This Week In Research: November 20th - November 24th, 2023

Highlights from the Week

1. On November 15, 2023, S J Res 43 failed to pass in the senate by a narrow margin of 49 to 50. This joint resolution resulted in providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program”, as stated in the bill text. The proposed resolution intended to help relieve student loan debt across the country but will take no further effect following the recent vote. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, click here. To read a statement from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, click here.

2. For the third time since it’s inception in 1989, the United States hosted the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Held in San Francisco, California, the leaders of pacific nations met to discuss a variety of issues at the top of the global agenda. This resulted in the “Golden Gate Declaration,” a series of moves that included reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO), strengthening multilateral trade agreements, and continuing to foster free and open trade which they note is crucial to economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region. To read a statement from President Biden after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping of China, click here. To read a statement from Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, who represents San Francisco, click here. To read a statement from Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations committee, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, click here.

3. On November 19th, 2023, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away of natural causes at her home in Plains, Georgia after going into hospice care two days prior. Carter, who is the wife of former president and Vote Smart founder Jimmy Carter, served in the White House as First Lady from 1977-1981. An advocate for mental health care, Mrs. Carter was a partner to her husband in his political efforts and was beloved by people around the nation and the world. To read a statement from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, click here. To read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, click here. To read a statement from Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia, click here. To read a statement from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia, click here.

Elections

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

• Louisiana Statewide Runoff Elections

• Louisiana State Legislative Runoff Elections

• Louisiana Ballot Measures

• Utah Congressional Special Election

Want to learn more about candidates running for Congress in Alabama and Arkansas in 2024? Click on the states below to see the full list:

• Alabama Congressional Primary Candidates

• Arkansas Congressional Primary Candidates

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

• Congressional Officials

• Minnesota State Legislative Officials

• New Hampshire State Legislative Officials

• Oklahoma State Legislative Officials

• Rhode Island State Legislative 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 and Interns: Justin, Skylar, Jami, Abby, Claire, Heather, Kaitlin, Sophia, Tristen, Arola and Nischay.

Public Statements: 460 statements were added this week. See highlights from the week for notable statements.

Key Votes:

States: 38 new votes were added.

• Montana Governor signed HB 450 - Authorizes Students Right to Physical Self Defense in School

• Montana Governor signed HB 361 - Specifies Incorrect Use of Pronouns by Another Student is Not Discrimination

• Oregon Governor signed SB 283 - Establishes a Statewide System to Track the Educator Workforce

• Oregon Governor signed HB 5014 - Requires Oregon Department of Education Make School District Budget Data More Transparent

• Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 7 - Authorizes Parents to Review Explicit Materials in Schools

• U.S. Congress: 3 new votes were added.

  • Senate Resolution failed S J Res 43 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program

  • Senate Tabled (vote to table a motion to proceed and a pass a bill) HR 6126 - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

  • Congress signed HR 6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

• This year to date, the SIGs team has entered 56,353 ratings and 13,793 endorsements for candidates.