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Just In | The Hill 

The Congressional Black Caucus of the 118th Congress was officially sworn in at a ceremony on Tuesday, with Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) replacing outgoing Chairwoman Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) as the “conscience of the Congress.” 

Horsford said the new CBC will have the opportunity to advance the vision of the first CBC from 50 years ago — one that had only 13 members, including Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.) as the only woman.

“The laws and policies of our nation did not always favor Black Americans, from the earliest slaves brought across the ocean to the Black soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. To those who braved the earliest fights through Jim Crow & Reconstruction, from the Tuskegee Airmen and Henrietta Lacks to the brave frontline workers in the COVID pandemic,” Horsford said. “In the work we do, we honor our history, like the many Black members that served before there was even a Congressional Black Caucus.”

The new leadership was announced in early December. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) was sworn in as the first vice chair; Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) as second vice chair; Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) as secretary; and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.) as the caucus’s whip. 

In total, 58 members — nine of them new members — were sworn in, including Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), the first Gen Z member and the only Afro-Cuban in Congress, as well as Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), the first Black woman elected to the House from Pennsylvania.  

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge administered the oath. 

“For more than 50 years, the Congressional Black Caucus has been the conscience of the Congress, the moral center that ensures that the people in communities whose blood, sweat and tears built this country are never forgotten by this storied institution,” Fudge said.

“CBC, I do not know if we have ever needed you more than we do now,” she continued. “We need you to be that sure and steady voice for the voiceless; to guarantee that the people of this country are never silenced, never again cast aside or forgotten. I am confident that you will begin this 118th Congress grounded by the generations of activists who fought for justice and equality.”

The new class is the largest in CBC history, and members took time to express their gratitude to some of the most influential Black lawmakers in the caucus.

“We all stand on the shoulders of giants like Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Shirley Chisholm, Luke Stokes, Barbara Jordan, John Lewis, Elijah Cummings, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Bill Gray and of course, the Honorable James E. Clyburn,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, newly appointed head of the House Democrats. “I am proud to stand on your shoulders.”

For Beatty, who steps down as chairwoman, Tuesday’s swearing in was “particularly meaningful” after two years of political crises. 

“We not only faced the attack of January 6, 2021, we overcame it because this is our America, an America that we continue to lift our people out of bondage,” she said. 

Beatty celebrated the work of the 117th Congress, which included criminalizing lynching and making a federal holiday of Juneteenth.

“After more than 100 years of striving, this was the Congress that finally passed the law making lynching a federal crime, the Emmett Till Antilynching. And it was this Congress that made June 19 a federal holiday,” said Beatty. “It was this was Congress that passed the Respect for Marriage Act, requiring interracial marriages to be recognized along with same-sex marriages throughout the United States. And yes, it was this Congress that made sure the American Rescue Plan included billions of dollars for predominantly Black institutions of higher education.”

Beatty added her work with the caucus is not yet finished. 

“I promise you I’ll keep pushing and I’ll keep fighting as we embark on this second half of the century with the largest Congressional Black Caucus in history. Our power, our message.”

​News, Congressional Black Caucus Read More 

Just In | The Hill 

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said the hard-line opponents to House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) becoming the next Speaker “are enemies now.” 

Crenshaw told CNN’s Manu Raju on Tuesday ahead of the Speakership vote that those dug in against the former House minority leader will “obviously” not get the committee assignments they want over their defiance, but “it’s going to be so much worse than that.” 

“They are enemies now,” he said. “They have made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican one.” 

Crenshaw earlier on Tuesday dismissed the idea that opponents to McCarthy had a viable alternative who could win enough votes to become Speaker, telling Fox News that they are engaging in a “childish” attempt to gain notoriety. 

Multiple Republicans appear set to vote against McCarthy for Speaker, denying him victory on at least the first ballot. 

Rep. Bob Good (Va.), one of at least five Republicans who have directly said or strongly indicated they will not support McCarthy, said there are enough votes to stop McCarthy from being chosen as Speaker on the first ballot. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), another opponent, said he plans to vote for Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who previously challenged McCarthy in the GOP House leadership election in November. 

Crenshaw told Raju that the opponents lost the debate over who should lead the party in the house, which he said “should have been the end of it.” 

“But if you’re a narcissist and you believe that your opinion is so much more than everyone else’s, then you’ll keep going. And you’ll threaten to tear down the team for the benefit of the Democrats just because of your own sense of self-importance,” he said.

He said he and other Republicans will only vote for McCarthy, and they are more “stubborn” than their opponents.

McCarthy’s opponents have made numerous demands of him to give him their support for speaker, and he has made several concessions in proposed House rules and initiatives, but the opponents have said he did not do enough to convince them he should lead.

