November 22

This week in MORE POWER:

Not Feeling the Bern on Weapons
If At First You Don’t Succeed
Relocating Our Allies
Banning Business with Maduro
Military Family Burials

Not Feeling the Bern on Weapons

The Senate voted overwhelmingly against Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) joint resolutions, which would have blocked a $20 billion U.S. weapons sale to Israel. Sanders argued that under U.S. law, countries violating human rights or obstructing U.S. humanitarian aid cannot receive American weapons, asserting that Israel’s ongoing war with Palestine — especially in Gaza — makes it ineligible. Most of the Senate disagreed, with one of Sanders’ resolutions only receiving 18 votes for and 79 against.

Following the Hamas attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 Israeli people, Israel has killed an estimated 44,000 Palestinians, cut off water and fuel, and destroyed infrastructure like schools and hospitals in Gaza.

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If At First You Don’t Succeed

The House has reversed course on the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, passing it this week after narrowly rejecting it last week. If made law, this bill would allow the State Department and the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to classify specific nonprofits as supporters of terrorist organizations. This classification could result in the nonprofits losing their tax-exempt status, which would drastically impact their ability to receive tax-deductible donations – a major source of funding for most nonprofits. Additionally, the bill would allow tax deadlines to be postponed and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) late fees to be waived for Americans who were detained or held hostage abroad. This controversial bill is now heading to the Senate.

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Relocating Our Allies

The House passed a bill to streamline the relocation and resettlement of eligible Afghan allies, U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents seeking to leave Afghanistan. The bill, called the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) Authorization Act, formally establishes the CARE at the State Department for three years to oversee the effort. Building on the CARE office created by the State Department in 2022, this bill would ensure the continuation and expansion of efforts to assist Afghan allies.

The bill addresses the fallout of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which led to the Taliban’s rapid takeover and a humanitarian crisis as thousands sought evacuation. So far, the U.S. has evacuated around 160,000 people, according to the AP, but the mission remains ongoing. By codifying CARE and expanding its powers, this bill aims to protect those who risked their lives to assist American forces and now face ongoing threats under Taliban rule.

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Banning Business with Maduro

The House passed the bipartisan Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act. If made law, it would temporarily prohibit federal agencies from entering into contracts with entities that engage in significant business operations with Venezuela's Maduro regime, which the U.S. does not recognize as legitimate. This temporary ban would extend to any future governments that the U.S. does not believe to be legitimate and fair. On the other hand, the State Department can waive this ban if it determines that a specific contract is in the nation’s interest or if it supports humanitarian aid, national security, disaster relief, or U.S. government activities. This bill is now headed to the Senate.

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Military Family Burials

The House passed the Keeping Military Families Together Act, which would permanently allow the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) to bury the spouses and children of active-duty servicemembers in national cemeteries, even if they pass away before the servicemember. National cemeteries are federal burial grounds reserved for veterans, servicemembers, and eligible family members. This bill would also enable the VA to provide memorial headstones or markers for family members if their remains cannot be buried. The Senate already passed this bill, so it is now heading to President Biden’s desk.

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