GovTrack.us

At https://www.GovTrack.us, we're tracking the United States Congress. Research & track the bills, votes, and members in the 🇺🇸 Congress. A civic engagement & government accountability project since 2004. #opengov

Rules: Don't make things up. Don't comment on people's appearance. No name calling. Replies that detract from a serious discussion will get you blocked.

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Last Notes

2024-10-21 16:12:43

Finally, if you want to know about state and local elections - your own or elections in other places - we recommend the Bolts guide and Ballotopedia:
https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-elections-in-november-2024/
And
https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

2024-09-13 20:02:23

To recap: the Republican Presidential & Vice Presidential candidates are pushing a completely false and racist lie about legal immigrants in Springfield, OH that has led to two days of bomb threats.
Further, the Presidential candidate is threatening to deport these folks _who have done nothing wrong_ to Venezuela because maybe 78 is also too old to run for President.

2024-08-09 16:18:47

Hello GovTrackers! We've added a new entry to the Misconduct Database: Rep. Ogles (R-TN5) was searched by the FBI last week and had his phone seized due to extensive, possibly criminal, extent of revised campaign finance reports. We're also up to 1893 in our link checking project! As always, if you find errors, broken links, etc, please let us know.
https://www.govtrack.us/misconduct

2024-07-25 19:41:05

We've been getting a steady stream of vile and antisemitic emails from Trump supporters all day long, mostly since Elon Musk tweeted about us and far-right media invented a conspiracy theory about us. At the same time Trump himself is citing our statistics (that's not a complaint, I just mean he thinks we're credible) and a mere few days ago Senate Republicans called us nonpartisan (again, glad to know they think we're credible). It's unhinged.

2024-07-19 18:26:42

Apparently Trump has talked about nuking the local government in the District of Columbia. We --- that is, the people here (we're based in DC) --- already don't have any voting representation at the national level. Taking away the pittance of democracy from the people in the nation's capital would be harmful to the people here and emblematic of MAGA's nationalist, not conservative, proclivities.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/07/19/gop-control-dc-trump/

2024-07-11 22:01:14

S. 612 by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto [D-NV] passed the Senate yesterday (→House). Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/s612 🏛️

2024-07-10 19:14:39

Is This House Republican Calling for Armed Rebellion? He Won’t Say. - NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute)
https://www.notus.org/jim-banks-appeal-to-heaven

2024-06-27 19:51:47

We've updated our Misconduct Database to reflect a new investigation into Rep. Hunt (R-TX38), updates on Reps. Jackson (R-TX13) and Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL20) and the start of our annual link check. We're starting at the bottom because a source we've relied on for several years for the oldest cases, a Century of Lawmaking from the Library of Congress, is in transition. If there's something you need asap, let us know & we'll update it out of the planned order. https://www.govtrack.us/misconduct

2024-06-24 22:28:49

Army Confirms Troy Nehls Is Ineligible for the Combat Badge He Proudly Wears - NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute)
https://www.notus.org/house/army-confirms-troy-nehls-ineligible-combat-badge

2024-06-21 20:41:25

Do you have someone in your life who doesn't see the difference between Biden and Trump? Show them this voter guide: https://guides.vote/guide/2024-united-states-president-voters-guide. There must be an issue on the list that they care even a little about.
The guide doesn't address that only one of the two is a billionaire felon using his hatred of democracy and a base of Christian Nationalists and Nazis to end the First Amendment and make his own family richer, but the people who would find this guide useful probably don't mind it.

