Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a weird moment during a leadership press conference Wednesday afternoon. While delivering his opening statement, McConnell froze for nearly 20 seconds, leaving his colleagues and the members of the press worried.

During his statement, McConnell spoke about the Senate's progress on the annual defence authorisation bill and praised the positive bipartisan cooperation.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell freezes and appears unwell at a press conference<a href="https://t.co/k98r8X7xzW">pic.twitter.com/k98r8X7xzW</a>
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) <a href="https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/1684264951475736576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, it was then that he abruptly halted in the middle of a sentence, staring straight ahead without speaking another word.

<h2>Colleagues looked concerned</h2>

His sudden pause prompted a couple of his fellow leaders to express concern and reach out to see if he was doing good.&nbsp;

Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) went up to him and asked if he was okay, placing her hand on his arm.&nbsp;

Senate Republican Conference Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who is also a doctor, inquired about his well-being and offered assistance, placing his hand on McConnell's right forearm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-biden-commits-another-gaffe-calls-zelensky-vladimir-at-nato-summit-614933">Also read:&nbsp;WATCH | Biden commits another gaffe, calls Zelensky `Vladimir` at NATO Summit</a>

“Let’s go back to your office,” said Barrasso. “Do you want to say anything else to the press? Let’s go back.” However, McConnell seemed reluctant to leave the press conference.

Ultimately, Barrasso consulted with one of McConnell's aides and then led him down the hall to his office. After a short while, McConnell returned to the press conference before his fellow leaders had finished their remarks, as he customarily does every Wednesday.

<h2>'I'm fine,' says McConnell&nbsp;</h2>

CNN's Manu Raju later questioned McConnell about the incident and whether it was related to health issues stemming from a previous concussion he suffered earlier that year.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US President Joe Biden gets confused on stage

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-gets-confused-on-stage-looks-for-dead-lawmaker-in-crowd-521015/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

McConnell responded, denying any connection and asserting that he was fine and capable of carrying out his duties. “No, I’m fine,” he said.

When further probed by the reporter, McConnell reiterated that he was indeed well.&nbsp;

An aide to McConnell later explained that the GOP leader had felt lightheaded and stepped away for a brief moment. However, upon his return to handle the question and answer session, observers noted his sharp responses.

Earlier this year, the 81-year-old had been hospitalised and treated for a concussion he sustained after a fall at a private dinner on March 9 at the Waldorf Astoria.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a weird moment during a leadership press conference Wednesday afternoon. While delivering his opening statement, McConnell froze for nearly 20 seconds, leaving his colleagues and the members of the press worried.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a weird moment during a leadership press conference Wednesday afternoon. While delivering his opening statement, McConnell froze for nearly 20 seconds, leaving his colleagues and the members of the press worried. During his statement, McConnell spoke about the Senate's progress on the annual defence authorisation bill and praised the positive bipartisan cooperation. BREAKING: Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell freezes and appears unwell at a press conferencepic.twitter.com/k98r8X7xzW — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 26, 2023 × However, it was then that he abruptly halted in the middle of a sentence, staring straight ahead without speaking another word. Colleagues looked concerned His sudden pause prompted a couple of his fellow leaders to express concern and reach out to see if he was doing good. Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) went up to him and asked if he was okay, placing her hand on his arm. Senate Republican Conference Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who is also a doctor, inquired about his well-being and offered assistance, placing his hand on McConnell's right forearm. Also read: WATCH | Biden commits another gaffe, calls Zelensky `Vladimir` at NATO Summit “Let’s go back to your office,” said Barrasso. “Do you want to say anything else to the press? Let’s go back.” However, McConnell seemed reluctant to leave the press conference. Ultimately, Barrasso consulted with one of McConnell's aides and then led him down the hall to his office. After a short while, McConnell returned to the press conference before his fellow leaders had finished their remarks, as he customarily does every Wednesday. 'I'm fine,' says McConnell CNN's Manu Raju later questioned McConnell about the incident and whether it was related to health issues stemming from a previous concussion he suffered earlier that year. Watch: US President Joe Biden gets confused on stage × McConnell responded, denying any connection and asserting that he was fine and capable of carrying out his duties. “No, I’m fine,” he said. When further probed by the reporter, McConnell reiterated that he was indeed well. An aide to McConnell later explained that the GOP leader had felt lightheaded and stepped away for a brief moment. However, upon his return to handle the question and answer session, observers noted his sharp responses. Earlier this year, the 81-year-old had been hospitalised and treated for a concussion he sustained after a fall at a private dinner on March 9 at the Waldorf Astoria. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

