Tip: First, give our digest a read. Then, test your new knowledge in the quiz at the bottom. Let's see what you've learned...

Research Highlights:

• Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act: On January 16th, 2025, the United States House of Representatives passed the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. This bill, which passed the chamber by a vote of 274-145, establishes certain criminal grounds for making non-U.S. nationals inadmissible and expands the crimes for which a non-U.S. national is deportable. It will now proceed to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

• President Trump Executive Orders: Shortly after being inaugurated for his second term as president, Donald Trump signed over 200 new executive orders, which are directives directing government agencies to implement a law or otherwise act in a specific way. Among them include withdrawing from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization (WHO); establishing the Department of Government Efficiency; ending birthright citizenship; pausing the ban on TikTok; reforming the federal hiring process and many others. Nearly 70 of these orders were ones revoking Biden Administration executive orders.

• President Trump’s Second Cabinet: On Monday, January 20th, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. He, along with National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, is one of the first members of the Trump Administration to be confirmed to the presidential cabinet. The United States Senate will hold more confirmation hearings and votes on a variety of nominees, including hearings for the Ambassador to the United Nations, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs secretaries; and confirmation votes for Attorney General, Defense, and Transportation.

Key Votes: Congressional and State

Congressional Legislation

• Congress - House passed HR 28 - Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
• Congress - House passed HR 30 - Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act
• Congress - Senate Cloture Invoke passed S 5 - Laken Riley Act

State Legislation

• Massachusetts (MA) - Governor signed S 2967 - Eases Clean Energy Infrastructure Permitting, Mobilizes Innovative Technologies, Expands EV Network, and Keeps Costs Down
• Maine (ME) - Senate Joint Resolution passed SP 97 - Limits the Use of Vague Placeholder Bills
• Illinois (IL) - Senate passed & House Concurrence Vote passed HB 587 - Increases Renewable Energy Storage



Biographies and Elections: Here are some interesting candidates our team researched this week!

• Democrat Matt Meyer was sworn in as the next Governor of Delaware on Tuesday. Meyer, who was previously the County Executive of New Castle County, succeeds former Governor John Carney, who was elected Mayor of Wilmington on the same ballot that Meyer was elected to his new post.
• Republican Jon Husted was sworn in as the newest U.S. Senator from Ohio on Tuesday, succeeding Vice President J.D. Vance. Husted, the former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, was selected as Vance’s replacement last Friday by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. He will now be the junior senator serving alongside newly elected Senator Bernie Moreno. This seat will be up for a special election in November 2026 to fill out the final two years of Vance’s term.
• Republican Ashley Moody was sworn in as Florida’s newest U.S. Senator, replacing Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Moody was previously the state’s Attorney General, and was appointed last week by Governor Ron DeSantis. Like Husted, she joins the chamber as Florida’s junior senator, serving alongside Rick Scott. This seat will be up for a special election in November 2026 to fill out the final two years of Rubio’s term.

Next Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, there is a set of special elections in Florida and Iowa. Click on the links below to view the candidates running:



• 2025 Florida Congressional Special Primary: House Districts 1 and 6
• 2025 Iowa State Senate Special Election: State Senate District 35

Your Weekly Civic Education:

Over a 100 of our supporters participated in last weeks quiz, let's see if we can double that this week! Test your knowledge below (and feel free to share it with friends and family)!