2024-06-17 13:50:43

Senate is in this week for nominations and per Craig Caplan on X: “House is out for for the week over the Juneteenth holiday. They’ll be in for two brief pro forma sessions and will next return for votes on Tuesday, June 25. Many members are on CODELs this week including to India and Israel. “

2024-05-28 16:34:27

Have you noticed that we (and Congress) use a lot of jargon?
Let's get some of your questions about Congress answered. Ask us anything by filling out the form linked below. Ask about how Congress works, what we do at GovTrack, or anything else that you think we can help with. We'll try to answer your questions (without using AI!) in a future update posted at https://www.govtrack.us/posts.
Here's the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlb8Yxix2eQNTknOr8yaqht60Fsq2szXfTSHI8_1m9uiETxw/viewform?usp=sf_link

2024-05-22 17:01:17

S.J.Res. 58 by Sen. Ted Cruz [R-TX] passed the Senate yesterday (→House). A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnaces”. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sjres58 🏛️

2024-05-22 15:01:17

S.Con.Res. 36 by Sen. Brian Schatz [D-HI] was agreed to yesterday. A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha I. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sconres36 🏛️

2024-05-17 18:49:15

About Justice Alito raising a pro-Trump inverted flag at his house (his wife, sure sure, and also Ginny Thomas):
When I got married, my wife asked if GovTrack's political independence meant I would want her to refrain from public politics. Mrs. GovTrack took our political independence more seriously than the wives of Republican Supreme Court Justices took the independence of the Supreme Court. Sheesh.
Also I have never violated the US law requiring the flag be upright.
~JT

2024-05-13 14:37:10

Both chambers are in recess today. More senators potentially in the running for VP for the Republican nomination have shown up for today’s session of the Trump trial. Sen. Scott (FL) was there last week and saying all the things that Trump’s gag order prohibits. Today it’s Sen. Vance (OH) and Sen. Tuberville (AL).

2024-05-01 14:54:18

Rep. Greene (R-GA14) and Rep. Massie (R-KY4) say they will force a motion to vacate the Speaker next week. There will almost certainly be a motion to table first which, if it passed, would end the process. If not, then they go to the actual motion to vacate. Enough Democrats have indicated they’d support Johnson either actively or by not showing up for the vote (and thus reducing the number needed for a majority) that it is expected to fail.

2024-04-12 17:01:05

🔜 H.R. 7645 by Rep. Mike Ezell [R-MS4]: Clothes Dryer Reliability Act https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr7645 🏛️

2024-03-23 20:01:10

Provisions of H.R. 5893 by Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers [R-KY5] were enacted on 03/09/24 (via H.R. 4366). Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr5893 🏛️

2024-03-22 18:47:16

Chaos vibes intensify still further, though not the way you might expect from our first post today. Rep. Greene did not privilege her motion to vacate the speaker, so that’s not going anywhere.
But! Just a little while ago, Rep. Gallagher (R-WI8) announced he’s leaving on 4/19 instead of the end of this term. Drops the GOP margin on tight votes to 1.
Also, Rep. Granger (R-TX12) has announced she doesn’t want to be appropriations chair anymore. This is, traditionally, a very powerful position.

2024-03-21 22:01:20

S.Res. 567 by Sen. Timothy “Tim” Kaine [D-VA] was agreed to yesterday. A resolution recognizing the seriousness of widespread health care worker burnout in the United States and the need to strengthen health workforce well-being, and expressing support for the designation of March 18, 2024, as the inaugural “Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness”. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sres567 🏛️

2024-03-21 17:01:21

S.Res. 600 by Sen. Mike Braun [R-IN] was agreed to yesterday. A resolution recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sres600 🏛️

2024-03-18 14:18:50

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"Evidence demonstrates AI’s negative impacts on workers’ jobs and economic opportunity, excessive use of scarce resources such as water and energy, racially biased outcomes in medical treatment, arbitrary decisions in social and medical benefits, civil rights abuses in policing and the justice system, and military applications that may undermine human rights and constitutional values."
https://datasociety.net/announcements/2024/03/18/ensuring-ai-safety-begins-with-addressing-algorithmic-harms-now/

2024-03-18 14:18:35

We signed onto a letter from two dozen organizations calling on agencies implementing President Biden's executive order on artificial intelligence to focus on AI's actual harms happening today, not the sci-fi dystopia that AI's impresarios are trying to distract you with so they can get away with harms today. (1/2)

2024-03-08 21:01:09

H.R. 3843 by Rep. Robin Kelly [D-IL2] passed the House yesterday (→Senate). Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr3843 🏛️

2024-03-08 01:02:42

FYI, being expelled apparently has no effect on floor privileges for former Congress members. That said, George Santos may be unique in exercising those privileges this evening. We acknowledge the quality trolling this represents although we’re not 100% sure if the trolling is of Biden, Congress, the voting public or all of the above.

