The Vote Smart Research team has been hard at work this past month - Check out some key highlights below!

State of the Union Address

On March 1 President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress. View his remarks before congress here. You can also view the official Republican response from Iowa governor Kim Reynolds here.

Russia and Ukraine

March saw continued fighting within the borders of Ukraine between Russian and Ukrainian military forces. View a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden discussing the issue here, and responses from representatives here.

2023 Fiscal Budget

President Joe Biden released his Fiscal Year 2023 Budget on March 28. Click here to see his remarks on the budget, and click here to read reactions from Congress on this new budget.

Inflation

On March 10 the Consumer Price Index, a measurement of the increase in prices calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rose to 7.9% year-on-year which is the highest in over 40 years. View statements from members of the U.S. House and Senate discussing the issue of price inflation here.

Gas Prices

March saw increased prices at gas pumps all across the country. Click here to see remarks from President Biden about gas prices, and click here to read reactions from Congress on higher gas prices.

Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Nomination

On April 7 the Senate confirmed President Biden's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, making her the first black female justice in the court's history. View how each member of the U.S. Senate voted here.

Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act

On March 29 President Joe Biden signed into law the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, a bill to make lynching a federal hate crime offense. View how each member of the U.S. House voted here.

Election Laws

States all across the country have been passing laws impacting the election process and redrawing congressional boundaries. Click here to see what laws your state has voted on.

Education Laws

New bills impacting the education process are being passed across the country. Filter by state to learn which pieces of legislation may affect you here.

Candidate Lists

States have been releasing the lists of candidates who you can vote for in the Midterm elections this year. See who is running in your state here.

Texas Primary

Texas held the first primary election of the year on March 1. Click here to see the results from the primary election, and use the drop downs to filter the various offices that were on the ballot.