May 10

This week in MORE POWER:

Speaker Johnson Survives
Progress on Flight Regulation
Update on U.S. Role in Gaza
Citizenship on the Census

Speaker Johnson Survives

This week, congress blocked an attempt by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump to remove Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Despite her efforts, Democrats and Republicans united in a 359-43 vote to defeat her motion. She was met with loud boos from fellow chamber members during her speech on the House floor. Greene's subsequent post on X, formerly Twitter, accused Democrats of saving Johnson to maintain control of the House. However, only 10 Republicans supported Greene's motion. Following the vote, Johnson expressed relief, hoping to move past "personality politics" and focus on legislative priorities.

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Progress on Flight Regulation

The Senate passed a $105 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill aimed at improving air safety and customer service, including measures to boost air traffic controllers, enhance safety standards, and ease customer refunds for flight delays or cancellations. The bill faced delays due to objections over a provision adding flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Despite objections, the bill passed 88-4. Additionally, congress passed a one-week extension of the current authorization to allow the House time to pass the full reauthorization bill. The FAA has been under scrutiny since approving Boeing jets involved in deadly crashes, and the legislation aims to implement new safety standards over the next five years.

Update on U.S. Role in Gaza

Israel has seized control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt after vowing an assault on the area where one million people have fled as Israel has bombed the rest of Gaza so that there is no place to go. In response, the Biden administration has paused some weapons shipments to Israel. Both Republican and Democrat members of congress have expressed concern over the weapons shipment delays.

The Biden administration missed a deadline this week to report to congress on whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law in Gaza, sparking concerns over the use of U.S.-supplied weapons. Lawmakers are calling for a thorough and credible assessment, as doubts linger over Israel's claims. Meanwhile, the administration's decision to delay arms shipments to Israel underscores the gravity of the situation.

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Citizenship on the Census

The House of Representatives passed the Equal Representation Act, aiming to include a citizenship question in the census to prevent people here without paperwork from affecting redistricting. Sponsored by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Ill.), the bill garnered over 100 co-sponsors and passed along party lines. Advocates argue it ensures that only American citizens influence electoral outcomes, while critics fear it could deter honest census responses and exclude legal residents from the apportionment process (the way districts are calculated and resources are allocated). Democrats, like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), see the bill as a Republican ploy to inflate representation in certain states, citing constitutional language regarding counting "persons." Former President Donald Trump's previous failed attempt to add a citizenship question faced legal challenges, leading to the bill's introduction. Proponents, including Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), argue the act protects election integrity amidst concerns about illegal immigration and electoral fairness. This bill has virtually no chance of passing the Senate.