The House of Representatives convened a select committee on China, made up of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, to investigate the technological, economic, and military threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois both stressed the importance of bipartisanship in order to effectively address the issue. The committee is expected to continue its investigation into the CCP's activities in the coming months.
Posts tagged as “the House of Representatives”
Congressman George Santos of New York has been caught in another lie, this time involving United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Santos falsely claimed that Sinema had consoled him after a tense exchange with Senator Mitt Romney, but Sinema's office has denied this. Santos has previously been embroiled in controversy for lying about major parts of his life story, and it remains to be seen if he will face any consequences for his false claims.
On Thursday, the U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon, prompting a response from Beijing and a call from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to his Chinese counterpart. The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution condemning China for the incident, and China's Defense Ministry refused Austin's call for a general-to-general talk. Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for not acting quickly enough, and the incident has further complicated the already tense relationship between the U.S. and China.
Pennsylvania Democrats won a decisive victory in three special elections for the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, giving them control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years. This majority gives them the power to block GOP-led initiatives, including a potential anti-abortion ballot measure. The special elections were the culmination of several months of electoral drama, with Democrats winning in all three districts, and could have implications for the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
In his State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden highlighted the economic progress made during his presidency and called for bipartisan cooperation to raise the debt ceiling and invest in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The address was met with a standing ovation from Democrats in the House, and Biden's approval numbers have continued to rise since the speech. However, it remains to be seen if the President will be able to overcome the partisan rancor to accomplish his goals with the new Congress.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, largely along party lines. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) gave an impassioned speech in defense of Omar, alleging that the vote was motivated by racism and Islamophobia. Her speech was met with applause and support from other Democrats in the House, who argued that the vote was not about Omar's comments, but rather about targeting women of color.
House of Representatives voted 218 to 211 to pass a resolution condemning Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for her past antisemitic comments and removing her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. All 211 Democrats unified behind Omar, who gave an emotional and defiant floor speech before the vote. The resolution was a victory for McCarthy and the Republicans, and its effects on Omar's standing in the House remain to be seen.
Nancy Pelosi has endorsed fellow Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff for the U.S. Senate if Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California retires. House Republicans are expected to vote on a resolution to remove Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, but the resolution is not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. The vote on Thursday will have a significant impact on the future of the House.