as President Joe Biden's special climate envoy after three years but will help Biden's re-election campaign, two administration sources said on Saturday.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Hunter Biden would be willing to testify with new House subpoena, lawyer says

U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden would be willing to testify in a public hearing or a deposition if Republicans in the House of Representatives issued a new subpoena, his lawyer said on Friday. The offer, made in a letter to the chairs of the House Oversight Committee and House Judiciary Committee, comes two days after the panels moved ahead with historic efforts to hold Hunter Biden, 53, in contempt and he made a surprise appearance at one of the hearings.

Republican rivals battle in frigid Iowa ahead of first test against Trump

Republicans vying to beat a dominant Donald Trump to be the party's nominee in the 2024 U.S. presidential election fought for attention in frozen Iowa on Saturday in some of the final campaigning ahead of the first nominating contest on Monday. His rivals will be trying to prevent a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden for the leadership of the world's most powerful country in what looks set to be a close and deeply acrimonious November vote that has raised questions about the depth of support for Europe and even basic democratic values.

Top US House Republican Johnson stands by bipartisan spending deal

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday stood by a $1.59 trillion spending deal with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, defying hardline conservatives who had pressured him to scrap it in favor of lower spending and new border restrictions. Two days after a dozen hardliners from his own party shut down legislative business on the House of Representatives floor in protest, Johnson said lawmakers would move forward to implement the deal with "a robust appropriations process," as Congress seeks to avert a partial government shutdown after funding for some federal agencies expires next Friday.

US Defense Secretary Austin in good condition in hospital -Pentagon

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized and is in good condition, the Pentagon said on Saturday, adding that it did not yet have a specific date for his release. "He's in contact with his senior staff and has full access to required secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor DOD's day-to-day operations worldwide," Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Ban on guns in post offices is unconstitutional, US judge rules

A federal judge in Florida on Friday ruled that a U.S. law that bars people from possessing firearms in post offices is unconstitutional, citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 2022 that expanded gun rights. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump in Tampa, reached that conclusion in dismissing part of an indictment charging a postal worker with illegally possessing a gun in a federal facility.

US congressional leaders agree on stopgap funding bill -reports

U.S. congressional leaders have agreed on a two-tranche stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded into March and avert a partial government shutdown starting late next week, U.S. media reported on Saturday. Politico, CNN and Punchbowl reported that congressional leaders have agreed on what is called a "continuing resolution" or "CR," that would fund the government - extending two deadlines through March 1 and March 8. The media outlets reported that House of Representatives Republicans will unveil the plan Sunday night.

US climate envoy John Kerry to leave Biden administration

Former U.S. senator and secretary of state John Kerry will leave his post as President Joe Biden's special climate envoy after three years but will help Biden's re-election campaign, two administration sources said on Saturday. The decision by Kerry, 80, comes a month after he played an instrumental in helping broker an international agreement announced in Dubai for nations around the world to transition away from fossil fuels.

US House votes to repeal labor board rule on contract, franchise workers

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to repeal a federal labor board rule set to take effect in February that would treat companies as the employers of many contract and franchise workers and require them to bargain with those workers' unions. The House voted 206-177 to nix the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule, which has been heavily criticized by business groups. The vote sends the proposal to the Senate where Democrats hold a one-seat majority but Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, has said he opposes the rule.

Blizzard strikes US Midwest, cancelling flights and disrupting presidential campaign

Tens of millions of Americans were in the pathway of dangerous and damaging weather conditions as snowstorms moved across the Northwest and Midwest, flooding threatened the East Coast and potential tornadoes were on tap in the South. Airlines delayed more than 7,600 flights across the U.S. on Friday, including planes grounded at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport due to winds and blinding snow. In Iowa, Republican presidential candidates canceled events three days out from the state's caucuses, the first of the state-by-state contests in which parties pick their nominees ahead of November's general election.

NFL-Buffalo playoff opener postponed until Monday due to winter storm

The NFL playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and visiting Pittsburgh Steelers has been postponed until Monday due to a winter storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Saturday. The game, originally scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) on Sunday, will now begin on Monday at 4:30 p.m, Hochul wrote on social media.