August 9
This week in MORE POWER:
Braking on Tax Breaks
Historic Prisoner Swap
Expanding Discrimination Protections
Israel’s War(s)
Braking on Tax Breaks
The Senate struck down the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act last week, despite the bill having passed the House with a bipartisan majority of 357 to 70. This bill aims to reduce child poverty by increasing the maximum amount of money parents can receive in their tax refund. The bill also included tax breaks for large corporations.
Most Senate Republicans opposed the bill, arguing that the enhanced child tax credit would mean less money for the government, which would increase the national budget deficit. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also opposed it due to the corporate tax cuts. However, President Biden supports the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) may reintroduce it for another vote.
Historic Prisoner Swap
The U.S. and Russia completed the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War last week. In this historic prisoner swap, the U.S. was able to recover 24 people – many of whom are journalists or critics of Russia. In return, Russia secured the freedom of several people who advance Russia’s political agenda.
Though President Biden named freeing wrongfully detained Americans who are imprisoned in other countries a top priority for the remainder of his presidency, public pressure also played a crucial role. Americans can support efforts like this by contacting their representatives, including the White House, to advocate for those wrongfully held abroad.
Expanding Discrimination Protections
Last week, President Biden’s new Title IX rules went into effect for 24 states. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Biden’s new rules expand protections to include discrimination based on gender identity and/or sexual orientation, as well as discrimination based on a student’s pregnancy status. However, the new rules are blocked in 26 states due to legal challenges. This expansion in protections is seen by supporters as a win for LGBTQ+ Americans, while opponents see the new protections as evidence of government overreach.
Israel’s War(s)
Peace is still far off in the Middle East. Israel assassinated Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on Iranian soil. This has left some leaders, including President Biden, fearing that the move will compromise peace talks between Palestine and Israel. Since the assassination, Iran has threatened to attack Israel. Now, Israeli relations with Hezbollah – a militant group based in Lebanon – are getting worse, which may turn into war. In the U.S., a resolution requesting information on Israel’s human rights practices failed in the Senate, but several bills on Israel and Palestine have passed in the House and could come up for a vote in the Senate. You can click the links to read about them and take action:
What Congress Passed
Nothing, they are on summer recess.
Nothing, they are on summer recess.
Nothing.
What POTUS Signed Into Law
Nothing.
