Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the United States should stop sending foreign aid “to countries that convict Americans of bogus crimes.”

“U.S. citizens who've committed no real crime shouldn't be treated in this manner, especially as we continue to send that country billions of American taxpayer dollars,” Paul said. “Not one more cent to Egypt. Not one more penny to countries that convict Americans of bogus crimes — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”

President Obama should press Chinese President Xi Jinping to curb emissions of a short-lived, but highly potent heat-trapping pollutant when the leaders meet this week in California, a group of House and Senate Democrats wrote Wednesday to Obama.

The Democratic lawmakers said Obama should push Xi to join an effort led by the United States, Canada and Mexico to slash production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

“We encourage you to raise HFCs with President Xi and to ask for his support of the North American HFC proposal. This would send a powerful and concrete message about the ability of United States and China to cooperate to address the enormous challenge of climate change,” they said, noting scientists predict HFCs could account for 20 percent of global warming by 2050.

A congressional hearing Wednesday on “Obama's Failed Syria Policy” was delayed for several minutes after a Democrat publicly took the panel's chairwoman to task for her choice of title.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) had a cordial conversation with the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs panel on the Middle East, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), accusing her of holding “pre-judgmental” rather than fact-finding hearings. Later, Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) said he was "disappointed" by the tone of the hearing, which he said created a false choice between "patriots" who want greater U.S. involvement in Syria and people who are "weak, interested in retreat and undermining American values."

Ros-Lehtinen conceded the point and promised to use more objective titles in the future.

“We will be careful with the pre-judgmental titles of the hearings,” said Ros-Lehtinen, a well-known pro-Israel hawk. “Although my [opening] statement will not follow that pattern.”

Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) urged their colleagues Tuesday evening to join them in calling for “fair and free” elections in Iran.

“I hope colleagues will join in support for our resolution calling for free and fair elections and condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Blumenthal said on the Senate floor.

Sen. McCain tweeted that while he disagreed with the appointment, he would "make every effort to work" with Rice.

Obama will make the announcement at 2:15 Wednesday and tap Samantha Power to replace Rice at the UN.

Samantha Power apologized for the comments and resigned from Obama's campaign team after they were publicized.

Lawmakers are defending the FBI amid new accusations that the law enforcement agency could have prevented the Boston Marathon bombing.

The Obama administration denounced a “politically motivated trial” but stopped short of overt threats.