​House, Dan Crenshaw, House Speaker vote, Kevin McCarthy Read More 

Just In | The Hill 

In the days before its work officially came to a close, the Jan. 6 committee released thousands of pages of witness interviews and evidence. But a portion of the House rules package proposed by Republicans singles out the panel’s work, seeking to block the records from being managed by the National Archives.

The GOP rules package would require Archives to turn over any of the committee’s work to the House Committee on Administration by Jan. 17 – sidestepping a requirement that would prohibit their release for at least 30 years.

It is unusual for House rules to address one committee – a sign Republicans may wish to do more to rebut the work of the Jan. 6 panel after the GOP released its own report on security failures at the Capitol the day of the riot.

The rules package will be weighed after a contentious vote to determine whether Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will serve as House Speaker. 

McCarthy as recently as November flagged GOP interest in the documents.

“The official Congressional Records do not belong to you or any member, but to the American people, and they are owed all of the information you gathered — not merely the information that comports with your political agenda,” he wrote in a letter to Jan. 6 Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).

Existing House rules already name the House Committee on Administration as the custodian of records, but preventing their handling by Archives also dodges rules that allow for withholding documents for up to 50 years if they deal with a sensitive investigation. That portion of the GOP rules proposal was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The Jan. 6 committee has pledged to make public the bulk of its work from its 18-month long investigation into the riot, but Thompson told reporters that some records would be withheld based on arrangements with those who requested their identity remain protected.

Other information set to be transferred to Archives includes video of the taped depositions, much of which was not released publicly during the panel’s hearings, as well as thousands of text messages from various figures obtained by subpoena.

The issue was highlighted in a letter from Thompson to Richard Sauber, a White House lawyer hired as the point-man for dealing with GOP investigations.

“As of next week when the Committee dissolves, the Committee will no longer exercise control over this material, and thus cannot ensure enforcement of the commitment to maintain the confidentiality of the identity of the witnesses,” Thompson wrote.

Staff for both Democrats and Republicans on the House Committee on Administration did not respond to a request for comment.

The committee has stored a trove of its documents through a website managed by the Government Printing Office. 

“We have posted the vast majority of our transcripts on our website, and asked agencies concerned about special security issues to review those transcripts that have not been public,” Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said in a Monday statement capping the close of the committee’s work. “We trust that history will continue to illuminate more details of January 6th and its aftermath.”

​House, National Security Read More 

Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories 

Rep.-elect George Santos promised to support Kevin McCarthy for speaker, as the scandal-plagued New Yorker is set to be sworn in to Congress Tuesday despite a darkening investigative cloud over his political future.

Santos declined to respond to any other questions posed to him by a throng of reporters, only saying: “Yes, I am,” when asked if he planned to support the embattled House GOP leader.

The New York Republican ignored other questions about his background or his ability to represent his constituents while under investigation.

Santos had briefly stepped out of his office along with aides and his attorney, though he quickly became lost in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the House’s office buildings. The office had appeared closed earlier Tuesday morning, with newspapers stacked outside.

The member-elect faces a mounting list of investigations and some criticism from his fellow Republicans. He’s faced questions about multiple fabrications of his personal background, including his faith, his college attendance and his work for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Santos has dismissed his previous false statements as “embellishments.”

Additionally, Brazilian prosecutors were reviving a fraud case against him related to a 2008 incident involving a stolen checkbook, The New York Times has reported.

House rules require lawmakers to step down from their committee assignments if they are indicted for a crime carrying more than a two-year prison sentence. In a change introduced in the rules setting up the 118th Congress, a member’s indictment in an American court would also lead to the creation of a House Ethics committee subpanel to investigate the allegations.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) stepped down from his committees last Congress after being convicted of lying to the FBI as part of a campaign finance probe. He later resigned.

Another proposed rules change for the incoming Congress could potentially weaken the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics by imposing term limits on its eight-member board and hamper the hiring of new staff. The changes to the watchdog office could have implications for ethics investigations, which could include probes of Jan. 6-connected lawmakers or into Santos.

​ Read More 

Just In | The Hill 

The United States has always been on the cutting edge of tech. Our free-market system enabled us to win the race to 4G, helped unleash the app economy, and allowed us to get to 5G faster than others. Our country’s leadership in tech helps secure the nation’s economic power and protect national security so the United States continues to serve as a beacon of peace and democracy.

Technology should be a force for good in the world. Our national security, and the security of other nations, is tied to our ability to keep up with and get ahead of emerging technologies. I’m encouraged to see that Congress is working together to implement a national spectrum policy. America needs a national strategy to make sure there is enough spectrum to build out 5G networks and not fall behind China.

Spectrum refers to the radio waves on which we transmit data, and it serves as the foundation for many of the wireless networks that power our lives, including 5G. Spectrum is the lifeblood of technological innovation — including advancements in national security that power our weapons systems and intelligence operations.

