This Week in Research: 5/30/23 - 6/2/23

Highlights from the Week

1. On May 25, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule l of the Controlled Substances Act. Passed by a vote of 289-133, this bill establishes that under this bill offenses involving fentanyl-related substances will be triggered by the same quantity threshold and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues. It amends several other changes to registration requirements for conductive research with controlled substances. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey, click here. To read a statement from Representative Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, click here. To read a statement from Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia, click here.

2. On May 24, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill providing for congressional disapproval of a rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans.” Passed by a vote of 218-203, this bill adopts a joint resolution that nullifies the rule issued by the Department of Education on October 12, 2022, that suspends federal student loan payments and discharges debt. It moves to the Senate for consideration. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Representative Alma Adams of North Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Nathaniel Moran of Texas, click here. To read a statement from Representative Rick Allen of Georgia, click here.

3. On May 31, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Passed by a vote of 314-117, this bill raises the federal debt limit, establishes new discretionary spending limits, rescinds un-obligated funds, and expands work requirements for federal programs. It helps to avert the potential crisis of not raising the debt ceiling, which we discussed in more depth in a previous blog post. It will now proceed to the U.S. Senate for consideration and swift passage. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from President Joe Biden, click here. To read a statement from House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, click here. To read a statement from the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy of California, click here. To read a statement from House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from House Minority Whip, Katherine Clark 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

• Vermont 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:

• Massachusetts State Legislative Special Elections

Officials

By the Officials Research team: Sam, Johanan, Neal, Thomas, Quinn, Max, and Jessica

Public Statements: 126 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

• States: 34 new votes were added.

  • Illinois Senate passed HB 2789, Prohibits librarians from banning books

  • Indiana House passed HB 1177, Authorizes teachers to keep firearms in classrooms

  • Utah’s House passed HB 195, Requires school employees who are under criminal investigation to be put on paid leave

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

  • HR 3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

  • HR 467 - HALT Fentanyl Act

  • H J RES 45 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans”

  • H J RES 39 - 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 10,686 ratings and 1,534 endorsements for candidates.