Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson answers sentencing, abortion questions

Good afternoon, OnPolitics readers.

The Russian army has misplaced greater than 10% of the fight pressure that President Vladimir Putin despatched to invade Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official mentioned Tuesday.

The Russian fight pressure has dipped barely beneath 90% for the primary time within the struggle that started lower than a month in the past, mentioned the official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to explain intelligence assessments. Not all of the greater than 150,000 Russian troops in and round Ukraine are fight troops; many present help capabilities.

Russian forces stay largely stalled throughout Ukraine, notably across the capital of Kyiv, the place their closest forces stay about 10 miles from the town’s heart.

Psaki checks constructive: White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki examined constructive for COVID-19 for the second time on Tuesday, which implies she won’t accompany President Joe Biden on his journey to Europe Thursday.

It is Amy and Chelsey with at this time’s prime tales out of Washington. 

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Supreme Court docket affirmation listening to for Jackson ramps up on day two

Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson confronted senators’ questions on impartiality, her sentencing patterns, her protection of Guantanamo Bay detainees, abortion and extra within the opening hours of Tuesday’s Supreme Court docket affirmation listening to.

Jackson, a decide on the U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and President Joe Biden’s decide for a lifetime appointment, informed senators she believed Roe v. Wade, which protects abortion, is a settled difficulty. She leaned into her household’s historical past in regulation enforcement to explain the way it influences her position as a decide.

And she or he famous the excessive honor that will include being the sixth lady – and the primary Black lady – ever on the nation’s nine-member excessive court docket, calling it “extraordinarily significant.”

Senators received half-hour every, so as of seniority, after which, they will get a second spherical of questions on Wednesday.

Missed Monday’s hearings? Learn a recap of the most important moments from day one in all Jackson’s affirmation hearings right here.

Actual fast: Tales you may need to learn

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What’s going to post-pandemic funding appear like for HBCUs?

The Division of Training launched a state-by-state breakdown of roughly $3 billion in Larger Training Emergency Aid funding distributed to HBCUs beneath President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The funds helped college directors retain scholar enrollment and maintain faculty inexpensive. 

The brand new distribution supplied the establishments extra flexibility than prior emergency reduction fund distributions, which started beneath the Trump administration. However advocates and lawmakers are nonetheless anxious about continued help for already-underfunded colleges as soon as the pandemic ends.

Home HBCU Caucus co-chair Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., and caucus member Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., led a bipartisan letter to congressional management to induce the enlargement of upper ed reduction funding for HBCUs. 

“HEERF funds have allowable makes use of for infrastructure enhancements which can be associated to COVID-19. Nonetheless, if an HBCU has an infrastructure request unrelated to the impacts of COVID-19, resembling constructing a brand new set of school rooms, then this request wouldn’t be allowed,” the letter states.

Caucus members additionally tout the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, which permits traditionally Black schools to use for grants to “strengthen the protection and safety of” their campuses, as a long-term resolution for underfunded colleges, notably in gentle of a rash of bomb threats focusing on HBCU campuses.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., an HBCU Caucus member and cosponsor of the invoice, mentioned the act “will present HBCU colleges the monetary sources essential to undertake wanted enhancements to campus services that entice and launch future generations of scholars.”

Have you ever met USA TODAY’s “Girls of the 12 months”? Try the listing of wonderful ladies leaders. — Amy and Chelsey