MORE POWER for Sep. 30th

Written By DSEANTE PARKS

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

September 30, 2022

This week in MORE POWER:
Congress includes $5.5B in disaster relief while keeping the government open
The House starts movement on a bill to ban "insider trading" in the government
Get a look at a newly confirmed judge
The Senate now has two bills addressing the Electoral Count Act and Jan 6th
Learn how to create a policy favorites list 
Try out our donation feature
Get an update on all of the bills Congress moved this week
Read our FAQ so we don't have to answer it again

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

Someone show this to Congress.

Disaster Relief Included in Important Government Shutdown Bill

We want to start this section by sending love to everyone in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast recovering from hurricanes.

This week Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution, H.R. 6833, which included $5.5 billion in disaster recovery funds.

This bill funds the federal government through December 16th, and it includes several other climate provisions, funding for FEMA, wildfire recovery in New Mexico, and other disaster aid.

To further support natural disaster recovery, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-MA introduced H.R. 5703 - Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act. This bill will make it easier to get financial assistance for mental health services after a natural disaster.

When someone asks a politician about their investments.

STOCK Act Bans Government Officials Trading on Information

This week Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-CA, chair of the House Administration Committee, introduced the STOCK Act to limit the ability of government officials to profit from their positions.

If it is passed, the bill will require public officials – upon taking office – to essentially “freeze” their financial investments so they cannot be profited from during the official’s service. Congress believes this bill is necessary to prevent a sort of insider trading on the Hill and to prevent officials from making bad calls to advance their financial portfolios.

The “freeze” would apply to all members of Congress, the Executive Branch and political appointees, the Judicial Branch, and officials of the Federal Reserve. The bill is sweeping in nature as it will also apply to spouses and dependent children.

To comply with the bill, officials will have to either sell their financial investments, donate them to a charitable organization, or put them in a qualified blind trust. There will be some exemptions for investments that don’t present a “conflict of interest.” 

While the goals of the bill have bipartisan support, it is unlikely the bill will be called for a vote before midterm elections. Several members on both sides of the aisle are frustrated by the speed of the process given the complexities of the law and the open political question of what sorts of investments will present a conflict of interest.

Want to learn more about what's in the bill? You can read about it and connect with your reps on it using 1000 MORE. 

No, not that Judge. Come on, stay with us now.

Update: One More Judge Confirmed for the Bench

Before the Senate finished voting this week, it confirmed one more of President Biden's Judicial nominees:

Arianna J. Freeman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, a public defender who is now the first Black woman and first woman of color to serve on that panel.

So far, the Senate has confirmed 25 of President Biden's Circuit Court nominees. There are still 12 Circuit Court nominees pending confirmation in the Senate process.

Well that's an understatement, Bill.

Select Committee Postpones January 6th Hearing

Going into this week, the House Select Committee was scheduled to hold their next hearing on the January 6th attack, but they postponed it due to the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. Representatives on the committee have said they felt it would be insensitive to hold the hearing at this time, but they also said “television findings around Donald Trump would be diminished.” We’re expecting some hot tea. 

Electoral Count Reform: The Hill Calls Bills Forward

Both chambers of Congress are moving forward with bills to reform the certification process for who gets to be an elector.

To recap, every four years we elect our President according to the process laid out in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Donald Trump cited confusion and procedural vagueness in this law as a reason to oppose the election of President Biden, which in many ways inspired the January 6th coup.

The good news on the Hill is that both chambers have now had movement on separate bills that will reform and update the Electoral Count Act:

Last week, the House passed H.R. 8873 - Presidential Election Reform Act.

This week the Senate Rules Committee set up S. 4573 - Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act for a vote soon.

January 6th made electoral count reform a pressing and bipartisan issue. In a democracy, the law must help us achieve trust in the peaceful transfer of power and the electoral system. The Senate is not expected to vote on their bill until they return from recess in November. Have you contacted your Senators on this bill? Have an opinion you want to share with them?

GET FAMILIAR WITH OUR FEATURES

So, you're liking our favorites feature?

Favorites: like a playlist, but for bills

We know you don't care about all legislation equally, so we created a way for you to prioritize your favorite policy areas.

In our menu bar, there is a button with a heart and the word "Favorites" under it. If you click that, it will take you to a list that you can organize like a playlist. Click a topic to put it into your favorites. Once you have several in your favorites, you can move them up or down using the arrows, or remove them using the "x." 

Now on your homepage, your favorite policy areas will appear first under the search bar. You can click them to see only the policy areas you care about.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me.

Put your money where your heart is

The Senate has three bills about abortion on the table:

H.R. 8297 - Ensuring Access to Abortion Act

S. 4132 - Women's Health Protection Act

S. 4840 - Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act

H.R. 8297 and S. 4132 would protect abortion access while S. 4840 would ban abortions after 15 weeks.

Our collective financial power can disrupt the big lobby. Use 1000 MORE to donate to an organization advocating for or against these bills. 

BILLS ON THE HILL

Congress, taking a break before the election. 

These bills got yes votes and moved through Congress this week!

YOUR WEEKLY FAQ

Get on wifi, sis, and find us at 1000more.com.

Q: Can I download 1000 MORE in the app store?

A: There is no need to download a new app to access information about bills impacting your life!

We built 1000 MORE as a web platform so that we could meet users where they are – inside other apps. That's why our platform seamlessly integrates into Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, texts, and emails.

Access us through your web browser at 1000MORE.com!

And that is your weekly roundup, but not without a hat tip to Lizzo for playing James Madison's crystal flute. 

Like the legend herself, we hope you're feeling good as hell.

DSEANTE PARKS
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