VIDEO: Republican leader Mitch McConnell freezes for 20 seconds during press conference

US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Tuesday (February 28) promised a big shake-up of America's foreign policy if she gets elected to power next year. "America can't be the world's ATM," underlined the 51-year-old Indian-American leader, reiterating her stance on foreign affairs.

"A weak America pays the bad guys: Hundreds of millions to Pakistan, Iraq, and Zimbabwe last year alone. A strong America won’t be the world’s ATM (sic)," tweeted the Republican, who announced her presidential bid last month.&nbsp;

Apart from Pakistan, she also slammed China in an interview with the Fox news channel. "We can't buy friends. China would notice that we have been paying attention. Why are we paying them money for the environment? It's just ludicrous," she said in a clip she shared from the interview.

"We should not be giving them 1 cent. The idea that we give it to Iraq and they use it for uranium proxies that send death to America... the idea that we give it to Zimbabwe and they are the most anti-American African country out there. We're giving it to Cuba, and we label them as state-sponsored terror. Why are we doing that?"&nbsp;

Also watch| GOP candidate Nikki Haley vows to cut foreign aid to anti-American countries

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gop-candidate-nikki-haley-vows-to-cut-foreign-aid-to-anti-american-countries-566543/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

In an Op-ed for New York Post, Haley, who has served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, made similar remarks last week when&nbsp;she said she "will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us". "A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," her article reads.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-nikki-haley-the-indian-american-top-gun-with-strong-political-views-teased-to-challenge-biden-in-2024-557874">Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024</a>

Haley is the first Indian-American woman from the Republican Party to run for the US presidential elections. Attacking the Biden administration, she pointed out in the Op-ed. "The Biden administration resumed military aid to Pakistan, though it is home to at least a dozen terrorist organisations and its government is deeply in hock to China. Team Biden restored half a billion dollars to a corrupt United Nations agency that is supposed to help the Palestinian people but, in fact, covers for deeply anti-Semitic propaganda against our ally Israel."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Tuesday (February 28) promised a big shake-up of America's foreign policy if she gets elected to power next year. "America can't be the world's ATM," underlined the 51-year-old Indian-American leader, reiterating her stance on foreign affairs.

US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Tuesday (February 28) promised a big shake-up of America's foreign policy if she gets elected to power next year. "America can't be the world's ATM," underlined the 51-year-old Indian-American leader, reiterating her stance on foreign affairs. "A weak America pays the bad guys: Hundreds of millions to Pakistan, Iraq, and Zimbabwe last year alone. A strong America won’t be the world’s ATM (sic)," tweeted the Republican, who announced her presidential bid last month. Apart from Pakistan, she also slammed China in an interview with the Fox news channel. "We can't buy friends. China would notice that we have been paying attention. Why are we paying them money for the environment? It's just ludicrous," she said in a clip she shared from the interview. "We should not be giving them 1 cent. The idea that we give it to Iraq and they use it for uranium proxies that send death to America... the idea that we give it to Zimbabwe and they are the most anti-American African country out there. We're giving it to Cuba, and we label them as state-sponsored terror. Why are we doing that?" Also watch| GOP candidate Nikki Haley vows to cut foreign aid to anti-American countries × In an Op-ed for New York Post, Haley, who has served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, made similar remarks last week when she said she "will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us". "A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," her article reads. Also read: Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024 Haley is the first Indian-American woman from the Republican Party to run for the US presidential elections. Attacking the Biden administration, she pointed out in the Op-ed. "The Biden administration resumed military aid to Pakistan, though it is home to at least a dozen terrorist organisations and its government is deeply in hock to China. Team Biden restored half a billion dollars to a corrupt United Nations agency that is supposed to help the Palestinian people but, in fact, covers for deeply anti-Semitic propaganda against our ally Israel." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'America can't be world's ATM': Nikki Haley attacks Pakistan, China yet again

