Highlights from the Week
On August 8, 2023, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation to designate a new national monument near the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. This proclamation, which establishes the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni as a national site, provides protections for nearly 1 million acres and permanently removes it from future uranium mining. This site also includes lands important to a dozen tribes, in addition to other cultural or archaeological locations. To read a statement from President Biden, click here. To read a statement from Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, click here. To read a statement from Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, click here. To read a statement from Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative, and Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, click here.
On August 8, 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris announced action to raise wage standards of construction workers by making updates to current wage regulations. These are supplied under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The rule advances Executive Order 14008 of President Biden and strengthens the Department of Labor (DOL), by adding a new anti-retaliation provision in the contract clause. This helps to improve worker protection, for those who raise concerns, from being neither punished or fired. To read a statement from the Vice President Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Senator, and ranking member of the Senate Labor Committee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, click here. To read a statement from Representative, and Chair of the House Labor Committee, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Donald Norcross of New Jersey on the announcement, click here.
Elections
By the Elections Research team: Nick, Zachary, Seth, and Caleb and Interns Riya, Francesca, David, Golsa, Nicholas, and Kelly
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:
Want to learn more about the candidates running for special elections in Rhode Island and Utah this year? You can see the full list here:
Want to learn more about elected officials in your state? You can see the full list here:
Want to learn more about the leadership in each state legislature? You can see the full leadership rosters here:
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:
Officials
By the Officials Research team: Sam, Johanan, Neal, Thomas, Quinn, Max, and Jessica. Interns: Mark, Laura, Alexa, Henry, Margaret, Nicholas, Sonali, Nicole and Jordan.
Public Statements: 302 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.
Key Votes:
States: 47 new votes were added.
Arizona Governor signed SB 1013 - Extends expanded free speech protections to college campuses
Maryland Governor signed SB 551 - Establishes service-year option for recent high school graduates
Washington Governor signed SB 5702 - Expands the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth pilot program permanently
Washington Governor signed HB 1559 - Appropriates funding for student basic needs
Illinois Governor signed HB 3751 - Authorizes DACA recipients to become law enforcement officers
U.S. Congress: 0 new votes were added.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 21,698 ratings and 9,723 endorsements for candidates.