2024-03-07 22:01:10

H.R. 3821 by Rep. Bill Pascrell [D-NJ9] passed the House yesterday (→Senate). Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr3821 🏛️

2024-02-27 15:16:38

Congress scrambles to avoid embarrassing shutdown - Live Updates - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02/26/congress/mcconnell-on-shutdown-00143371

2024-02-20 17:04:03

Supreme Court rejects appeal from 3 GOP House members over $500 mask fines | Interesting nugget: lawyers for the Speaker urged the Supreme Court to reject this appeal. Why? Presumably because the suit was an attack on the House’s ability to set its own rules. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-house-representatives-masks-fines-7a67ac0dc83b18d743cc2a12a52e3732

2024-02-16 17:01:05

47 bills were introduced in Congress yesterday. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse#sort=-introduced_date 🏛️

2024-02-06 23:52:09

Well that was dramatic. The attempt to impeach Sec. Mayorkas - not for high crimes and misdemeanors, but for, at best, maladministration (depending on your partisan perspective) - has failed. The GOP was counting on Rep. Green, a TX Dem, not making it in time to vote. But he did and with 3 GOP nos, that tied it at 215-215 which means the resolution fails. At the end, another GOP rep changed their vote to no so it can be brought up again, but it was Rep. Green’s surprise appearance that did it.

2024-02-05 15:29:30

Also, at some point in the shortened House week this week (Democrats have a retreat later in the week), the House will need to vote on the Greene resolution to censure Omar for an apparently mistranslated speech.
Meanwhile, the House Republicans that are talking all say they won’t vote for the Ukraine/Border enforcement bill and Rep. Scalise, who sets the floor schedule, says he won’t let it on the floor for a vote.

2024-02-01 16:25:59

Apparently, Rep. Greene has introduced a measure to censure Rep. Omar over what appears to be a mistranslated (possibly intentionally) speech Omar gave recently. The vote will be next week. The MN Reformer story with translations from two separate translators indicating she said nothing controversial: https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/02/01/republicans-smeared-ilhan-omar-over-a-faulty-translation-heres-what-she-really-said/

2024-01-23 22:48:06

House ethics probe into Rep. Matt Gaetz picks up steam with new witnesses contacted: Sources - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/gaetz-house-ethics-probe-picks-steam-new-witnesses/story?id=106600322

2024-01-11 22:28:42

Per Brendan Peterson on X “House Financial Services Committee has a new working group on artificial intelligence. Here's who's on it:”
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/739/673/882/646/440/original/bac38bd1405e20d3.jpeg

2024-01-09 18:01:12

Sen. Menendez came to the Senate floor to claim, among other things, that the government has no evidence of him having been given or received gold bars. Which we guess must have some very specific legal meaning since he _had_ gold bars in his home according to the indictment. Video of the speech: https://www.c-span.org/video/?532727-1/senate-session

2023-12-29 13:43:03

Who was nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal in 2023? https://govtrackinsider.com/who-was-nominated-for-the-congressional-gold-medal-in-2023-17a611bd060f
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/663/995/827/913/845/original/805b31e7af3444b3.webp

2023-12-28 16:14:46

The Civil War _was_ about "states' rights". Specifically, the claim by some states that they had the right to enslave other human beings and the other states saying "you absolutely do not". The slaveholding states felt so strongly about their "right" to enslave other humans that they went to war over it. This is not complicated and anyone, politician or otherwise, who can't or won't say this explicitly should not be in office or elected to one.