5G is quite literally the fifth generation of wireless connection, and it serves as a crucial foundation for innovations and advancements in the near and not-too-distant future. Alarmingly, America does not have enough spectrum in the pipeline to build out secure and reliable 5G networks. According to a paper by Analysys Mason, the United States ranks 13th in terms of available licensed spectrum — significantly behind nations such as China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

One reason why is that the United States has overallocated spectrum to unlicensed use. This type of spectrum is available to the public and has important uses, but it’s not the foundation of secure and reliable 5G networks. Unlike managed licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum faces interference, and devices connected to unlicensed spectrum aren’t always assessed for security concerns. Indeed, when it comes to security, users of unlicensed spectrum have varying incentives, capabilities and technical skills, resulting in more cybersecurity risks than those who use managed licensed allocations.

Like unlicensed spectrum, spectrum sharing frameworks can also increase cybersecurity risks. Some forms of spectrum sharing create new points of attack — such as centralized databases — that can be compromised and disrupt service. Additionally, spectrum sharing increases the cyber threat surface by increasing the number of non-operator entities with access to spectrum. Lastly, spectrum sharing adds complexity, and therefore delays, to the process at a time when delivering connectivity to the masses is needed now.

To lead the world in 5G and beat China, we need a spectrum strategy that prioritizes licensed spectrum. After spending billions of dollars to acquire licensed spectrum, mobile network operators protect this investment with additional investments in network protection, device testing and security, and more. Policymakers should encourage these investments in spectrum and security. To efficiently build out 5G networks, mobile operators need a clear understanding of spectrum bands that will become available. Policymakers must develop a national spectrum strategy and identify a pipeline of bands that can be repurposed for licensed, high-power 5G use.

The end of year spending bill included a short-term reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission’s spectrum auction authority. A long-term extension of auction authority should be a priority for the 118th Congress. Allowing auction authority to expire at such a pivotal moment would indicate to our adversaries that the United States is losing sight of what it takes to be a global tech leader.   

The future of U.S. national security relies on the advancement of 5G networks and standards. To get there, Congress needs to come together now to enact legislation that creates a reliable supply of licensed mid-band spectrum. Action is a must, or the national implications of inaction will prove costly.

Mike Rogers, a former representative from Michigan in Congress, served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He was an officer in the U.S. Army and an FBI special agent. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

​Technology, Opinion Read More 

Just In | The Hill 

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–> A midday take on what’s happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.* 

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha–breaks down crying hysterically.

TALK OF THE MORNING 

Are you a fan of reality show drama? Bravo? Early 2000s MTV shows? Juicy upsets on ‘The Bachelor’? 

Then C-SPAN is the place for you!:

The 118th Congress officially kicked off at noon on Tuesday, with the highly anticipated — and still *extremely uncertain* — Speaker vote underway.

The order of events: The new Congress began with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call — and then the Speaker vote. If no candidate reaches a majority, House lawmakers will continue to hold votes until a majority is reached. The House can also adjourn after failed votes to negotiate behind closed doors. More on how it will go down 

Watch the Speaker vote and first day of the 118th Congress live 

Live blog of updates 

Where the Speaker vote stands: House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) needs 218 votes — a majority of the House — to win speakership. The House is comprised of 222 Republicans and 212 Democrats, meaning five or more Republican defections would put McCarthy below the 218-vote threshold.  

^ So, five defections and McCarthy can’t win — and there appear to be five ‘Never Kevin’ Republicans: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.) and Bob Good (Va.). Where those GOP members stand 

If not McCarthy, then who?: Rep.Steve Scalise (La.) and GOP hardliner Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio) have been floated as alternatives. They are both supporting McCarthy though, FWIW. The New York Times has a list of potential alternatives 

As you watch the C-SPAN coverage, here are the Republicans to keep your eyes on 

Some context to how rare this is: A Speaker vote hasn’t gone to a second ballot since 1923. The Hill’s Emily Brooks has a helpful explainer on what to expect 

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING THIS MORNING: 

Late this morning: “Kevin McCarthy [emerged] from closed door meeting and basically concedes he does not have 218 votes yet … and said he is prepared for a ‘battle on the floor.’ ” Photo from NBC News’s Ryan Nobles 

Look what Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) tweeted: Biggs is one of the five Republicans who does not back McCarthy.  

Check out this line of reporters in the U.S. Capitol: From journalist Jamie Dupree 

What Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) had to say: After McCarthy’s speech this morning, Boebert said, “this is b***s***,” according to Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman. “This was audible to those in the room,” Sherman added. 

