WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Tuesday cleared the way for consideration of a large aid package for communities and people affected by this summer's hurricanes and tornadoes by tucking $6.9 billion in new disaster aid into a Republican-sponsored bill to renew sanctions against the Burmese government.

Sloan: “To slap the people of Tooele County with a map like this shows that the public has no place in the process.”

The Senate has unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that would establish a fund that would be used to address the problems of the Philippines regarding climate change.

In yet another highly controversial maneuver, the Republican-led Michigan Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that greatly reduces the number of people eligible for welfare benefits in the state. The bill is in addition to restrictions placed on welfare by the state's 2012 budget. It is expected to be presented to Governor Snyder shortly, with every anticipation that he will sign it into law.

The Senate passed legislation Friday temporarily restoring full funding to the Federal Aviation Administration, breaking a political impasse and allowing roughly 4,000 furloughed federal employees to return to work.