This Week in Research: August 28-September 1

Highlights from the Week

1. On August 26, 2023, shortly before 2pm, a 21-year-old masked gunman wearing a tactical vest shot and killed three Black people, in an act that officials have stated was a racially motivated crime. The attacker utilized an AR-15 style rifle and a handgun at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Gunman Ryan Palmeter contacted his father prior to the shooting via text message to check his computer. On the gunman’s computer contained white supremacist documentation, a dark manifesto detailing the suspect’s racism, according to authorities. The gunman had already shot the three victims and killed himself before his father was able to warn authorities. To read a statement from the President of the United States, Joseph Biden, click here. To read a statement from the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Representative Aaron Bean of Florida, click here. To read a statement from Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, click here.

2. Over the past few days, Florida and other southern coastal states have been hit by Hurricane Idalia, a category 3 hurricane that was moving at speeds as high as 125 miles per hour. At the time of writing, it has moved past Georgia and into South and North Carolina, dropping heavy rain onto the coasts of both states. In preparation for the hurricane, officials in Florida and President Biden declared states of emergency and disaster relief funds were provided to Florida by the federal government. To read a statement from President Joe Biden, click here. To read a statement from Senator Rick Scott of Florida, click here. To read a statement from Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Darren Soto of Florida, click here.

3. On August 29, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that 10 prescription drugs will soon be subject to price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. Next year, Medicare will be able to actually discuss price changes, and any changes will then go into effect in 2026. The drugs chosen are: Eliquis, Xarelto, Januvia, Jardiance, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Farxiga, Entresto, Stelara, and Fiasp and Novolog. To read a statement from President Joe Biden, click here. To read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, click here. To read a statement from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, click here. To read a statement from Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Lois Frankel of Florida, click here.

Elections

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

Biographies & Elections:

Want to learn more about the results of elections happening around the country? You can see the list of elections that happened this week here:

• Mississippi Primary Runoff

• Virginia Special Election (House District 6)

Want to learn more about the candidates running for elections in Kentucky and Louisiana this year? You can see the full list here:

• Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidates

• Louisiana Gubernatorial Candidates

• Louisiana Statewide Candidates

• Louisiana State Legislative Candidates

Want to learn more about elected officials in your state? You can see the full list here:

• Congressional Officials

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

Officials

By the Officials Research team: Sam, Johanan, Neal, Thomas, Quinn, Max, and Jessica. Interns: Laura, Alexa and Margaret.

Public Statements: 230 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

States: 33 new votes were added.

• Michigan House passed HB 4475 - Establishes additional code of criminal procedures

• Michigan House passed HB 4476 - Specifies what constitutes institutional desecration

• Kentucky Governor signed HB 3 - Appropriates $13.3 million in funds to reopen youth detention centers in Jefferson County

• New York Senate and House passed A 1029 - Requires automatic sealing of certain convictions records after specified periods of time

• New York House passed S 7548 - Establishes a streamlined system for individuals to overturn certain wrongful convictions

• U.S. Congress: 0 new votes were added.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 24,265 ratings and 10,965 endorsements for candidates.