Weekly Wrap

December 8, 2023

Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) celebrated the bipartisan passage of her first major piece of legislation, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act. 

The COPE Act "would increase mental health resources available to caregivers of America’s veteran population by establishing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant programs for entities that support caregiver mental health and well-being."

During a Congressional hearing with the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT, Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) exposed how antisemitism on elite college campuses is not just limited to a fraction of their students.

During a stunning exchange, the presidents refused to say that "calling for the genocide of Jews" violates their policies against bullying and harassment. 

Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45) celebrated passage of her legislation to tighten rules on foreign donations to universities.

The Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act would "amend Section 117 of the Higher Education Act to require colleges to disclose any foreign donations of at least $50,000, and donations of any amount from 'countries and entities of concern.'" It passed by a vote of 246 to 170, with 31 Democrats supporting it.

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce announced a "formal investigation into the learning environments at Harvard, UPenn, and MIT and their policies and disciplinary procedures" in light of "institutional and personal failures." 

Chair Virginia Foxx (NC-05) had a similar warning for other institutions, saying "The disgusting targeting and harassment of Jewish students is not limited to these institutions, and other universities should expect investigations as well, as their litany of similar failures has not gone unnoticed."

• NBC Bend: House Passes Chavez-DeRemer Bill To Help Reduce Homelessness Among Veterans

• CBS Des Moines: Iowa U.S. Rep. Hinson: Fingerprint Migrant Kids At Border

• The Orange County Register: Led By Rep. Young Kim, House Members Ask UN Women To Condemn Hamas’ Violence Against Women

• Fox News: GOP Lawmakers Want To Eliminate Passport Backlog With Sweeping Reform Bill: 'Transformative Approach'

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Have a great weekend!