MORE POWER for Oct. 7th
1000 MORE's weekly nonpartisan roundup of the most important happenings in federal government, written in a way that doesn't require a law degree to understand, with tools to take action
October 7, 2022
This week in MORE POWER:
Federal marijuana pardons
New SCOTUS term & relevant legislation
Student loan forgiveness update
Details on Congress' recess
Upcoming voter registration deadlines
Preview our new member messaging feature
Try out our donation feature
Get an update on graveyard bills
Read our FAQ so we don't have to answer it again
HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL
It's Friday!
And Biden Just Pardoned "Simple" Marijuana Possession Convictions
On Thursday, October 6th, President Biden announced executive action on marijuana convictions. This action will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession.
Additionally, it calls on governors to pardon simple marijuana possession offenses at the state level and asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review how marijuana is classified under federal law.
While this is the most expansive executive action on U.S. drug policy ever, most marijuana convictions are under state laws, which are not affected by the federal pardon. Therefore, it will only have a big impact if governors enact it at the state level.
For other changes to marijuana policy, we look to H.R. 3617, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would decriminalize the drug at both the federal and state level. This bill passed the House in April of this year and has been sitting in the Senate waiting for action since then.
Want to see movement on this bill? Have a position you want to share with your Senators?
That's what we're here for, literally.
Supreme Court Update: New Term Begins as Disapproval Grows
Friday, September 30, marked the beginning of the Supreme Court’s new term. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson officially took her oath and her place on the bench. The Court began hearing cases this week and will continue hearing cases through June 2023.
The term kicked off with the Court hearing arguments about the Environmental Protection Agency’s power and discrimination in Alabama’s congressional map. Between now and June, they will also hear arguments on affirmative action, minority representation, federal elections, immigration, and LGBTQ rights.
This term is expected to be tense. On one front, the cases before the Court are on very charged topics. On another, the Court is fighting growing public disillusionment, with a recent Gallup poll showing historic lows in approval and trust ratings.
While we, the people, cannot vote on who our federal judges are, we can vote on who approves them – the Senate. Additionally, both the House and the Senate can work on legislation that responds to controversial Supreme Court rulings. We’ll keep you updated on key rulings from the Supreme Court and any legislation Congress releases to address those rulings.
Didn't see that coming, did you?
Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Takes a Hit
In August, the President announced a plan to cancel $10,000 - $20,000 of an individual's student loan debt. Then last Thursday, the Department of Education quietly updated this policy so that certain loans will no longer be eligible for this debt cancellation. There is still time to contact the White House and tell the President how you want to see student loan forgiveness handled.
The new forgiveness plan will exclude about 770,000 people who had previously been eligible for debt cancellation. The White House changed the forgiveness plan in response to lawsuits filed on behalf of six states. The lawsuits claim that it is improper for the administration to take a loan forgiveness action without Congress. They also claim that the states will lose income if certain loans are forgiven – most of those loans have now been removed from the forgiveness plan.
The pending lawsuits will likely delay debt cancellation and extend the student loan repayment pause. They will also give you time to let the White House know what you think about the policy and/or to let your representatives know whether you’d like to see debt forgiveness move through Congress.
We're operating in Congress standard time.
October Recess is in Swing – Prepare for Elections
Congress has left Washington for their October recess. The House will recess until November 14th. The Senate will briefly return to work October 11-21 to confirm judicial nominees and to see which bills they can call for a last minute vote before elections.
Your reps are using this recess to campaign for the midterm elections. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th, and 469 Congressional seats will be up for grabs – that's all 435 House seats and 34 Senate seats.
With midterms coming up, we want to remind our readers that this is the first Congressional election since the shifts in population recorded by the 2020 census changed the number of House seats in 13 states. If you live in Texas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, or Oregon, your state gained House seats. If you live in California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, your state lost seats. That means the Congressional district you live in, and the House member you are voting to elect, could be different than in 2020.
Make sure to follow your local elections and cast an informed vote on November 8th!
Yep. Time to get registered.
First Voter Registration Deadlines this Weekend: Alaska & Rhode Island
We’ve mentioned a couple times that Election Day is November 8th, but we haven’t updated you on voter registration deadlines – yet!
While 18 states allow registration up to and including on Election Day, 32 states have voter registration deadlines before November 8th. If you want to see every state offer same-day voter registration, you can contact your representative about the current Senate bill S. 4887 - The Same Day Voter Registration Act.
Alaska and Rhode Island have the earliest voter registration deadline: this Sunday, October 9th. And the following states’ deadlines will pass before you get your next dose of MORE POWER next Friday 10/14.
October 9th
Alaska & Rhode Island
October 10th
Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
October 12th
Missouri
October 14th
New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma
So get moving, and share this with friends, family, and any of your networks who may need more details on how to get registered and check their voter registration!
GET FAMILIAR WITH OUR FEATURES
We're launching a new feature!
Preview our new member messaging feature
Well well well back again to preview a *NEW FEATURE* we are rolling out this month: member messaging!
Once you have an account set-up, whenever there is activity on a bill you have chosen a position on - FOR or AGAINST - we will message you.
For example, if a vote is called on that bill, we will message you so that you can use 1000 MORE to contact your reps and let them know how you want them to act.
When you have a new message, you will receive an email and / or text message from us to let you know it's there. Click on the link in the email or text which will take you to your message Inbox, also available on the menu.
Then read the message, and take the action you want to take from there! It's that easy. But you can only get this feature if you set-up an account.
Feeling cash heavy? We have a solution.
The power of the purse
With the election a month away, voting rights are front and center. That's why we are highlighting S.4 John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which, if signed into law, would strengthen voting rights nationwide.
The House version of this bill passed in August of 2021. The Senate version has been introduced but has not been voted on.
You can use 1000 MORE to contribute to organizations working FOR or AGAINST this bill. Use the buttons below to use your dollars to take civic action.
BILLS ON THE HILL
No need to stress about legislation. We got you.
What Congress passed this week
Nothing. Because they're at recess.
What the President signed into law this week
H.R.6899 - Russia and Belarus SDR Exchange Prohibition Act
H.R. 6833 - Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act
S.3895 - United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act
S. 3969 - Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) Program Inclusion Act
S. 4900 - SBIR and STTR Extension Act
What Congress can vote on when they return next month
There has been a lot of talk about bills that had a vote postponed, like the Respect for Marriage Act or the Electoral Count Act.
However, we wanted to dedicate this section to graveyard bills: those that have passed one chamber, often in the first year of this term of Congress, but have not yet had a vote in the other chamber.
Hello! They're waiting...
H.R. 1808 - Assault Weapons Ban
H.R. 3617 - Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act
S. 4132 - Women's Health Protection Act
S. 4 - John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
S.J. Res. 1 - Joint Resolution to Pass the E.R.A.
Want to see movement on these bills? You can use 1000 MORE to contact your reps and tell them what you want them to do!
YOUR WEEKLY FAQ
Proud mama.
Q: Who founded 1000 MORE?
A: I am the solo founder and owner of 1000 MORE.
My passion for civic engagement started young, growing up in a low-income, underserved community. I was born and raised in Forth Worth, Texas and my family is from Shreveport, Louisiana.
After graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in political communication, I started a decade-long career in communication and political strategy for public, private and non-profit organizations.
I have worked on federal, state and local elections, including on U.S. Senate campaigns for Senators Mary Landrieu and Kamala Harris.
I completed a Master of Public Policy degree at the Harvard Kennedy School and have contributed to several published works about the roots of propaganda in America and combatting misinformation.