2023-12-22 20:01:08

Provisions of S.J.Res. 28 by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto [D-NV], Rep. Adrian Smith [R-NE3] were enacted on 12/21/23 (via H.J.Res. 64). A joint resolution providing for the reappointment of Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sjres28 🏛️

2023-12-13 15:16:10

GOP Rep. Mike Garcia Secretly Sold Boeing Stock Ahead of Damning Report | https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-rep-mike-garcia-secretly-sold-boeing-stock-ahead-of-damning-report

2023-12-01 16:05:17

Per Greg Giroux on X: "George Santos expelled by US House in 311-114 vote (2/3rd majority needed)
Republicans 105-112
Democrats 206-2 (2 voted "present")
Santos 6th House member ever expelled (3rd since Civil War).
Special election in competitive NY03"
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/506/006/391/708/980/original/02493232ebba364e.png

2023-11-14 17:46:45

Things are apparently getting a bit rowdy in both chambers of Congress today. Kevin McCarthy (security detail in tow no less) appears to have elbowed Tim Burchett in front of a reporter and then Burchett chased after him (tho not so hard he caught up). In a Senate hearing, Markwayne Mullin challenged a witness to a brawl right there in the hearing. The witness - the head of the Teamsters - agreed and Sen. Sanders had to be Dad. 🙄 Reminds me of this; the testimony is 🤣: https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(hj003129))
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/410/151/549/387/360/original/528d95525de622df.jpeg

2023-11-14 00:00:41

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@npub1e5u…9p24 @npub1kkw…hfrq They mean until 11:59 11/17.

2023-11-10 20:01:06

85 bills were introduced in Congress yesterday. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse#sort=-introduced_date 🏛️

2023-11-09 18:13:30

It is 11/9. The House has adjourned until next Monday giving it 5 days to avoid a government shutdown. So, Rep. Greene (R-GA14) has introduced as a privileged motion - aka one that must be acted on in 2 legislative days - a resolution to impeach Homeland Sec. Mayorkas.

2023-11-01 21:19:37

Somewhat surprisingly, no one in the GOP tried to table the resolution to expel Rep. Santos. So now there’s an hour of debate. Usually, there are two members who get half the time and each of the people they recognize speaks on the same side they do, e.g. the member for a resolution recognizes others in favor and vice versa. However, Santos, who is leading his own side, just recognized Rep. Goldman who’s speaking against Santos. Reporters say the chamber is mostly empty too.+

2023-10-25 11:39:23

Today’s GOP Speaker nominee is Rep. Mike Johnson of LA: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mike_johnson/412706 He was an enthusiastic participant in the efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The way things have gone, it’s very likely he won’t make it to/through a floor vote either, but that’s how things stand as the day starts.

2023-10-24 20:29:18

Annnnnnd Emmer is out. Maybe all the Republicans will take a stab at being Speaker?

2023-10-24 14:42:07

This morning, the House Republicans are trying to select a new Speaker candidate. They’re basically doing so with ranked choice voting, just in the least efficient way possible. At the start, there were 8 candidates; now down to 6. Current plan is that when they have one candidate who can get the majority of votes in private, they’ll go to the floor and see what happens in public. 24 days until the next government shutdown.

2023-10-17 17:52:58

As many Congressional reporters are pointing out, Jordan just now lost as many votes (20) as McCarthy did in most of his 15 ballots in January and more than McCarthy did when he was booted two weeks ago. He could still win maybe on another ballot eventually, but very unclear whether he keeps pushing for more votes or what.

2023-10-16 19:19:25

School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act from Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) would eliminate K-12 students’ “school meal debt”. https://govtrackinsider.com/school-lunch-debt-cancellation-act-would-eliminate-k-12-students-school-meal-debt-a29fe0a21fa7
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/246/307/785/969/173/original/25681de4c1bbfc15.png

2023-10-11 17:29:16

Rep. Scalise is the official GOP nominee for Speaker. However, there are still some legislators saying they won’t vote for him, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The chamber-wide vote will probably start this afternoon.

2023-10-03 20:50:48

One difference between now and January (when no House business could be conducted until a speaker selected) is that now there’s a set of House rules in operation. There can be a temporary Speaker (Speaker Pro Tem) to allow for at least some legislative activity to occur. That person will be Rep. McHenry (R-NC10).

