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☆ House Democrats reject a rules change that could've empowered junior members amid concerns about aging leadership
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"Six years is a pretty long time," Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia told Insider at the Capitol earlier this month. "I'm not for term limits," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Insider during a briefing with reporters at the end of November. "I'm not taking a position on any single rules proposal that is before the House Democratic Caucus," he said. Another prominent young lawmaker — 33-year-old Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — has also been vocal in her criticism of the system. "Whatever the mechanism is, we need to have more opportunities for people to bring their leadership to bear in different places," she told Insider.

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Thursday that enshrines federal protections for marriages of same-sex and interracial couples. Thirty-nine House Republicans supported the legislation Thursday and one voted present. The revisions to the bill meant the House had to vote again after passing an earlier version in July. It reflects the rapidly growing U.S. public support for legal same-sex marriage, which hit a new high of 71% in June, according to Gallup tracking polls — up from 27% in 1996. In the Senate, 12 Republicans voted with unanimous Democrats to pass the bill, which sent it back to the House.

☆ The effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks is mostly dead — at least for now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Time has largely run out in this Congress to ban lawmakers from trading stocks. On Monday, he told Insider in a statement that he would "keep pushing to get this debated on the floor and get it passed." Democratic senators formed a working group, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's blessing, to draft legislation to ban stock trading among lawmakers. In the Senate, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told Insider that it was "not yet" time to declare the effort dead, pointing to ongoing discussions. "I support a stock ban for members of Congress," he told reporters in September.

☆ Congress is about to get a little bit younger, with lawmakers' median age dropping by two-and-a-half years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Walt Hickey | Annie Fu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On January 2, the median member of Congress will be 61.7 years old. On January 3, when the 118th Congress takes over, the median member will be 59.2 years old. Indeed, on the last day of the current 117th Congress, the median member will be 61.7 years of age, the oldest on record. On the first day of the 118th Congress, there will be 107 members over the age of 70. Assuming current membership holds, the median age of Congress will be 61.1, as of December 1, 2024 — just short of the current Congress' advanced age.

WASHINGTON — Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., beat back a leadership challenge on Thursday and will remain among the top House Democrats in the next Congress. Clyburn had faced a last-minute, surprise challenge from Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., for assistant leader, the No. 4 post, but the latter dropped his bid moments before the vote and endorsed Clyburn, members leaving the closed-door vote said. Cicilline’s decision means that Clyburn, 82, will remain in leadership at a time of generational change for the party. As assistant leader, Clyburn will serve alongside a new leadership slate.

[1/7] U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) walks on the day of House Democratic leadership elections on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2022. The vote by Jeffries' fellow Democrats also marked the rise of a younger generation of leaders in the 435-member House and the end of the Nancy Pelosi era. In 2007 she became the first woman to be elected House speaker. Jeffries, a 52-year-old New Yorker, will hold the position of House Democratic leader for the 118th Congress that convenes on Jan. 3. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was not surprised that Jeffries, a fellow Brooklynite, was chosen.

4 position in House Democratic leadership. “I would be honored and humbled to have your support and to be able to join Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar as part of the new generation of House leadership,” Cicilline wrote. From 2011 to 2019, he had served as assistant Democratic leader and also worked as the chair and vice chair of his caucus. Several younger Democrats were upset and surprised by Clyburn's decision to run for a leadership position. Another younger Democratic member who is supporting Cicilline said Wednesday, "I think it’s pretty ridiculous that Nancy had to leave.

☆ U.S. House Democrats set to elect Hakeem Jeffries as first Black party leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jeffries, a 52-year-old New Yorker, is running for House Democratic leader for the next two years. If he is elected as expected during closed-door voting, he would become the first Black person to hold a top party leadership job in the House or Senate. "Meaningful policymaking and public engagement opportunities should be robustly distributed regardless of length of service," Jeffries wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats. Running for election as part of Jeffries' team are Representative Katherine Clark, 59, who is seeking the No. 2 Democratic whip job, and Pete Aguilar, 43, vying for Jeffries' current job of Democratic caucus chairman.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats will elect their new leadership team Wednesday morning, ushering in a younger generation of leaders after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer decided to step aside after Democrats narrowly lost the majority this month. In recent years, younger, equally ambitious and talented Democrats looking to climb the leadership ladder discovered they had nowhere to go but out. Democratic Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra took an appointment as California's attorney general and then was named by President Joe Biden as health and human services secretary. Others, including Steve Israel of New York, who led both House Democrats' campaign arm and communications shop, opted for retirement. “The House Democratic Caucus is at its best when everyone has an opportunity to be on the playing field, playing the right position," he said.