Watch McCarthy enter the GOP conference meeting: Video from The Hill’s Mychael Schnell 

‘McCarthy reaches moment of truth in Speakership election’: From The Hill’s Emily Brooks 

TIDBITS AND POTENTIAL SCENARIOS: 

What CBS News’s Robert Costa is hearing about McCarthy’s strategy: “[H]e’s going to stay on the floor tomorrow. That’s the plan. Battle it out, if need be, but do it in the open and have the conversations in public. He’s being told to never leave the floor by rank-and-file allies … The fear among some of his friends: the Never Kevin types want it to go to backroom conference meeting so they can try for a major leadership shakeup. Closed door member to member theater. That’s not what McCarthy’s bloc wants so they are pushing him to never leave the floor.”   

A lengthy Speakership fight could cause some major holdups: Politico’s Jordain Carney reports that “House committee staffers face no pay if speaker isn’t decided by Jan. 13, officials warn.” What we know 

Tidbit: NBC News’s Haley Talbot tweeted, “GOP Leader McCarthy has moved into the speakers suite but if he fails to secure 218 he will have to move all his stuff back out.” Video 

AFTER ALL THE FORMALITIES AND SPEAKER VOTE, WHAT ELSE IS ON HOUSE REPUBLICANS’ AGENDA?:

“[The House] is set to take up the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, which would revoke the increase in funding for the IRS that was appropriated through Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act passed over the summer. 

Plus: “Bills involving immigration and the border, abortion and how the U.S. manages petroleum and energy production. The chamber will also consider a resolution condemning recent attacks on anti-abortion centers and churches.” Details from The Hill’s Mychael Schnell

It’s Tuesday — welcome back and Happy New Year! 🍾 I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.

🏈 In the NFL  

Sending all the good vibes and wishes to Damar Hamlin: 

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field last night during the first quarter of the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals.  

What happened?: Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, received CPR on the field and is in critical condition, the Bills announced early this morning.  

The full statement from the team: “Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in the Buffalo Bills’ game versus the Cincinnati Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.” 

Video of an ambulance rushing to the field: From FOX19’s Joe Danneman 

Paycor Stadium lit up in blue lights last night:Photo from The Athletic’s Jay Morrison 

The Buffalo Bills returned to Buffalo early this morning: Video of the team leaving the stadium, via WKRC-TV’s Morgan Ward 

SOME GOOD NEWS TO COME OUT OF A SCARY SITUATION: 

Hamlin’s toy drive has raised more than $3.4 million since the injury.  

Here’s the GoFundMe link if you’re interested in donating 

📃 Trump’s taxes 

Want to take a gander at Donald Trump’s tax returns?: 

The House Ways and Means Committee released former President Trump’s tax returns from 2015 to 2020 on Friday after a years-long battle. 

See for yourself — here are the actual tax returns 

The gist of what we know about the taxes: “[Trump used] business losses in the tens of millions of dollars to reduce his annual tax liability, in some cases all the way down to zero.” 

Keep in mind: “While one of Trump’s main businesses was found guilty of criminal tax fraud earlier this month, Trump himself has so far not been accused of doing anything illegal with his taxes and personal accounting.” 

^ Yes, but: “[It’s] raising more urgent questions about the fairness of the U.S. tax code and tax regulations, which number in the millions of words and in the case of Trump proved effectively unenforceable.”  

The Hill’s Tobias Burns and Sylvan Lane explain how Trump’s tax returns are raising alarms about the fairness of the tax code

🦠 The COVID-19 numbers 

Cases to date: 100.6 million 

Death toll: 1,088,481 

Current hospitalizations: 36,382 

Shots administered: 663 million 

Fully vaccinated: 69 percent of Americans 

CDC data here.

🐥Notable tweets 

Whoa, John Fetterman is wearing a full suit!: 

Pennsylvania’s new senator, John Fetterman, tweeted, “For those of you asking, yes, there will be a Fetterman in shorts today, but it’s not me.” Photo 

What a weird feeling this must be for Patrick Leahy:  

The Associated Press’s Mary Clare Jalonick tweeted, “In his final hours in the Senate, [retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)] and his wife Marcel walk through the Senate Press Gallery and chat with reporters.” Photos 

‘One last look back at Patrick Leahy’s 48 years in the U.S. Senate’: From Vermont Public Radio’s Bob Kinzel, Mitch Wertlieb andKaren Anderson

⏱On tap 

The House and Senate are in! President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C.

10:15 a.m.: Biden received his daily briefing. 

Noon: The official start to the 118th Congress. The House and Senate both meet. 

Noon: Harris presides over the Senate to administer the oath of office to senators. Today’s full Senate agenda 

1 p.m.: Harris will then ceremonially swear in senators in the Old Senate Chamber.

All times Eastern.

📺What to watch

Noon: The Senate opens the 118th Congress. Livestream 

Noon: The House opens the 118th Congress. Livestream 

2:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing. Livestream 

🍒 In lighter news 

Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day. 

And to leave you with a smile, here’s a baby who cannot be convinced this corn is not edible.

​12:30 Report, News Read More