Check Out Our November Research Wrap Up!     November Research Wrap Up   The Vote Smart Research Team worked hard this month to bring you Facts For All! Check out some of the key highlights below! VOTES House passed HR 3774 - Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act House passed HR 4821 - Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 House passed HR 6126 - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 House passed HR 4364 - Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 House passed HR 340 - Hamas International Financing Prevention Act Senate passed HR 4366 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 House Resolution Tabled H Res 829 - Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex House passed H Res 845 - Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel House Resolution passed H Res 798 - Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff House Resolution passed H Res 559 - Declaring it is the policy of the United States that a nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran is not acceptable Senate Joint Resolution (A legislative proposal that requires approval of both Chambers and signature of the President) passed S J Res 38 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to “Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers” House Resolution Sent to Committee (The bill is assigned to a committee for study, the bill is put on calendar to be voted on, debated or amended) H Res 863 - Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors Senate Resolution failed S J Res 43 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Senate Tabled (vote to table a motion to proceed and a pass a bill) HR 6126 - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 Congress signed HR 6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 STATEMENTS On November 2nd, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024. This bill, which was passed by a vote of 226-196, authorizes billions of dollars for fiscal year 2024 in supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense and the Department of State to respond to the attacks in Israel by Hamas last month. It will now move on to the United States Senate for consideration. To view the bill text and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from the bill’s sponsor, Representative Kay Granger of Texas, click here. To read a statement from Representative Andrew Clyde of Georgia, click here. To read a statement from Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, who is the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, click here. To read a statement from Representative Rosa DeLauro, who is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, click here. To read a statement from Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Mike Lawler of New York, click here. On November 3, 2023, the House passed HR 4821 on a vote of 213-203 and is to be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives. The bill authorizes fiscal year 2024 pertaining to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The scope of the bill includes range improvements, service charges, deposits, forfeitures, miscellaneous trust funds, administrative provisions, national park services, and more. Some details of the bill encompass expenses for protection, use, development and more in the management of lands and their resources. Additionally, it includes $35,000,000 for the Mining Law Administration operations. Firstly, to read more about the bill and read how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative and bill sponsor Mike Simpson, click here. To read a statement from Representative Sean Casten of Illinois, click here. To read a statement from Representative Chip Roy of Texas, click here. To read a statement from Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, click here. On November 7th, 2023, The House passed H Res 845, censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives in relation to Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. This resolution passed on a 234-188 vote. The bill states that Israel is a critical ally to the American people and supports the United States’ national security interests in the Middle East. Representative Tlaib’s statement on October 7, 2023, claimed that Hamas’ attack on the Jewish people was partially attributable to the United States security provided to Israel. Following this, Tlaib further spread a false narrative regarding Israel intentionally bombing Al-Ahli Arab Hospital according to the resolution. Firstly, to read more about the resolution and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Tlaib of Michigan, click here. To read a statement from Representative Tom McClintock of California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Brad Schneider of Illinois, click here. To read a statement from Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas, click here. On Tuesday, November 7th, elections were held across the country, with races for governor, statewide offices, state legislatures, and ballot measures all voted on. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear was re-elected, and Republicans swept the remaining statewide constitutional offices. In Mississippi, every incumbent was re-elected, with Governor Tate Reeves winning re-election in a close race against Democrat Brandon Presley. In New Jersey and Virginia, Democrats won both chambers of the state legislature, with Virginia Democrats flipping the State House of Delegates and holding the State Senate. In Pennsylvania, Democrat Daniel McCaffery won a special election for the State Supreme Court, and in Rhode Island Democrat Gabe Amo won a special election for the first Congressional District, becoming the first person of color to represent the Ocean State in Congress. There were also a series of ballot measures in Colorado, Maine, New York, Ohio, and Texas. You can view all of the results below by clicking on the links for all of these elections and more. On November 13, 2023, the United States House of Representatives brought up a vote to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. By a vote of 209 to 201, the House voted to send back articles of impeachment to the House Homeland Security Committee. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced the resolution, citing a “record number of illegal border crossings, an influx of drugs, and his ‘open border policies’” among other accusations. To read the resolution, as well as how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Representative Greene, click here. To read a statement from Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, click here. To read a statement from Representative Darrell Issa of California, click here. To read a statement from Representative Cliff Bentz of Oregon, click here. To read a statement from Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, click here. On November 14, 2023, HR 6126 was tabled in the Senate in relation to the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. The vote passed by a narrow margin of 51 to 48. The bill's intention was to table a motion in order of proceeding a bill which authorizes billions in fiscal year 2024 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD), and Department of State regarding the response to the Israel attacks. More specific components of the bill highlight replacing funding for defense articles provided to Israel, as well as The Foreign Military Financing Program. The bill was also previously passed in the House on November 2, 2023 by a vote of 226 to 196. To learn more about the bill, its tabling in the Senate, and how your Representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from President Pro Tempore, Senator Patty Murray of Washington, click here. To read a statement from Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, click here. To read a statement from Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, click here. On November 14, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act of 2024. This bill, which was passed on a vote of 336 to 95, provides funding for the government until January 19, 2024 and effectively prevents the government from an impending shutdown. It was later passed by the United States Senate on November 15 by a vote of 87 to 11. This legislation is a part of what Speaker Mike Johnson dubs a “two-track” plan to continue government spending until January 19 for four federal agencies and until February 2 for the rest, all at current spending levels. To read the bill, as well as how your representatives and senators voted on it, click here. To read a statement from Speaker Johnson, click here. To read a statement from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, click here. To read a statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, click here. To read a statement from Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, click here. On November 15, 2023, S J Res 43 failed to pass in the senate by a narrow margin of 49 to 50. This joint resolution resulted in providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program”, as stated in the bill text. The proposed resolution intended to help relieve student loan debt across the country but will take no further effect following the recent vote. To read more about the bill and how your representatives voted, click here. To read a statement from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, click here. To read a statement from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, click here. For the third time since it’s inception in 1989, the United States hosted the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Held in San Francisco, California, the leaders of pacific nations met to discuss a variety of issues at the top of the global agenda. This resulted in the “Golden Gate Declaration,” a series of moves that included reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO), strengthening multilateral trade agreements, and continuing to foster free and open trade which they note is crucial to economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region. To read a statement from President Biden after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping of China, click here. To read a statement from Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, who represents San Francisco, click here. To read a statement from Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations committee, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, click here. On November 19th, 2023, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away of natural causes at her home in Plains, Georgia after going into hospice care two days prior. Carter, who is the wife of former president and Vote Smart founder Jimmy Carter, served in the White House as First Lady from 1977-1981. An advocate for mental health care, Mrs. Carter was a partner to her husband in his political efforts and was beloved by people around the nation and the world. To read a statement from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, click here. To read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris, click here. To read a statement from Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, click here. To read a statement from Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia, click here. To read a statement from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia, click here. Starting on November 24th, 2023, the government of Israel and the Hamas-led Palestinian government agreed to a temporary ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza and the allow for hostage releases. As of writing, 104 hostages previously held by Hamas have been released, with 75 of them being Israeli (many of them are also dual-nationals). To read a statement from President Biden earlier in the week, click here. To read a statement from House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, click here. To read a statement from Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, click here. To read a statement from Representative Eric Swalwell of California, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner of Ohio, click here. On November 25, 2023, police arrived at the scene of a shooting of three Palestinian American college students in Burlington, Vermont. The victims have been identified as Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University, Tasheen Ali Ahmad, a student in Connecticut’s Trinity College, and Kinnan Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. The suspect in custody is 48-year-old Jason Eaton who allegedly approached the three young individuals quietly with a handgun late Saturday evening, and fired shots. According to court documents, Awartani was shot in the spine, Ali Ahmad was shot in the chest, Abdalhamid was shot in the glute, and all three victims remain hospitalized. Eaton pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and the judge ordered he be held without bail pending further investigation. Supplemental analysis is being conducted regarding a potential hate-crime following the increased threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities across the United States since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. President Biden expresses his gratitude to the Burlington Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and other law enforcement for their swift work. To read a statement from President Joe Biden, click here. To read a statement from Governor Phil Scott of Vermont, click here. To read a statement from Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, click here. To read a statement from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, click here. Lastly, to read a statement from representative Becca Balint of Vermont, click here. 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