MORE POWER for Dec. 23rd
This week in MORE POWER, we take a look back at all of the social movements that led to congressional or executive action in 2022. Together, we are bigger than the big lobby and when we speak up, our elected officials answer to us, because our votes keep them in office. Here are some of the top examples of public pressure informing policy from the past year.
December 23, 2022
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
After the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th, Congress moved quickly to pass The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The bill first passed the Senate in 2021, but it failed in the House in March of 2022 in spite of many years of mass shootings.
The public outcry after Uvalde pushed representatives from both parties together to pass the bill in the House in May of this year, and to work together to resolve differences in June. President Biden signed the bill into law on June 25th. It expands background check requirements to purchase a gun and promotes mental health services.
Respect for Marriage Act
On June 24th, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision and in his concurring opinion, Justice Thomas cited the case that legalized same-sex marriages. He stated that in his view, these marriages were not protected by the constitution. Americans everywhere spoke up and in response, bipartisan members of Congress drafted a bill that would protect same sex marriages called the Respect for Marriage Act.
The House bill had 160 co-sponsors and it passed in July, but did not pass the Senate until November, after a bipartisan group asked for more time to secure votes after the election. President Biden signed the bill into law this month. The bill repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and ensures that same-sex and interracial marriages are recognized by the federal government for benefits.
The PACT Act
Due to over 70% of related disability claims being denied by Veterans Affairs, veterans, their families, and advocates had been campaigning for a bill that would address veterans' healthcare for toxic burn pit exposures and make it easier to get benefits for chronic conditions.
They celebrated the Senate passing the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) in June but when the bill went to the House, amendments and partisan politicking led to 25 GOP Senators changing their votes to "no" and defeating the bill in August.
Activists spent several nights sleeping outside the U.S. Capitol Building and famous comedian Jon Stewart made an impassioned plea that was widely covered by the media. In August, the Senate finally passed the bill and President Biden signed it into law.
Speak Out Act & Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act
The “me too” movement began in 2006. Survivor and activist Tarana Burke founded it to interrupt sexual violence and abuse of Black women and girls. Five years after the social media explosion of #MeToo, and the ongoing work of activists demanding change so that survivors can seek and receive justice, the Speak Out Act and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harrassment Act became law.
The Speak Out Act limits the application of non-disclosure agreements when sexual harassment has occurred. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act limits the application of arbitration agreements to resolve disputes when sexual harassment has occurred. These bills passed as a direct result of the support and advocacy of the “me too” movement.
Ukraine funding bill
Americans were quick to decry Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February and public opinion for supporting Ukraine with weapons and aid skyrocketed. It remains over 60% as of this month per a Chicago Council survey.
Between three different bills this year, the US has sent Ukraine about $80 billion in support. Following the initial Russian attack, Congress passed a $13.6 billion emergency funding bill. In May, Congress passed an additional $40 billion in support. Finally, the budget bill that passed this week included $27.9 billion in defense funding for Ukraine. At this point, the amount of aid America has sent to Ukraine is unprecedented, but it aligns with ongoing public demand.
Student Loan Debt Cancellation
Biden campaigned on student loan debt reform, and the public has applied pressure to hold him to it. Activists have used social media to demand that Biden cancel student debt through executive action since he was sworn into office.
In August, President Biden announced a plan to cancel $10,000 - $20,000 of an individual's student loan debt. As it stands, the student loan debt cancellation application is open to get borrowers pre-approved, but debts can’t actually be canceled until court disputes are resolved. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the program in late February.
Marijuana Reform
Criminal justice reform activists, including many current and formerly incarcerated people and their families, have been working for decades to end the "war on drugs". The American public now largely considers the "war on drugs" to be a failed approach for stopping drug use and crime.
On October 6th, President Biden announced executive action on marijuana policy. This action pardoned all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, and it called on governors to do the same at the state level. As a result of this action, governors from both parties have taken steps to pardon marijuana convictions, to lower penalties for possession, and to spend less resources on marijuana policing.
While many activists considered this executive action an important step, they continue to push Biden to keep his campaign promise of freeing all incarcerated people imprisoned for marijuana possession.
Brittney Griner
Basketball star Brittney Griner had been detained in Russia since February of this year. In August, a Russian court convicted her of trying to “smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia” and sentenced Griner to nine years in prison.
Thanks to relentless advocacy by her family, friends, the public, her teammates and many professional athletes and celebrities, the American media started covering her story in February. Americans' continued outrage by her wrongful detention kept President Biden under pressure to bring Griner home.
On December 8th, the White House brought Griner home in a prisoner swap for a Russian arms dealer held by the US.
And that is your look back at the civic movements that got shit done last year...
The 117th Congress is now out of session. Congress just passed the omnibus spending package in time for the December 23rd deadline, so the federal government is now funded for 2023. Shutdown averted. The 118th Congress starts on January 3, 2023. We are off next week and we will be back in your inbox on Friday, January 6th to tell you about the new Congress. Until then...
Happy Holidays from the 1000 MORE team!
