You can make a difference
Learn about rank choice voting and much more! Join us for a meeting via Zoom on Thursday, August 19 at 6pm central time. More details, including the link to register, will follow soon.
Join All IN for Democracy and our model redistricting commission – the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) for an update on where we are at with redistricting and how citizens can help advocate for an open and transparent process that yields fair maps that benefit voters and protect communities of interest. Legislative hearings will be held to take public input on redistricting on August 6th, 7th and 11th. Let’s make sure we are speaking in unison so the General Assembly will have to list. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_YFq3PptuRWakzeZr9Q_z_w
Public input is essential to let our lawmakers know that we want fairly drawn maps that allow voters to choose their representatives and not the other way around. Republicans are on track to draw maps that keep and increase the number of seats they hold, making representation even more disproportionally republican even though Indiana is only slightly more republican than democratic. At the congressional level only two seats are held by democrats and those seats are at risk.
In Northwest Indiana public meetings will be held at Ivy Tech Valparaiso: 3-5 p.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 6 (WFYI)
Not only is 2022 just around the corner, but democracy itself stands on the brink, requiring action at every level of government. For the first time in a long time, progressive changes are possible, but not without work. If you’re ready to jump into action and volunteer with Indivisible NWI, email our president, Kim Eldridge at kimeldridgeevents@gmail.com
National
Enacted — Signed by the President
H.R. 26: Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2021
S. 1910: Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 – 7.
GovTrack.us: “This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specified major medical facility projects during FY2021. The bill also indicates the maximum amount that can be spent on each project.”
In Congress this past week:
Passed the House and Senate, goes to President Biden for him to sign or veto
H.R. 1002: DEBAR Act of 2021
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
GovTrack.us: “To amend the Controlled Substances Act to authorize the debarment of certain registrants, and for other purposes.”
Passed the House
H.R. 2485: To require the Director of the Government Publishing Office to establish and maintain a single online portal accessible to the public that allows the public to obtain electronic copies of all congressionally mandated reports, and for other pur
GovTrack.us: “This bill requires the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a publicly available online portal containing copies of all congressionally mandated reports. A federal agency must submit a congressionally mandated report and specified information about the report to the GPO between 30 and 45 days after submission of the report to either chamber or to any congressional committee or subcommittee.”
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote
H.R. 1664: To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
Last Action: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 – 0
H.R. 2365: Gold Star Mothers Family Monument Extension Act
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 – 0
Senate
The “bipartisan group of senators has finalized legislative text of the infrastructure bill, after hours of last-minute additions and edits to the more than 2,000-page legislation.” (CNN)
“The Senate is set to continue debate over a bipartisan infrastructure package this week and will potentially consider a budget resolution that would pave the way for Democrats’ partisan infrastructure bill to move through reconciliation.” (Causes) The House began its recess July 30 and will not return for floor votes until September 20. Committees will hold remote hearings during four of the next eight weeks. Read more about the week ahead at Causes.
Passed the Senate
S. 503: PARENTS Act of 2021
GovTrack.us: “This bill expands the use of federal incentive payments to states under the Child Support Enforcement Program to include establishing agreements for how much time a child spends with each parent as agreed to by the parents under a child support or medical support order. Generally, the incentive payments program provides funding based on a state’s performance measures related to (1) establishing paternity, (2) the number of cases with child support orders in place, (3) the collection of current and past-due support payments, and (4) cost-effectiveness.”
Last Action: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
S. 231: PFAS Act
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S. 583: PRICE Act of 2021
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent
H.R. 3237: Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act, 2021
Passed Senate, under the order of 7/29/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 – 0. This bill has been passed in the House and the Senate, but the Senate made changes and sent it back to the House on July 29, 2021
S. 1046: Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act of 2021
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
S. 1301: Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
The week ahead in Congress
“The Senate is set to continue debate over a bipartisan infrastructure package this week and will potentially consider a budget resolution that would pave the way for Democrats’ partisan infrastructure bill to move through reconciliation.” (Causes) The House began its recess July 30 and will not return for floor votes until September 20. Committees will hold remote hearings during four of the next eight weeks. Read more about the week ahead at Causes.