2023-10-03 20:47:00

Ok then. McCarthy is out; the House has no Speaker at the moment. Not 100% clear what happens next because, well, this is a first.

2023-10-03 19:18:11

Sooo…turns out the new Sen. Butler of CA was sworn in today (a day earlier than originally anticipated) and the motion to vacate Speaker McCarthy is going forward after the attempt to kill it failed. There’s an hour of debate before the vote on the motion itself. This debate is solely between Republicans bc the Dems are currently committed to letting the Republicans work out their own problems.

2023-10-01 19:01:05

🔜 H.R. 3944 by Rep. Rick Allen [R-GA12]: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 West Church Street in Mount Vernon, Georgia, as the “Second Lieutenant Patrick Palmer Calhoun Post Office”. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr3944 🏛️

2023-09-28 16:33:53

Your GovTracker is done with today’s impeachment hearing. No actual new content has emerged and Rep. Comer just referred to a Chinese citizen with a term that is generally considered insulting and offensive.

2023-09-28 14:18:18

Watching impeachment hearing today. Main takeaway after the first opening statements: President Hunter Biden is sleazy and it’s a good thing they’re impeaching him.

2023-08-30 19:34:40

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Appear to Freeze at Kentucky Event - Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-30/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-in-kentucky-appearance

2023-08-24 21:09:29

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@npub1u2h…z4d7 @npub1gyv…en4c I don't think any AI translation app can be held accountable for its accuracy and probably suffers from the same confabulation issues as the chat bots.

2023-08-24 19:43:23

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@npub1u2h…z4d7 @npub1gyv…en4c Name one? An application that exists today that uses content scraped from our website, is accountable for its accuracy (i.e. not fiction), and cites its sources?

2023-08-24 19:07:10

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@npub1u2h…z4d7 @npub1gyv…en4c Being a part of a fiction-generating machine is not aligned with our mission, no.

2023-08-24 18:51:04

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@npub1gyv…en4c @npub1u2h…z4d7 No one is scraping GovTrack in order to create coding assistants. That's not what we're talking about.

2023-08-23 11:41:24

Following The New York Times, we've banned OpenAI and the like from using GovTrack to train LLMs and other AI systems going forward, per our terms of use (https://www.govtrack.us/legal) and robots.txt file.
We're skeptical that LLM AI systems have any place outside of generating uninspired fiction, we're disappointed that present-day harms aren't taken seriously, and we're concerned about how they launder the work of creators.

2023-08-21 14:57:40

Do you use Congress.gov? The Library of Congress, which operates Congress.gov, is hosting a public forum about the site next month. We strongly recommend attending if it's of interest (we've attended in prior years). https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/08/join-us-for-a-congress-gov-public-forum-on-september-13th/

2023-08-15 14:59:02

The New York Times has produced an annotated version of the GA indictment. Here’s a gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/15/us/politics/trump-georgia-indictment-annotated.html?unlocked_article_code=IYbkwGgnjA_ceuIiL2rtUz478dfjlsULlpyAFBkAJ9OcprGDMSAelhRBvUyb6zB25t_gXeUrqUdpBxe4wesZdasOZCTYKaVhHAVHRnf27-ANBjDQwCjIVtAGp5Hd_DzkdEp3JTw2iQ1Zdf9K2EePOR4e_5SC03xMBCl6R9vf05S2A_Eh4wdXvv5RESdPUoid1CXXhXR5owUQ9lMgpV2tg4EvqtHSSpF3zDD9v8i_oXoEJzlH9Y_QJ-Pe8NlUhuX4rUxKchN1kNkkJKsnwDAekFQhNaZc1qxS2U1tbLiqqs5OISI-0UqzX6d-v3NqCnryx_vORq09pQFVJagWz5yaxFLEfcJo_PA-O2K08go-O1na0NnOC3tqZxFsOVEERL2Q&smid=url-share We will be covering this case since it former Congress member Mark Meadows is among the charged.

