October 27th

This week in MORE POWER:

The House Finally Has a Speaker
Humanitarian Crisis in Israel and Occupied Palestine
Another Mass Shooting Update on Gun Legislation
Senate Hops on the Minibus
Protecting Minors Online
Budget Progress Update

We are now in the second half of the 45-day budget extension Congress passed in September. The federal government will run out of money if Congress doesn’t pass the 2024 budget or another extension by November 17th.

The House Finally Has a Speaker

It took 22 days and 19 votes for Republicans to elect a new Speaker of the House. Rep. Tom Emmer, (R-MN) was in and out of the contest in less than 24 hours after former President Trump came out against him. House Republicans then chose Rep. Mike Johnson, (R-LA) as their nominee late Tuesday evening. The House elected Johnson Speaker on Wednesday by a vote of 220 (all Republicans present) to 209 (all Democrats present).

Prior to this week, Johnson was a little known figure, even on the Hill. Senator Susan Collins, (R-ME) said she had to Google him.

Those who know him know Johnson for his far right views - anti-LGBTQ+ stances and a national abortion ban - and his ardent support of Trump. Johnson served on Trump’s legal team during the first impeachment and wrote a legal brief in support of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, organizing 125 House Republican signatories on it.

Humanitarian Crisis in Israel and Occupied Palestine

There is a growing shift in the administration’s language regarding the humanitarian crisis in Israel and occupied Palestine. While Biden is firm in his support of Israel, he and the administration are saying - and doing - more to get aid into Gaza. Public opinion is partly responsible for this shift.

In response to Biden’s request for $106B in aid to Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border last week, Sens. Roger Marshall, (R-KS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), and J.D. Vance (R-OH) have proposed $14.3B in aid to Israel alone. Members of Congress in both chambers are still discussing what a final international security package will look like.

In the meantime, after confirming the new Speaker, the House passed a resolution by a vote of 412-10 to stand “with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.” Six members voted present. The House has not yet voted on a resolution for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Read About The Resolution & Take Action Here

Another Mass Shooting Update on Gun Legislation

On Wednesday evening, a gunman with an assault weapon killed 18 people and injured 13 in Lewiston, Maine. In response, President Biden called on Republicans in Congress to work with Democrats to pass stricter gun laws, stating “this is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars — physical and mental — of this latest attack.”

There have been 565 mass shootings in the United States in 2023 according to the Gun Violence Archive. More than 35,000 people have died due to gun violence this year alone.

Members of Congress have introduced many bills on this issue this year, like:

Assault Weapons Ban
Federal Firearm Licensee Act
Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act

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

Senate Hops on the Minibus

Now that the House has a Speaker, both chambers are refocusing on passing the 2024 budget.

The Senate can vote on a minibus bill that combines the three least contentious budget bills at any time:

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Patty Murray, (D-WA) and Sen. Susan Collins, (R-ME) are working to pass the remaining nine bills as minibus bills as well.

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Protecting Minors Online

This week, the Senate passed the Project Safe Childhood Act to modernize the investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation crimes. If Congress passes the bill and the president signs it into law, it would improve how federal prosecutors and law enforcement work together and use new technology to go after predators.

“We must do everything we can to protect our children from online exploitation and abuse,” Senator Amy Klobuchar, (D-MN) said. “By modernizing the Project Safe Childhood program, our bipartisan legislation will ensure that law enforcement has the tools and resources it needs to rescue victims and prosecute those who commit these terrible crimes.”

You Can Read About The Bill & Take Action Here