☆ House Democrats elect Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as leader, the first Black person to lead congressional caucus
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Scott Wong | Ali Vitali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) departs a leadership election meeting with the Democratic caucus in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON — House Democrats elected their new leadership team Wednesday, ushering in a younger generation of leaders after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer decided to step aside after Democrats narrowly lost the majority this month. Jeffries' top deputy will be Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., 59, a progressive who served under Jeffries as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus and rose to assistant speaker this Congress. Rounding out the trio of new leaders is Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., 43, a Congressional Hispanic Caucus member and former mayor who was elected Democratic Caucus chairman — the role Jeffries has held for the past four years. Of the current "Big Three" Democrats, only Clyburn, the current majority whip, has opted to stay in leadership in the new Congress.

It would not bar states from blocking same-sex or interracial marriages if the Supreme Court allowed them to do so. A similar, but not identical, bill passed the House of Representatives earlier this year with support from 47 Republicans and all Democrats. The House would need to approve the Senate version before it is sent to President Joe Biden to sign into law. In June, the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to an abortion, undoing 50 years of precedent. In a concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the court should consider reversing other decisions protecting individual freedoms, including the 2015 ruling on gay marriage.

Shortly before Pelosi’s announcement Thursday that she was stepping down, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff signaled he would not run for House leadership and would focus his efforts on a future Senate bid instead. 2 leadership post, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington decided to run for another term leading her caucus of roughly 100 House liberals. Aguilar originally had his eyes set on the assistant leader position, but Clyburn’s move forced him to run for caucus chair. 4 and Democratic Caucus chair will move up to No. That left Rep. Joe Neguse, 38, who had been campaigning behind the scenes for months for caucus chair, as the odd man out.

☆ Outgoing Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says the 'biggest change' he's seen in his congressional career is 'how confrontational Republicans have become'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Steny Hoyer spoke about his time in leadership as he prepares to hand over the reins. He lamented the "confrontational" nature of some Republicans in the chamber in a Washington Post interview. Hoyer is stepping down from leadership, but will remain in the House in January 2023. "I think the biggest change in the institution is how confrontational Republicans have become," he told the newspaper. "That's the biggest change," Hoyer said, while also pointing to the events of January 6, 2021.

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said herself, quoting scripture on the House floor Thursday: “For everything there is a season — a time for every purpose under heaven.”For Pelosi, the season to be leader of House Democrats has passed. She’ll continue to represent San Francisco while serving as an invaluable source of guidance and resolve for the next generation of House Democratic leaders. At 82, Pelosi is a historic figure, of course: the first female House speaker and one of the strongest speakers, if not the strongest, that America has ever seen. Yet as a minority in a GOP-run House, Democrats won’t be able to rack up accomplishments like they did in the last two years. There were calls for Pelosi to step aside in 2010 when Democrats lost 60 House seats — a true wipeout.

"For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Caucus that I so deeply respect," Pelosi, 82, said in her floor speech. “Pelosi and Hoyer showed a lot of grace in stepping aside,” one younger Democratic lawmaker told NBC News. Meg Kinnard / AP fileAguilar said Friday he is now running for Democratic Caucus chairman. Under that scenario, Aguilar's caucus chair role would move up to No. But with Clyburn going for the assistant job and Aguilar entering the race for caucus chair, Neguse could find himself the odd man out.

WASHINGTON — New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the fourth-ranking House Democrat, said Friday that he will run to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the party's leader after Republicans took back control of the chamber in last week’s midterm elections. The ascension of the 52-year-old Jeffries to minority leader would also represent generational change. Clark, 59, announced a bid for Democratic Whip, while Aguilar, 43, is running for Democratic Caucus Chair. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, said Thursday she was confident that the powerful bloc of more than 50 Black lawmakers would line up behind Jeffries. “I’m very comfortable saying I believe that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus would vote for Hakeem Jeffries,” Beatty told reporters Thursday.

