This Week in Research: 5/15/23 - 5/19/23

Highlights from the Week

1. On May 11, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023. Passed by a narrow vote of 219 to 213, this bill would address various issues regarding the federal immigration system and border security and impose limits on asylum eligibility. Additionally, it would mandate that Customs and Border Protection would hire more Border Patrol agents and develop a plan to upgrade existing technology. It would also include funds to complete the border wall. It will now move on to the United States Senate for consideration. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted for it, click here. To read a statement from Speaker Kevin McCarthy or California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, click here. To read a statement from Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas, click here.

2. On May 11, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act. Passed by a vote of 230-200, this bill would address fraud and overpayments of pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, including by providing incentives for states to investigate and recover overpayments of these benefits. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Don Beyer of Virginia, click here. To read a statement from Representative Greg Murphy of North Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Representative Michelle Steel of California, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, click here.

3. On May 11, 2023, the United States Senate voted on two resolutions that would express disapproval of two rules: one, S J Res 23, that deals with a rule submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service relating to “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat” and a similar rule, S J Res 24, which involves the endangered species status for the Northern Long-Eared Bat. Both of these bills passed the Senate by a narrow 51-49 vote and will both proceed to the House of Representatives for a vote. To read more about S J Res 23 and how your senators voted, click here. Additionally, to read more about S J Res 24 and how your senators voted, click here. To read a statement from the bill sponsor, Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, click here.

Elections

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

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

• Wisconsin 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:

• Florida State House Special Election

• Georgia State House Special Election

• Kentucky Gubernatorial Primary Election

• Kentucky Statewide Primary Election

• Kentucky State Senate Special Election

• New Hampshire State House Special Election

• Pennsylvania State House Special Election

• Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Special Primary Election

Officials

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

Public Statements: 210 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

• States: 58 new votes were added.

  • Colorado’s House passed HB 23-279 which Prohibits the Sale of Unserialized Firearms Commonly Known as “Ghost Guns.”

  • Hawaii’s House passed HB 981, which Requires Fingerprint Based Criminal History Background Checks for Firearm Owners and Dealers.

  • Maryland’s Senate passed SB 1, which Prohibits Open Carry in the State and Restricts Places Where Firearms can be Carried.

• U.S. Congress: 4 new votes were added

  • S J Res 23–A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat".

  • S J res 24–A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat".

  • HR 1163–Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act

  • HR 2–Secure the Border Act

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 9,464 ratings and 1,519 endorsements for candidates.