Former president Donald Trump has said 'US is dying from within' in his recent Christmas message. Trump shared the rather intriguing message with emphasis on the current 'border situation' on his social media platform, Truth Social.&nbsp;

“On this very cold but beautiful Christmas Day, look at our Nation NOW on the Southern Border compared to only a short time ago during the Trump Administration,” wrote Trump.&nbsp;

Boasting about his tenure, Trump went on to dub the current Biden administration's work as a 'horror show'.&nbsp;

"We had the most SECURE Border in our history, versus the "horror show" that is happening now, with record setting numbers of people, many of them hardened Criminals (including Killers, Human Traffickers and Drug Dealers), POURING INTO OUR COUNRTY at a rate the likes of which we have never seen before. The USA is dying from within."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capitol-hill-attack-probe-committee-releases-report-clearly-says-trump-sparked-riots-545725" target="_blank">Read more: January 6 panel's final report sets out case to try Donald Trump</a>

Trump targeting of the border problem could have emanated after the Biden administration filed a lawsuit and forced Republican Arizona governor&nbsp;Dough Ducey to dismantle the container wall along the Mexico border, built during the Trump era.&nbsp;

“By 4 January 2023, to the extent feasible and so as not to cause damage to United States’ lands, properties and natural resources, Arizona will remove all previously installed shipping containers and associated equipment, materials, vehicles,” read the agreement affirming the decision.&nbsp;

Moreover, the statement from Trump comes days after he lashed out&nbsp;on his platform&nbsp;following the release of a Congressional panel report&nbsp;indicting him for orchestrating the events of the January 6 Capitol riots.&nbsp;

"The unselect committee [sic] did not produce a single shred of evidence that I in any way intended or wanted violence at our Capitol," said Trump.&nbsp;

"The evidence does not exist because the claim is baseless and a monstrous lie."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-evidence-does-not-exist-donald-trump-lashes-out-after-the-release-of-jan-6-panel-report-546241">Read more:&nbsp;‘Not a shred of evidence against me’: Donald Trump lashes out at Jan 6 panel over its report</a>

The Republican leader is having a tough time receiving support from his party men for the 2024 presidential run. Experts believe that Trump is attempting to use his 'tried-and-tested' method of making sensational statements to mount a comeback.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Former president Donald Trump has said 'US is dying from within' in his recent Christmas message. Trump shared the rather intriguing message with emphasis on the current 'border situation' on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Former president Donald Trump has said 'US is dying from within' in his recent Christmas message. Trump shared the rather intriguing message with emphasis on the current 'border situation' on his social media platform, Truth Social. “On this very cold but beautiful Christmas Day, look at our Nation NOW on the Southern Border compared to only a short time ago during the Trump Administration,” wrote Trump. Boasting about his tenure, Trump went on to dub the current Biden administration's work as a 'horror show'. "We had the most SECURE Border in our history, versus the "horror show" that is happening now, with record setting numbers of people, many of them hardened Criminals (including Killers, Human Traffickers and Drug Dealers), POURING INTO OUR COUNRTY at a rate the likes of which we have never seen before. The USA is dying from within." Read more: January 6 panel's final report sets out case to try Donald Trump Trump targeting of the border problem could have emanated after the Biden administration filed a lawsuit and forced Republican Arizona governor Dough Ducey to dismantle the container wall along the Mexico border, built during the Trump era. “By 4 January 2023, to the extent feasible and so as not to cause damage to United States’ lands, properties and natural resources, Arizona will remove all previously installed shipping containers and associated equipment, materials, vehicles,” read the agreement affirming the decision. Moreover, the statement from Trump comes days after he lashed out on his platform following the release of a Congressional panel report indicting him for orchestrating the events of the January 6 Capitol riots. "The unselect committee [sic] did not produce a single shred of evidence that I in any way intended or wanted violence at our Capitol," said Trump. "The evidence does not exist because the claim is baseless and a monstrous lie." Read more: ‘Not a shred of evidence against me’: Donald Trump lashes out at Jan 6 panel over its report The Republican leader is having a tough time receiving support from his party men for the 2024 presidential run. Experts believe that Trump is attempting to use his 'tried-and-tested' method of making sensational statements to mount a comeback. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'USA is dying from within': Donald Trump comes up with a warm Christmas message