☆ Hakeem Jeffries announces bid to succeed Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Kayla Gallagher | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York has officially announced his bid to become House Democratic leader. Pelosi announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election to a leadership role but will stay in Congress. He has served as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2019 and has long been seen as an heir to Pelosi. If selected to lead his party, Jeffries, who is 52, would create a massive generational shift in the House's democratic leadership. "The time has come for a new generation to lead our magnificent House Democratic Caucus," said Pelosi.

☆ Nancy Pelosi to announce her future plans Thursday after Democrats lose House
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Jonathan Allen | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, will announce plans for her future in a speech on the House floor Thursday, a spokesman said. The speaker’s plans are still unclear, but a source told NBC News that she took home two different versions of the speech she plans to deliver. "We’re all waiting for white smoke from the Vatican," one senior Democratic lawmaker told NBC News. Clyburn said Thursday he plans to stay in Democratic leadership no matter what Pelosi does. Asked about Pelosi's role leading the caucus over the last two decades, Clyburn told NBC News, “She has done absolutely great.

[1/3] U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wields the gavel as she presides over the House of Representatives approving two counts of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will announce on Thursday whether she will step down as Democratic leader of the chamber, a day after Republicans were projected to have won control of the House in the midterm elections. Pelosi, an 82-year-old liberal from California who is the first woman to hold the powerful job of speaker, has been under pressure during the past few years from younger House Democrats to yield power. House Democrats are set to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. She became speaker again in 2019 when Democrats rode a wave of opposition to then-President Donald Trump to win control of the House and was re-elected as speaker in November 2021.

Pelosi, 82, and two other top leaders have been under pressure the last few years from younger House Democrats to yield power after two decades at the helm. Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said late on Wednesday House Democrats "will continue to play a leading role in supporting President Biden’s agenda - with strong leverage over a scant Republican majority." House Democrats are set to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. On Wednesday, House Republicans offered initial support for Kevin McCarthy to serve as speaker when the next Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3. McCarthy currently serves as House Republican leader and will face election by the entire House at the start of the new year.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is likely to make her future plans clear as soon this week, possibly even Thursday, multiple sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. Pelosi said Sunday she wouldn’t engage with questions about her future until all races were called. Meanwhile, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, is being urged to pursue the leadership role and has met with rank-and-file members. In the office of New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer on Tuesday, he was urged not to miss his moment. Punchbowl News was first to report the Pelosi call with the CA delegation.

☆ Nancy Pelosi announces leadership exit after 2 decades leading House Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she is stepping aside from her leadership role. The decision comes after Republicans narrowly won the House majority. The decision comes in the wake of Republicans narrowly winning the House majority, ending Pelosi's latest two consecutive terms as Speaker. "Never had I thought that someday I would go from homemaker to House Speaker," the California Democrat, first elected in 1987, said. At 82, Pelosi has long served alongside House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, 82, in leadership.

Jeffries, 52, would be the first Black House Democratic leader, representing both the party's diverse voter base and bringing a new generation of leadership. House Democrats are scheduled to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. Jeffries, who has held the leadership post of House Democratic Caucus chairman since 2019, also would represent a stylistic contrast to Pelosi, who made her announcement on Thursday. Current House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, said he would not seek a leadership position in the next Congress and backed Jeffries. Clyburn told reporters ahead of Pelosi's announcement that he intends to remain in the House Democratic leadership regardless of the path she takes.

☆ What comes next now that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has decided to step down as top Democrat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is likely to become the next top Democrat. That decision tees up a race to succeed Pelosi and fill out the rest of the Democratic leadership team. With House Republicans set to take control of the chamber in January, Democrat will be in the minority, and the party's top official will be the House Minority Leader. Jeffries, currently the party's caucus chair, is widely known to be pursuing the post, but has publicly remained quiet about his plans. "We're focused right now on welcoming our new members," said Jeffries at a press conference on Tuesday, declining to elaborate further on the future of Democratic House leadership.

☆ What comes next if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decides to step down as top Democrat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to give a speech on her political future around 12pm ET. With House Republicans set to take control of the chamber in January, Democrat will be in the minority, and the party's top official will be the House Minority Leader. "We're focused right now on welcoming our new members," said Jeffries at a press conference on Tuesday, declining to elaborate further on the future of Democratic House leadership. Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, elected to the House in 2018, has announced his intention to serve as caucus chair. And several candidates are vying for vice caucus chair, including Reps. Ted Lieu of California, Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Joyce Beatty of Ohio, and Madeline Dean of Pennsylvania.

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