Monday, Nov. 28
á President Joe Biden signed a presidential memorandum on promoting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence to strengthen the U.S. governmentŐs efforts to combat conflict-related sexual violence. From the Memorandum: ŇThe United States does not accept CRSV as an inevitable cost of armed conflict and is committed to supporting survivors of this scourge by invoking all tools available, including legal, policy, diplomatic, and financial tools, to deter such violence, break the vicious cycle of impunity, and provide the necessary services to survivorsÓ.
á
Biden made additional disaster assistance
available to the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida by
authorizing an increase in the level of federal funding for debris removal and
emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of Hurricane Ian.
Tuesday, Nov. 29
á The Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act with bipartisan support, voting 61-36, offering federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. The measure headed back to the House of Representatives, which needs to pass a religious liberty amendment made by the Senate, before it can head to Biden for his signature.
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Biden released a statement on the passing of Representative A.
Donald McEachin, who died at 61 after fighting
colorectal cancer. A Virginia Democrat, he was overwhelmingly re-elected this
month. He left behind a wife and three children.
á
A federal jury convicted Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes of
seditious conspiracy after his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. This
is the first guilty verdict for this crime since the 1995 prosecution of
terrorists plotting to bomb New York City landmarks.
Wednesday, Nov. 30
á
Biden committed to the preservation of national
tribal lands in southern Nevada. Speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit, he
stated his intention was to protect the area known as Spirit Mountain also
known as Avi Kwa Ame, and to personally visit tribal lands during his
presidency.
á House Democrats elected Hakeem Jeffries as party leader. Jeffries, of New YorkŐs 8th Congressional District, is the first Black lawmaker chosen to lead a party in Congress. His election follows the stepping down of Nancy Pelosi after 19 years as party leader.
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The House Ways and Means Committee finally has six years of
Donald TrumpŐs tax returns, ending his long effort to keep them from lawmakers.
The Supreme Court declined to intervene, paving the way for the IRS to release
the documents, being sought since 2019.
Thursday, Dec. 1
á The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging BidenŐs student debt forgiveness plan. The president will have to wait until late February or March for arguments to be heard. The program is blocked until that time by lawsuits from six states.
á
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the
White House for BidenŐs first state dinner. While they dined on lobster, the menu also
included discussion of BidenŐs preferential treatment of U.S. automakers and U.S.
climate laws.
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The U.S. will give three Native tribes threatened by climate
change $25 million each to move inland. It is a voluntary relocation that will
see the tribes move out of areas threatened by erosion and flooding. The tribes
are the Native Village of Napakiak and the Newtok Village, both from Alaska, and the Quinault Indian in
WashingtonŐs Olympic Peninsula.
Friday, Dec. 2
Sunday, Dec. 4
á Biden spoke at the Kennedy Center, introducing 2022Ős honorees, George Clooney, Amy Grant, Tania Leon, U2 and Gladys Knight.