2023-08-08 19:26:14

Amid Hollywood writers and actors walkouts, Food Secure Strikers Act from Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC12) would let striking workers get federal food assistance. https://govtrackinsider.com/amid-hollywood-writers-and-actors-walkouts-food-secure-strikers-act-would-let-striking-workers-get-affcbc1fd01b
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/855/634/504/340/695/original/8b7e1fd6f9868bd6.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/855/634/510/287/327/original/c14148243066a9f2.png

2023-07-14 21:04:05

🚨 🤢 An amendment to the must-pass NDAA defense spending bill has been proposed to prohibit publishing certain sensitive information about legislators and their families. We signed onto a letter to sponsors Klobuchar and Cruz strongly opposing this special treatment for legislators.
Politico is covering the proposal: https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/07-14-2023/online-safety-klobuchar-cruz-transparency/

2023-07-13 22:25:44

How’s it going in the House this afternoon? Well, House Republicans (and Rep. Cuellar (D-TX28)) voted to strike the Defense Department’s policy on paying for/reimbursing for abortion expenses; House Republicans & a so-far unnamed Dem voted to prohibit support for transgender medical care; and House Republicans and 9 Dems voted to prohibit any money for diversity & inclusion activities/offices in the military. Apparently also someone referred to “colored people” during Floor debate. +

2023-07-10 16:22:36

How the debt deal has upended Congress’ spending timeline - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/26/congress-spending-shutdown-mccarthy-biden-00103346

2023-06-13 20:01:07

🔜 H.R. 3799 by Rep. Kevin Hern [R-OK1]: CHOICE Arrangement Act https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr3799 🏛️

2023-06-07 14:57:20

Weird fallout from the debt ceiling bill: far-right members of the GOP are now preventing any votes on any bills, even GOP-popular ones like gas stove bills to teach McCarthy a lesson (though unclear what that lesson is). Presumably he’ll find a way out of the impasse, but for now, it appears that the GOP’s main priority is blocking itself. Which, again, kinda odd.

2023-06-01 17:01:09

S.Res. 229 by Sen. Steve Daines [R-MT] passed yesterday. A resolution designating May 2023 as “National Brain Tumor Awareness Month”. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sres229 🏛️

2023-06-01 11:39:19

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The paradox in law is intentional: The debt limit is a manufactured crisis exploited by Republicans to periodically extract policy concessions under the threat of economic crisis.
If the debt limit were reached, the U.S. would default on its obligations set in law (i.e. military salaries and other feds, Social Security and related programs, grants to state police and schools, interest payments on federal debt to retirement plans and other debt holders). This could trigger a global recession.

2023-06-01 11:37:25

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The fiscal crisis came about because of a paradox between three parts of law: federal spending levels set by law have increased (see Trump COVID relief), revenue from enacted tax laws have not kept pace (see Trump tax cuts), and the resultant increase in national debt was projected to imminently reach the statutory debt limit, a law originally enacted in 1917. Existing law also prohibits the printing of money to bridge fiscal gaps. ...

2023-06-01 11:35:45

Last night the House passed (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h243) a compromise reached by House Republicans and President Biden to avert an impending fiscal crisis related to the statutory debt limit. In exchange for the continued solvency of the federal government, sought by Democrats, Republicans got across-the-board cuts to federal spending, ending Biden's suspension of student loan repayments, adding new work requirements for SNAP and TANF, and more. ...

2023-05-23 11:13:49

As the United States heads toward running out of cash in a few weeks, here's a reminder how this happened:
* The law says what tax rates are, determining revenue.
* Each year laws are enacted that direct money to be spent a certain way.
* Existing debt has to be serviced (e.g. bonds).
* An older law limits national debt.
* Republicans drove up the debt during the Trump Admin (tax cuts, airline bailouts, etc) so that the limit is about to be reached.
The laws are logically incompatible.

