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Democratic Sen. Patty Murray’s introduction of the Affordability is Access Act this week has renewed debate nationwide about birth control access and affordability. The proposed bill would require health insurance companies to cover birth control pills if they become available over-the-counter. The bill builds on the Affordable Care Act, which requires that most private insurance plans provide coverage for female contraception. (Zukic, 6/14)

When fast-track authority faced obstacles in the Senate last month, GOP leaders won over some Democrats by coupling it with extended funding for retraining American workers hurt by foreign competition, a program known as Trade Adjustment Assistance. But in the House, Democrats balked at the plan to pay for worker training with what they viewed as cuts to Medicare. After negotiations this week between Pelosi and Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), House GOP leaders split the measure into two bills, one for fast-track and another for the retraining funds. They also agreed to find an alternative funding source for the retraining program. (Mascaro and Lee, 6/12)