In other news
“The House select committee investigating the deadly Capitol riot held its first high-profile hearing Tuesday with testimony from four police officers who defended the building that day.” (CNN Politics)
Four police officers testified Tuesday about the physical and verbal assaults they faced responding to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in a highly emotional hearing. (NPR)
The Justice Department says it won’t defend Alabama GOP Rep. Mo Brooks in court against a civil lawsuit accusing him of helping to incite the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The department said Brooks was engaged in campaign activity when he participated in the rally — which was not within the scope of his duties as a member of Congress — so he doesn’t qualify for legal immunity for his actions. (NPR)
“Fueled by vaccinations and government aid, the U.S. economy grew at a solid 6.5% annual rate last quarter in another sign that the nation has achieved a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession. The total size of the economy has now surpassed its pre-pandemic level.” (Associated Press)
“The Biden administration announced Monday that long Covid, a condition where people experience long-term Covid-19 symptoms long after clearing the actual virus from their system, could be considered a disability under civil rights laws.” (Politico)
“Justice Department lawyers say that federal law doesn’t stop private businesses or public agencies from mandating Covid vaccines, according to an opinion released on Monday just hours after the Department of Veterans Affairs became the first federal agency to mandate inoculations for some of its employees.” (Politico)
Incentives failed to increase vaccination rates. Now vaccine mandates are being issued from a variety of agencies and businesses:
“ Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced he will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Title 38 VA health care personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, expanded-function dental auxiliaries and chiropractors — who work in Veterans Health Administration facilities, visit VHA facilities or provide direct care to those VA serves.” (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
“The San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance, which includes more than 500 San Francisco bars, announced Monday a new policy requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a 72-hour negative COVID test for entry into their establishments.” (SF Gate)
California announced that state employees and health care workers must show proof of vaccination or get tested regularly.
New York City brought all municipal workers — including teachers and police officers — under a vaccine requirement that had previously only applied to health workers.
But…
Many Republican-led states are preemptively prohibiting vaccine requirements. Read more at Axios.
“In half of U.S. states, more people died than were born in 2020, up from just five states in 2019. COVID death rates, immigration restrictions and persistently low birth rates pushed the weak U.S. population growth rate close to zero.” (Axios)
“Reversing course, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that all students and staff should wear masks inside schools, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated — an acknowledgment that slowing vaccination rates and the highly contagious delta variant are complicating plans for a more normal start to the school year.” (Chalkbeat)
A pandemic that reshaped American society and disrupted more than a year of schooling also slowed progress in math and reading for millions of U.S. students, according to new national data, which confirms Black, Latino, and low-income students were hit hardest. Younger students saw some of the biggest declines, as did students attending high-poverty schools. That means the pandemic widened pre-pandemic test score gaps by race and economic status.” (Chalkbeat)
“Attorney General Merrick Garland urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reverse his day-old executiveorder that aims to restrict migration at the border following a rise in Covid-19 cases.” (Politico)
“President Joe Biden agreed on Monday to formally conclude the US combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year, another step toward winding down the two prolonged military engagements that began in the years following the September 11 terror attacks.” (CNN Politics)
“The conservative House Freedom Caucus is calling for the removal of Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois from the Republican caucus, an effort to punish the pair for joining the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.” (NBC News)
The Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington has announced it will be honoring Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious diseases doctor, with an award for his work in HIV/AIDS prevention and as a leading expert during the ongoing pandemic. (The Hill)
To find and contact your Members of Congress: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Indiana
The rumor mill is abuzz that Senator Mike Braun may not seek re election 2024 and instead run for governor. This could pave the way for Eric Holcomb to run for U.S. Senate. Rob Kendall and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, along with former State Senator Jim Merritt debate how Braun’s decision could drastically change the political landscape in Indiana on this week’s Statehouse Happenings. (Statehouse Happenings, WIBC)
The Crown Point Community School Corp. made it clear Monday night that it will not teach its students critical race theory. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
New research by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership on Hoosier jobs shows that fewer than half of Indiana’s workers (42%) have jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and health care. (Indy Politics)
More than two-thirds of Indiana’s counties fall under the CDC’s new guidance for face masks. (WTHR)
Using your cell phone while driving will now pack an extra penalty. (WIBC)
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Marion Superior Court is giving fresh scrutiny to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s continued employment at a private company while he was beginning his term as the state’s top lawyer. (Indiana Lawyer)
It looks like Todd Young may have a challenger in next year’s Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate. (Indy Politics)