Top aides in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-angry-about-khashoggi-murder-but-says-no-one-blames-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-231433">President Donald Trump's</a> White House, including his daughter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-daughter-ivanka-and-pompeo-beautiful-couple-beauty-and-the-beast-231774">Ivanka Trump </a>and son-in-law, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/economic-plan-necessary-pre-condition-for-middle-east-peace-kushner-230435">Jared Kushner</a>, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday.

US Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said the panel would begin its own review of emails and other communications by the White House that he said violated federal records law.

"The purpose of this investigation is to determine why White House officials used non-official email accounts, texting services and encrypted applications for official business," Cummings wrote to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone.

Lawmakers will look at why records sent or received by non-official accounts were not forwarded to official accounts within 20 days as legally required, as well as whether there was a topic White House officials wanted to conceal, he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump pilloried his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential campaign for her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. He continues to refer to her emails in speeches and on Twitter.

The Republican leaders of the oversight panel had also sought information on the use of non-official messaging by White House staff in 2017 and 2018. Democrats took over the panel after winning the House of Representatives in 2018 elections.

Cummings said the White House had not produced any documents in response to those requests or his own previous requests, saying it was conducting an internal investigation.

In March, Cummings wrote to the White House counsel with "more troubling information" about apparent violations by Kushner, Ivanka Trump and former advisers Steve Bannon and K.T. McFarland.

Cummings said Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, had told lawmakers that Kushner used WhatsApp for official duties and that his wife, Ivanka, continued to use a personal email account for her White House business.

Lowell, in a reply to Cummings, denied telling lawmakers that Kushner had communicated through any app with foreign "leaders" or "officials" but said Kushner had used such apps for communicating with "some people," who were not specified.

CNN reported last year that Kushner communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman via the Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp messaging application. 
&nbsp;

Top aides in President Donald Trump's White House, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday.

Top aides in President Donald Trump's White House, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday. US Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said the panel would begin its own review of emails and other communications by the White House that he said violated federal records law. "The purpose of this investigation is to determine why White House officials used non-official email accounts, texting services and encrypted applications for official business," Cummings wrote to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone. Lawmakers will look at why records sent or received by non-official accounts were not forwarded to official accounts within 20 days as legally required, as well as whether there was a topic White House officials wanted to conceal, he said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump pilloried his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential campaign for her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. He continues to refer to her emails in speeches and on Twitter. The Republican leaders of the oversight panel had also sought information on the use of non-official messaging by White House staff in 2017 and 2018. Democrats took over the panel after winning the House of Representatives in 2018 elections. Cummings said the White House had not produced any documents in response to those requests or his own previous requests, saying it was conducting an internal investigation. In March, Cummings wrote to the White House counsel with "more troubling information" about apparent violations by Kushner, Ivanka Trump and former advisers Steve Bannon and K.T. McFarland. Cummings said Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, had told lawmakers that Kushner used WhatsApp for official duties and that his wife, Ivanka, continued to use a personal email account for her White House business. Lowell, in a reply to Cummings, denied telling lawmakers that Kushner had communicated through any app with foreign "leaders" or "officials" but said Kushner had used such apps for communicating with "some people," who were not specified. CNN reported last year that Kushner communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman via the Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp messaging application.

