91��Ƶ

America turned into a net oil exporter the week of Nov. 26, breaking 75 years of continued dependence on foreign oil and marking a pivotal — even if likely brief — moment toward what President Donald Trump has branded as “energy independence.”

Most politicians rely on heavy doses of optimism when pitching policies to constituents and colleagues. That was evident with Rep. Bill Shuster, who emulated his father, Bud, in his ability to charm and persuade the people in his Pennsylvania district, as well as members of the committee.

After nearly two decades in Congress, Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Bill Shuster will at month’s end vacate his House seat and with it his perch as chairman of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses hired new workers at a solid pace in November, adding 179,000 jobs, according to a private survey.

WASHINGTON — U.S. productivity grew at an annual rate of 2.3% in the July-September quarter, slower than the previous quarter but still an improvement over the weak annual gains of the past decade. Labor costs rose at a modest pace in the third quarter.

A gauge of U.S. service industries unexpectedly rose in November to a near-record level amid gains in business activity and new orders, adding to indications that the sector remains robust in the fourth quarter.

China and the United States have reached agreement in the sectors of agriculture, autos and energy, and China will immediately start implementing that consensus, a government spokesman said.

WASHINGTON — The next chairman of the transportation policy panel in the U.S. House of Representatives said the ban on earmarks the GOP imposed nearly a decade ago is no longer needed.

The trade association that represents the nation’s ports has written to the leadership of United States Customs and Border Protection expressing concern about the costs that CBP expects ports to absorb for new and upgraded facilities to house CBP staff.

ATLANTA — Nearly all motor carriers subject to the federal electronic logging device mandate have complied with that regulation, but another significant transition remains for fleets still using AOBRDs, older e-log systems that predate the ELD rule, industry experts said.