Highlights from the Week
1. This week the US House of Representatives voted to establish a committee to investigate the January 6 US Capitol breach. Click here to see how they voted. Click here to read statements from your representatives.
2. This week the US House of Representatives voted to authorizes the removal and replacement of all Confederate statues and busts in the United States Capitol. Click here to see how they voted.
3. This week the US House of Representatives passed the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, a bill that would prohibit the Department of Veteran Affairs from requiring payment from a veteran for any contraceptive item that is required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement. Click here to see how they voted.
4. The Delta COVID-19 variant has now been detected in all 50 states. Click here to read the latest statements from your representatives about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
5. Last week the US Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a program to reduce barriers to entry for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in certain voluntary markets. Click here to read what’s in the bill.
Elections
By Makala and the Elections Research team
Ohio’s special primary to fill two U.S. House of Representatives seats is just over a month away! Click here to see the list of candidates.
Election Results:
Officials
By Chelsea and the Officials Research team
Public Statements: 1,600 statements were added this week
Key Votes:
States: 26 bills added
Voting rights legislation so far this year
The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill that would require identification for voters each time they cast a ballot through a proposed constitutional amendment.
The Michigan state legislature passed a bill that would repeal the option for voters to sign an affidavit to affirm their identity before casting a ballot.
The Rhode Island House passed a bill that would authorize persons with disabilities and persons active in the military to receive and return mail ballots electronically.
The Michigan House passed a bill that would require election challengers to undergo training.
Congress: 10 bills added
HR 2662: Vote to pass a bill that requires the Inspector General only to be removed for cause, such as documented malfeasance.
HR 391: Vote to pass a bill that requires the president to create the Global Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council to implement the Global Health Security Agenda, an initiative launched by nearly 30 nations to address global infectious disease threats.
SJ Res 13: Vote to adopt a resolution that specifies congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission relating to "Update of Commission's Conciliation Procedures".
SJ Res 14: Vote to adopt a resolution that repeals the Oil and Natural Gas Sector Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review rule published by the EPA on September 14, 2020, such as removing limitations on methane emissions from such sector.
SJ Res 15: Vote to pass a joint resolution that nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency titled "National Banks and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders" and published on October 30, 2020, and requires that to be considered a lender, a national bank or federal saving association must, as of the date of origination of the loan be named as the lender in the loan agreement, or fund the loan.
HR 1443: Vote to pass a bill that requires financial institutions to report certain credit application data to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the purposes of enforcing fair lending laws. Specifically, financial institutions must report this data regarding lesbian-, gay-, bisexual-, transgender-, or queer-owned businesses.
