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Speaker Race  |  Elections  |  Congress Goes Home   
Around the Capital  |  Around the Country  |  Around the World  

 Rep. Paul Ryan said he will seek Speakership

Lots of speculation this week as to whether Rep. Paul Ryan will resign the Speakership or run again. Well today he put rumors to rest and said he will run for a full two-year term. So how's that election work anyways? We've got you covered.

More elections to come

So elections are over on Tuesday, right? Nope, there's still plenty of elections on deck to select new caucus and committee chairs. In fact, there will probably be 17 prominent roles up for grabs, and elections will begin during the lame-duck session. Check out this useful guide from Roll Call. 

What were your lawmakers up to this week?

House Energy and Commerce Democrats called for Department of Transportation investigation into Colonial Pipeline, the operator of a pipeline that exploded in Alabama earlier this week.

Sen. Angus King [I, ME] learned about a new approach to clean energy.

House Ways and Means Republicans sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, urging the Treasury Department to withdraw recently proposed regulations regarding estate taxes on family-owned businesses. 

Rep. Brad Ashford [D, NE-2] promoted his legislation to provide on-the-job training for young African American males. 

Rep. Tom Emmer [R, MN-6] wrote about the importance of adoption while celebrating National Adoption Awareness Month.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI] discussed bipartisan legislation to lower prescription costs. 

Sen. Rob Portman [R, OH] delivered the eulogy for his friend Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.

Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-3] met with Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, the Consul General of Japan in New York.

Rep. Kelly Ayotte [R, NH] worked the drive thru at Burger King.

Sen. Bernie Sanders [I, VT] gathered stories about how increasing insulin prices have affected people. 

Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8] wrote an op-ed on why the tax code should encourage companies to support philanthropies. 

Sen. Al Franken [D, MN] sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to calm an upset baby.

House Freedom Caucus held a not-so-secret meeting, an unusual pre-election strategy session.

#ICYMI: Around the Capital

• SIGAR's report to Congress said U.S. has spent nearly $3 billion funding road projects in Afghanistan, and about 95% of the roads have been destroyed beyond repair. 
• Democratic lawmakers called for hearings on AT&T's proposed acquisition of Time Warner.
• White House wants a clean renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act. 
• On average, federal workers earn 34% less than private-sector employees for comparable work.
• These secret service dogs stopped a White House fence jumper.
• Supreme Court entered the transgender bathroom debate.
• Team Ryan staffer shared new pics to celebrate one year anniversary of Paul Ryan becoming Speaker.
• White House outlined their digital transition plan, a new staple of the modern presidency.
• Is your Member on Snapchat?
• Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley and House Freedom Caucus Chair Jim Jordan criticized FBI Director James Comey for how he informed Congress of new information related to email investigation.
• House Benghazi committee lives on, four months after issuing its report.
• Obama administration is considering ways to reroute the Dakota Access pipeline.
• These women are reshaping Washington.
• Congressional Research Service released a report regarding video broadcastings of Congressional proceedings. 
• Earlier this year, lawmakers questioned Airbnb discrimination claims. This week the company put new rules into effect, designed to eliminate renter discrimination. 
• Department of Justice filed an anti-collusion lawsuit, accusing AT&T and DirecTV of leading an illegal plot against the Dodgers Channel.
• Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Wells Fargo for its sham accounts scandal.
• According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers, the Zika virus is linked to a specific cluster of birth defects in children, now named "congenital Zika syndrome."

#ICYMI: Around the Country

• An Indiana mom who beat her son with a coat hanger received one year of probation after she used the state's new religious freedom law to justify her actions.
• Philadelphia transit strike began after employers and union workers failed to agree on pension and healthcare funding.
• Minnesota voters will decide whether an independent commission should determine lawmakers' pay.
• In September, Congress approved $1.1 billion in federal funding to combat the Zika virus. This week Florida Gov. Rick Scott [R] said the state still hasn't received the funding.
• Affordable Care Act enrollment is open, the fourth and final signup period under the Obama administration.
• New Jersey rejected a fiscal recovery proposal from Atlantic City. Back to the drawing board for a new plan in effort to stave off state takeover.
• Number of home-schooled students has doubled since 1999.
• Voters in South Dakota will vote on measure that would hold interest rates on small-dollar loans at a max of 36%. This would go beyond the regulations Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is set to impose.
• Federal investigators determined that Penn State University should pay $2.4 million for violations of campus safety laws. If upheld, fine would be the largest levied since the law was enacted more than 25 years ago.
• The New York Times will lower its paywall from Nov. 7-9 for election coverage.
• Employers added 161K jobs last month as the unemployment rate decreased to 4.9%. Average hourly earnings increased.
• More than 22 million people have already voted, through early voting and absentee ballots.

#ICYMI: Around the World

• High court threw Brexit plans into disarray, saying the most fundamental rule of the U.K. Constitution is that Parliament is sovereign. Court's decision means the government cannot use its prerogative powers to trigger Article 50 to exit the European Union, rather Parliament must vote.  
• Shiite militias joined the operation to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State, adding 10,000 fighters to the effort.
• Iceland's prime minister resigned after the insurgent, anti-establishment "Pirate Party" surged to second place in parliamentary elections. Here's an explainer on Iceland's political parties. 
• It's been one month since the ICANN transition. Check up on how it's going.
• U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said he's confident Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be approved by Congress if it's brought up for a vote. 
• Iraqi commandos entered Mosul for the first time in more than 2 years. Catch up on who is fighting who.

Congress is back home working, and we're sending a recess version of Gavel Down — full of how current events relate to Congressional happenings, as well as updates on major legislation. Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system.