This Week in Research: 5/1/23 - 5/5/23

Highlights from the Week

1. On April 25, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the “Limit, Save, Grow Act.” This bill, passed by a narrow vote of 217-215, would increase the federal debt limit while decreasing spending. Additionally, it would repeal several energy tax credits, modify the permitting process for energy projects, expanding work requirements for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and nullifies regulations on the cancellation of federal student loan debt. With the government reaching its debt limit in the coming month, this bill is the Republican-led House’s attempt to solve the problem of the impending debt limit issue. This bill will now head to the United State Senate for consideration. To read more about the bill text and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Suzan Delbene of Washington State, click here. To read a statement from Representative John James of Michigan, click here. To read a statement from Representative Michael Lawler of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, click here.

2. On April 26, 2023, Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr (D-100th District) was barred from the state house floor for the remainder of the legislative session. This comes after Zephyr, who is transgender, spoke out against a bill that would restrict gender-affirming health care. Tensions escalated when Representative Zephyr told her colleagues that, by passing this bill to restrict gender-affirming care, they would have “blood on their hands.” The Republican majority in the House, led by Speaker Matt Reiger, banned Zephyr first from speaking on the floor for three days. This led to protests in favor of Zephyr, in which seven people were arrested. The House then voted, 68-32 along party lines, to ban Zephyr from access to the floor, in addition to capitol entrances, work rooms, and bathrooms. Zephyr has since sued the state, alleging that this action violated the Montana Constitution, specifically the right to free speech and equal protection under the law, as well as her status as a representative for her constituents. To learn more about Representative Zephyr, click here. To read a statement from Jon Tester, who represents Montana in the U.S. Senate, click here. To read a statement from Montana’s other U.S. Senator, Steve Daines, click here. To read a statement from Representative Matt Rosendale, who represents Montana’s Second Congressional District, click here. To read a statement from Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, click here.

3. On April 28, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed a Joint Resolution disapproving of a Department of Commerce rule that relates to “procedures covering suspension of liquidation, duties, and estimated duties in accord with presidential proclamation 10414.” This bill, which passed by a vote of 221-202, would repeal and nullify the final rule, submitted by the Commerce Department, that allows for the suspension of duties on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules (i.e. solar panels) that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam using parts that were manufactured in China. It will now move on to the United States Senate for consideration. To read more about this resolution and how your representatives voted, please click here. To read a statement from Representative Judy Chu of California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Scott Peters of California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, click here.

Elections

By the Elections Research team: Nick, Zachary, Seth, and Caleb, and Elections Intern Hunter

Biographies:

Want to learn more about the candidates running for Virginia’s State Legislature this year? You can see the full list here:

• Virginia State Legislative Candidates

Want to learn more about the leadership in each state legislature? You can see the full leadership rosters here:

• Legislative Leadership

Want to learn more about which committees elected officials are a part of? You can see the full list of committees for each state here:

• State Legislative Committees

• Ohio State Legislative Committees

• South Dakota State Legislative Committees

• Georgia State Legislative Committees

Want to learn more about some special elections happening in 2023? You can see the elections that have been held so far this year here:

• Wisconsin State Judicial Election

• Wisconsin State Senate Special Election

• Wisconsin Ballot Measures

Officials

By the Officials Research team: Noah, Johanan, Neal, Thomas, Israel, Quinn, and Jessica and Officials Interns: Caroline and Morgen

Public Statements: 244 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

• States: 54 new votes were added.

  • Florida’s House passed HB 733 which seeks to amend the current operating hours for state public middle and high schools.

  • North Carolina’s House passed HB 130 which seeks to prohibit certain topics from being taught in public school.

  • Texas’s Senate passed SB 1515 which seeks to require every school classroom display the 10 commandments beginning in the 2023-2024 school year starting on September 1st, 2023.

• U.S. Congress: 3 new votes were added

  • S J Res 11 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards"

  • HR 2811 - Limit, Save, Grow Act

  • H J Res - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Commerce relating to "Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord with Presidential Proclamation 10414"

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 9,454 ratings and 1,494 endorsements for candidates.