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WASHINGTON — Recent passage in the U.S. Senate of comprehensive legislation aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing of semiconductors is helping to set in motion formal negotiations with House lawmakers.

Legislation that unanimously passed the Georgia Senate on March 30 will allow a defendant in civil litigation to apportion monetary damages to another party that shared fault in the case, but who was not named in the lawsuit.

WASHINGTON — Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said March 31 that the Justice Department has closed without criminal charges an investigation into political fundraising activity at his former business.

WASHINGTON — With a new $1 trillion infrastructure law potentially facilitating the distribution of billions of dollars in extra funding for infrastructure projects over the coming years, Republican leaders on the transportation panel in the U.S. House intend to push the Biden administration for input on the law’s implementation.

WASHINGTON — Top White House executives urged port leaders to collaborate with their elected leaders and focus on projects that align with Biden administration goals as they strive to access a share of $1.2 trillion in federal infrastructure funds.

The Biden administration announced it will invoke Cold War powers to boost domestic production of materials for batteries needed to power electric vehicles and the transition to renewable energy, a move intended to improve U.S. competitiveness in a market dominated by China.

LONDON — OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia decided March 31 to stick to a modest increase in the amount of crude they pump to the world, a step that supports higher prices even as the Biden administration plans to try to lower them by releasing oil from strategic reserves.

WASHINGTON — An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is optimistic that upcoming labor negotiations for workers at West Coast ports will progress smoothly, noting the critical role that dockworkers and port drivers play in keeping supply chains moving.