2023-05-19 23:01:08

Committees 🆗'd S. 1387 by Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX] yesterday. Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2023 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/s1387 🏛️

2023-05-11 12:41:56

What's our take on AI/LLMs you ask? Here's Google's Bard plagiarizing us, confabulating an incorrect definition of "coup" that benefits the far-right, and both-sidesing the Jan 6 coup.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/350/095/736/412/640/original/57b94243065d658a.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/350/099/317/984/250/original/663e9f2e9e897994.png

2023-05-10 17:06:47

Stop Judge Shopping Act Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) would ban judges outside DC from issuing nationwide injunctions, like April’s abortion pill ruling in Texas. https://govtrackinsider.com/stop-judge-shopping-act-would-ban-judges-outside-dc-from-issuing-nationwide-injunctions-like-382064e306ef
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/345/478/022/076/619/original/abfaa3ed6c35dda4.jpeg

2023-05-08 16:44:39

Alimony Relief Act from Rep. George Santos (R-NY3) would make alimony payments to an ex-spouse after a divorce tax-deductible. https://govtrackinsider.com/alimony-relief-act-would-make-alimony-payments-to-an-ex-spouse-after-a-divorce-tax-deductible-4ae5587e9402
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/334/067/817/260/296/original/5a1c0ba45bb9568a.jpeg

2023-05-04 19:40:07

Constitutional amendment from Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA3) would ban state governors from filling a US Senate vacancy. https://govtrackinsider.com/constitutional-amendment-would-ban-state-governors-from-filling-a-us-senate-vacancy-e4a218ff6320
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/312/108/721/269/782/original/5057256d2ee3f7f9.jpeg

2023-05-03 16:57:54

Go Woke Go Broke Act would eliminate Treasury Department’s new Advisory Committee on Racial Equity. https://govtrackinsider.com/go-woke-go-broke-act-would-eliminate-treasury-departments-new-advisory-committee-on-racial-equity-7d2c9671f9ae
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/305/808/428/345/577/original/52e36b91b9b6856a.jpeg

2023-04-30 21:14:52

- reply

The purpose of showing earmark requests is *not* because we think thy are inherently bad. Earmarks have a bad reputation, but it's just a reputation.
Like all information on GovTrack, it's for you to review, decide if you think they are good priorities, and hold Congress accountable.

2023-04-30 21:13:08

In collaboration with Demand Progress, GovTrack now shows representatives' earmark requests for FY2024. Here's Republican Rep. Weber's $686 million in requested earmarks (almost 20 times the median across legislators with earmark requests; compare to his demagoguery about the national debt lolz). https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/randy_weber/412574
Most representatives from both parties requested earmarks. There's nothing wrong with that: Earmarks may direct spending where it is most needed in each district.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/289/800/384/213/102/original/ad1043dd88936eae.png

2023-04-19 21:24:54

‘Anti-corruption’ Rep. Dan Goldman made hundreds of stock trades after saying he'd create a ‘blind trust’ - Raw Story - Celebrating 19 Years of Independent Journalism https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/daniel-goldman/

2023-04-13 17:09:09

Some people argue that the focus on Feinstein is unfair and sexist because there are apparently a number of male Senators who’re also no longer able to serve. We would suggest that this problem has an easy solution: name those Senators too and begin to pressure them to resign as well. The US Congress is responsible for multi-trillion dollar budgets, decisions about entering or exiting wars, judicial appointments, and laws governing every aspect of life. They need to be able to do the work.

2023-04-13 16:54:03

Related to the last boost, Sen. Feinstein has asked to temporarily step down from Judiciary since no one knows when she will return. ML Schumer has begun work on that, but it may require a vote and Republicans may not play ball. Some Democrats have begun to say publicly that she needs to resign. If she remains unable to do her job indefinitely, that’s a reasonable request.

2023-04-02 18:59:09

Hello wonderful fediverse followers. Your interactions have been so much better than what we experienced in the previous decade on Twitter. Just wanted to say that.

2022-11-21 01:40:48

We've closed up our Twitter account. A platform whose owner uses it to bait violent anti-democratic conspiracy theories and engage in overt anti-semitism is not a place compatible with our mission to inform, create accountability, and improve democracy.