January 19

This week in MORE POWER:
Government Stays Open, For Now
Senate Stops Israel Inquiry
House Anti-Abortion Rights Bills
Pending Tax Legislation Vote
Shrinking House Republican Majority

Government Stays Open, For Now

This week, Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing the S. Amdt. to H.R. 2872 Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024. Although many hard-right Republicans voted against the bill, the Senate passed it by a vote of 77-18 and the House passed it by a vote of 314-108. President Biden signed it into law today.

The bill will fund until March 1 the programs under four budget bills that were scheduled to have money run out today - Agriculture; Military Construction-VA; Transportation-HUD; and Energy and Water - and it will fund until March 8 programs under the other eight bills that had a February 2 deadline: Commerce, Justice, Science; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Financial Services and General Government; Department of Defense; Department of Homeland Security; Department of State, Foreign Operations; Department of the Interior, Environment; and the Legislative Branch.

You can use the links above to read about the bills and take action.

Senate Stops Israel Inquiry

Expressing concerns over the conditions Palestinian civilians continue to face in Gaza because of Israeli bombing tactics and food, water, fuel and medication blockades, Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT) called for a vote on his legislation that would require a State Department report on Israel’s record on human rights and how the country has used U.S. defense aid and weapons: S.Res.504. Senators voted the resolution down 72-11, with 17 members not voting. The chamber has tabled the legislation for now, but it could come up for another vote if the public demands it.

Read About The Bill & Take Action

House Anti-Abortion Rights Bills

Monday marks the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling in favor of abortion rights that the current court overturned in June 2022. House Republicans marked the occasion by passing two bills that would further their cause to end access to abortion, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. While the bills go to the Senate next, the pro-reproductive rights, Democrat-run chamber is unlikely to schedule a vote on them.

You can use the links above to read about the bills and take action.

Pending Tax Legislation Vote

Sources on the Hill expect a vote before the end of January on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act so that Americans can receive the benefits in their tax returns for last year. The bill would expand low-income families’ access to the Child Tax Credit, incentivize low-income housing, and add more deductions for businesses. A bipartisan group of members in both the House and the Senate introduced the bill this week, in spite of Republican infighting slowing progress on it.

Read About The Bill & Take Action

Shrinking House Republican Majority

In the House of Representatives, a party needs 218 or more members to hold a majority and have the votes necessary to elect a Speaker, and govern. Right now, Republicans have 220 members and Democrats have 213. Two Republicans are out for at least a week for health reasons, and Rep. Bill Johnson, (R-OH) is retiring next week, pushing Republicans into the range of 217-219 members. While bipartisan bills will continue to pass the House, Republican leadership will face challenges in passing any partisan bills from here.