July 13
If it feels like it's been much longer than a week since you received the last MORE POWER, you're right. A year ago, shortly after the last newsletter landed in your inbox, my dad died after a short battle with liver cancer. The very next day, my mom was diagnosed with lymphoma. After a 10-month fight, she passed away at the end of April. After a year of focusing on my family and mourning, MORE POWER is back. This time on Monday’s.
This week, both the House and Senate return to Washington after the Fourth of July recess. In addition to the bills below, judicial nominations will move through the Senate and Congress will continue laying the groundwork for negotiations over government funding later this year.
This week in MORE POWER:
Men Down
The Art of War... and Amendments
SAVE the Drama
Hope as a Policy
Men Down
Adding to an already consequential week, the Senate is adjusting to the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Republicans now have one fewer vote until South Carolina appoints a successor. Beyond representing South Carolina for more than two decades, Graham chaired the Senate Budget Committee and was one of the Republican conference's most influential voices on defense and foreign policy. His absence could affect committee leadership, nominations and close votes in the weeks ahead.
In addition to that loss, former Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., remains away from the Senate as he continues recovering from recent health issues. Although he is no longer party leader, McConnell remains one of the chamber's most influential lawmakers, and his absence further complicates an already unusual week for Senate Republicans.
The Art of War... and Amendments
The annual National Defense Authorization Act, better known as the NDAA, is expected to return to the spotlight after House leaders postponed action before the July recess. The bill sets national defense policy and authorizes funding for military pay, weapons programs, cybersecurity initiatives and military readiness. Although Congress has passed an NDAA for decades, disagreements over unrelated amendments have slowed progress this year. The NDAA shapes how the military operates and what priorities the Department of Defense pursues.
SAVE the Drama
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documents proving U.S. citizenship. Supporters argue the measure would strengthen election integrity and prevent noncitizens from voting. Opponents argue existing laws already prohibit noncitizen voting and worry the documentation requirement could make registration more difficult for eligible voters who lack readily available paperwork. The legislation has become one of the biggest sticking points in Congress this summer after disagreements over the bill disrupted the House schedule before recess. Election laws affect how millions of Americans register and vote, making this one of the most closely watched debates of the year.
Hope as a Policy
Over the past year, I experienced firsthand how devastating a cancer diagnosis (or two) can be for a family. Every year, Americans donate millions of dollars through crowdfunding platforms to help loved ones pay for treatment. Those donations make an incredible difference for individual families, but imagine if we also pooled our resources to advocate for policies that improve cancer prevention, research, treatment and access for everyone. That's why I created 1000 MORE.
While Congress isn't expected to vote on cancer legislation this week, lawmakers have introduced several bipartisan bills aimed at improving cancer care and research. These are exactly the kinds of issues that communities could organize around through collective civic action and you could contact your representative now to advocate for them.
National Cancer Institute Funding: Each year, Congress determines funding levels for the National Cancer Institute, which supports cancer research, clinical trials and the development of new therapies. Those investments have helped drive many of the advances in cancer care over the past several decades. You can log in to contact your legislators.
Give Kids a Chance Act: This bipartisan legislation encourages drug manufacturers to study promising cancer treatments in children sooner, helping young patients gain access to innovative therapies without waiting years after those treatments become available for adults. You can read more and take action here.
Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act: Childhood cancers receive only a small share of federal cancer research funding. This bill would help ensure pediatric cancer research receives greater attention, with the goal of accelerating new treatments and improving survival rates for children. You can read more and take action here.
Bills Congress Passed Last Week
None. They were on recess.
None. They were on recess.
None. They were on recess.
What The President Signed Into Law Last Week
None. But one bill still became law because both the House and Senate already passed it, and the president didn't sign or veto it before the deadline:
H.R. 6644, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
