Press Staff Blog

ICYMI, wanted to be sure you saw that 12 organizations and six congressional experts sent a letter yesterday in support of the CAO study requested by Leader Hoyer, Chairman Jeffries, and Chair Lofgren on pay and benefits for House staff. First, a quick recap of House Democrats’ efforts to better recruit and retain experienced and diverse House staffers: In April, Leader Hoyer and Chairman Jeffries wrote to Appropriators calling for an increase in Congressional staff pay.

Three months after Democrats enacted the landmark American Rescue Plan to provide direct assistance to American workers and families as we build back from COVID-19, unemployment data shows that President Biden’s economic plan is working. Defeating the COVID-19 pandemic through expanded vaccine distribution, supporting small businesses, and getting direct economic relief to the American middle class has helped contribute to a strong decline in initial unemployment insurance claims. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the four-week moving average for new unemployment insurance claims is below 400,000.  

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is saying the quiet part out loud again:“McConnell warned Republicans at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that regardless of tweaks to the bill that approving the commission could hurt the party’s midterm election message, according to attendees. He left that room and promptly told reporters that while Democrats want to talk about Trump, voters who'll determine control of Congress next fall ‘ought to focus on what this administration is doing to the country.’” [Politico, 5/26/21]

Just two days prior to signing a sweeping legislative package that sharply restricts voting rights in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis found another way to stifle Floridians’ participation in democracy. ICYMI – on Tuesday, the Governor announced that the special election to fill the seat of Rep. Alcee Hastings, who passed away in April, will be held in January. Nope, that wasn’t a typo.