Highlights from the Week
On November 30th, 2023, The House passed HR 5283, a bill pertaining to Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act. The bill passed on a vote of 224 to 203. Following the recent passing in the House, on December 4th, 2023, it was decided this bill be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States. This bill prohibits the federal government from utilizing specific federally administered lands to supply housing to non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) that have not been authorized into the United States. Further details include the prevention of federal funds to be supplied to specified aliens regarding housing, on land through the administrative jurisdiction of Federal land management agencies. This relates to agreements, contracts and also leases. To read more about HR 5283 and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Tom McClintock of California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Pete Stauber of Minnesota, click here. To read a statement from Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, click here. To read a statement from Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois, click here.
On November 30th, 2023, the House passed HR 5961, a bill that issues No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act. The bill passed on a vote of 307 to 199. Following the most recent passing in the House, on December 4th, 2023, it was enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives. To freeze certain Iranian funds corresponding to the 2023 hostage deal between both Iran and the United States are both the intention and purpose behind this bill. Congress findings include that Iran supported the Hamas attacks engaging in the murder of more than 1,300 people and 230 kidnappings currently being held hostage, as well as protecting their weapons using civilians as human shields. These are only 2 of 7 findings in support of passing and enacting HR 5961. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, click here. To read a statement from Representative Lance Gooden of Texas, click here. To read a statement from Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, click here. To read a statement from Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, click here.
On December 1st, 2023, Representative George Santos of New York was expelled by his colleagues, making him the sixth member of the United States House of Representatives to be expelled in history, and the first since 2002. By a vote of 311-114, the House voted to remove Santos after he was indicted on 23 felony charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. In addition, an investigation by the House Ethics Committee implicated him in any of these crimes, and is widely seen as the reason for the expulsion vote. Per law in New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul has scheduled a special election to be held on February 13th, 2024. The Democratic and Republican Parties of Nassau and Queens counties, where Santos represented in the House, will choose the nominees to compete in the election to succeed Santos. To read more about the expulsion vote and how your representative voted, click here. To read a statement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Michael Guest of Mississippi, who led the ethics investigation into Santos, click here. To read a statement from Representative Michael Lawler of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, click here. To read a statement from Representative Susan Wild of Pennsylvania, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Glenn Ivey of Maryland, click here.
From November 28th to December 12th, 2023, the United Nations Climate Change Conference–the 28th Conference of Parties, otherwise known as COP 28–is meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to agree on ways to address the climate crisis. This annual meeting brings together world leaders in government, business, scientists, journalism, activism, and other institutions to discuss the problems of climate change and how to best come together and resolve and adapt to them. Some goals of this particular conference include curbing methane emissions and committing more funds to climate health and climate finance. To read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Representative Bill Johnson of Ohio, click here. To read a statement from Representative John Curtis of Utah, click here. To read a statement from Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Nanette Barragan of California, click here.
Elections
By the Elections Research team: Nick, Zachary, Caleb, Seth, Jessica, and Max and Elections Research interns Spencer, Molly, Rachel, Emma, Kaia, and Brenda
Biographies & Elections:
Want to learn about some of the elections that happened this week? Click on the state below to view the results:
Want to learn more about candidates running for elected office in Alabama and Arkansas in 2024? Click on the states below to see the full list:
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 and Interns: Justin, Skylar, Jami, Abby, Claire, Heather, Kaitlin, Sophia, Tristen, Arola and Nischay.
Public Statements: 440 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.
Key Votes:
States: 42 new votes were added.
Montana Governor signed HB 2 - Appropriates $14 Billion for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 General Budget
Wisconsin House passed AB 370 - Requires Guaranteed Admission for Applicants Ranked in the Top 5% of Their High School Class
Michigan Governor signed SB 374 - Requires Candidates for Public Office File Financial Disclosure Reports Before Assuming Office
Michigan Governor signed SB 477 - Repeals Pregnant and Parent Student Service Office Prohibitions for ABortion Referrals
Wyoming Governor signed SF 94 - Authorizes the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act
U.S. Congress: 6 new votes were added.
House passed H Res 888 - Reaffirming the State of Israel’s Right to Exist
H Res 793 - Calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during October 2023 attack on Israel
House Joint Resolution (a legislative proposal that requires the approval of both chambers) passed S J Res 32 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)”
House passed H Res 878 - Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United State House of Representatives
House passed HR 5283 - Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act
House passed HR 5961 - No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 56,353 ratings and 14,543 endorsements for candidates.