United States Congress expands probe of White House personal email use

Republican leaders of the US Congress said on Tuesday they would not raise the minimum age for gun buyers, in a sign that one of President Donald Trump&#39;s proposals likely will not get far on Capitol Hill after a deadly Florida school shooting.

The second-deadliest shooting at a US public school has reignited the long-running national debate over gun rights, pitting many of the students who survived the February 14 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, against powerful gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association.

Several of those students visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to press Congress to enact new restrictions on gun ownership.

Republicans in Congress have rejected those efforts after similar mass shootings in the past, and party leaders said they were not likely to act this time either.

&quot;We shouldn&#39;t be banning guns from law-abiding citizens. We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get guns in the first place don&#39;t get those guns,&quot; House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told a news conference.

Trump has suggested arming teachers and raising the minimum age to buy semiautomatic rifles to 21 from 18, but Ryan said Congress was not likely to act on either idea.

Local governments, not Congress, should decide whether to arm teachers, he said.

Trump still supports raising the age limit and will release specific policy proposals this week, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Ryan&#39;s comments made it clear that more aggressive gun limits, like a ban on the military-style rifle used by the 19-year-old Parkland shooter, were unlikely to gain traction in Congress.

Ryan met later in the day with Parkland students, who pushed for a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, as well as other school-safety features, said Representative Ted Deutch, a Democrat who represents the district.

&quot;This isn&#39;t the last time they&#39;re going to come to Washington,&quot; Deutch said. &quot;It&#39;s really just the beginning of that effort.&quot;

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Prosecutors have said Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland with a legally purchased rifle. Federal and local law enforcement agencies have acknowledged receiving multiple warnings about Cruz&#39;s potential for violence.

Trump and his fellow Republicans are under pressure to act following the massacre, but they also must avoid angering Republican voters who broadly support gun rights as well as interest groups like the NRA, which spent $55 million in the 2016 election. 
The House voted in December to bolster a database of people not legally allowed to buy guns and to spur federal agencies and states to upload more data into the system after the Air Force failed to provide records that could have flagged a former service member who killed 26 people at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in November.

That legislation has broad support in the Senate as well, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the chamber&#39;s No. 2 Republican, said he wanted a vote to take place this week.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said that measure by itself would not be adequate. He called for Congress to expand the background check system to cover all gun sales, including those conducted at gun shows and over the internet.

That legislation has failed in Congress twice over the past five years, and it fell short again in the House on Tuesday as Republicans rejected an effort by Democrats to bring it up for a vote.

&quot;We Democrats, at a minimum, believe we should be passing a universal background check legislation that assures that guns don&#39;t fall into the wrong hands,&quot; Schumer told reporters. 
The White House does not back that idea, Sanders said.

ACTION IN FLORIDA

As Congress has failed to tighten gun laws after other mass shootings, states have taken action on their own.

A House of Representatives committee of the Republican-controlled Florida legislature voted on Tuesday to raise the minimum legal age for purchasing all rifles to 21 from 18 and impose a three-day waiting period for any gun purchases. Buyers of handguns must already be at least 21 and submit to a three-day wait.

The measure would also create a statewide program to arm specially trained teachers - subject to school district approval - while assigning more police as school resource officers and allowing police to confiscate weapons from people who are involuntarily committed as a danger to themselves or others.

In addition, the measure would outlaw the sale of bump stocks, devices that enable semiautomatic rifles to be operated as fully automatic machine guns. The panel rejected a Democratic-backed amendment to ban assault-style weapons.

The package must now win approval in the full legislature before it goes to Republican Governor Rick Scott for signature.

Cruz, charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, was due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether he has sufficient assets to pay for his own lawyer. His mother died in November.

