This Week in Research: 5/22/23 - 5/26/23

Highlights from the Week

1. On May 17, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the “Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement Act of 2023,” otherwise known as the POLICE Act. Passed by a margin of 255-175, this bill would establish assaulting a law enforcement officer as a deportable offense. It will proceed to the U.S Senate for consideration. This is part of a series of bills relating to law enforcement and police reform, as you can see below. To read more about the bill, as well as how your representatives voted, please click here. Additionally, to read a statement from Representative Gabriel Vasquez of New Mexico, click here. To read a statement from Representative Andrew Garbarino of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Greg Casar of Texas, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, click here.

2. On May 18, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution that expresses support for local law enforcement and condemns efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies. This resolution passed by a vote of 301-119, and will move on to the Senate for passage. To read more about the resolution and how your representatives voted, please click here. To read a statement from Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State, click here. To read a statement from Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona, click here. To read a statement from Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Anthony D’Esposito of New York, click here.

3. On May 17, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. Passed by a vote of 232-198, this bill would direct the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish a program under which a federal law enforcement officer may purchase a retired handgun from the agency that issued the handgun to the officer. It will now proceed to the U.S. Senate for consideration. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Russell Fry of South Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jerry Nadler of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, 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

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, Sam, Johanan, Neal, Thomas, Quinn, and Jessica

Public Statements: 121 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

• States: 49 new votes were added.

• Delaware’s House passed HB 148, an election reform bill that provides basic updates including providing essential materials at all polling locations and replacing handwritten tally systems for electronic ballot scanners to count votes.

• Idaho’s House passed H 138, an election reform bill that pushes the primary date back from March to May.

• Tennessee’s Senate passed SB 978, which requires all polling places to warn voters on Election Day that it is a misdemeanor to vote in the primary of a political party without being a member of the party.

• Utah’s House passed HB 347, which increases the criminal penalty for tampering with a ballot drop box from a class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

• U.S. Congress: 6 new votes were added

• HR 3901- Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act

• HR 2494- POLICE Act of 2023

• S J Res 18- A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility"

• H Con Res 40- Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies

• 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".

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 10,040 ratings and 1,530 endorsements for candidates.