Stoneman Douglas students were scheduled to return to class on Wednesday for the first time since the massacre. The building where most of the bloodshed occurred will remain closed. The bill adopted by a state House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday would provide funding to demolish the building and replace it with a memorial to shooting victims.

The second-deadliest shooting at a US public school has reignited the long-running national debate over gun rights

Republican leaders of the US Congress said on Tuesday they would not raise the minimum age for gun buyers, in a sign that one of President Donald Trump's proposals likely will not get far on Capitol Hill after a deadly Florida school shooting. The second-deadliest shooting at a US public school has reignited the long-running national debate over gun rights, pitting many of the students who survived the February 14 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, against powerful gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association. Several of those students visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to press Congress to enact new restrictions on gun ownership. Republicans in Congress have rejected those efforts after similar mass shootings in the past, and party leaders said they were not likely to act this time either. "We shouldn't be banning guns from law-abiding citizens. We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get guns in the first place don't get those guns," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told a news conference. Trump has suggested arming teachers and raising the minimum age to buy semiautomatic rifles to 21 from 18, but Ryan said Congress was not likely to act on either idea. Local governments, not Congress, should decide whether to arm teachers, he said. Trump still supports raising the age limit and will release specific policy proposals this week, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Ryan's comments made it clear that more aggressive gun limits, like a ban on the military-style rifle used by the 19-year-old Parkland shooter, were unlikely to gain traction in Congress. Ryan met later in the day with Parkland students, who pushed for a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, as well as other school-safety features, said Representative Ted Deutch, a Democrat who represents the district. "This isn't the last time they're going to come to Washington," Deutch said. "It's really just the beginning of that effort." BACKGROUND CHECKS Prosecutors have said Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland with a legally purchased rifle. Federal and local law enforcement agencies have acknowledged receiving multiple warnings about Cruz's potential for violence. Trump and his fellow Republicans are under pressure to act following the massacre, but they also must avoid angering Republican voters who broadly support gun rights as well as interest groups like the NRA, which spent $55 million in the 2016 election. The House voted in December to bolster a database of people not legally allowed to buy guns and to spur federal agencies and states to upload more data into the system after the Air Force failed to provide records that could have flagged a former service member who killed 26 people at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in November. That legislation has broad support in the Senate as well, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, said he wanted a vote to take place this week. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said that measure by itself would not be adequate. He called for Congress to expand the background check system to cover all gun sales, including those conducted at gun shows and over the internet. That legislation has failed in Congress twice over the past five years, and it fell short again in the House on Tuesday as Republicans rejected an effort by Democrats to bring it up for a vote. "We Democrats, at a minimum, believe we should be passing a universal background check legislation that assures that guns don't fall into the wrong hands," Schumer told reporters. The White House does not back that idea, Sanders said. ACTION IN FLORIDA As Congress has failed to tighten gun laws after other mass shootings, states have taken action on their own. A House of Representatives committee of the Republican-controlled Florida legislature voted on Tuesday to raise the minimum legal age for purchasing all rifles to 21 from 18 and impose a three-day waiting period for any gun purchases. Buyers of handguns must already be at least 21 and submit to a three-day wait. The measure would also create a statewide program to arm specially trained teachers - subject to school district approval - while assigning more police as school resource officers and allowing police to confiscate weapons from people who are involuntarily committed as a danger to themselves or others. In addition, the measure would outlaw the sale of bump stocks, devices that enable semiautomatic rifles to be operated as fully automatic machine guns. The panel rejected a Democratic-backed amendment to ban assault-style weapons. The package must now win approval in the full legislature before it goes to Republican Governor Rick Scott for signature. Cruz, charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, was due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether he has sufficient assets to pay for his own lawyer. His mother died in November. Stoneman Douglas students were scheduled to return to class on Wednesday for the first time since the massacre. The building where most of the bloodshed occurred will remain closed. The bill adopted by a state House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday would provide funding to demolish the building and replace it with a memorial to shooting victims.

US congressional Republicans reject new limits on guns