Six of the biggest moments in the House after a history-making 2024

Members of the 118th Congress experienced extraordinary moments on the political campaign trail that set precedent for legislative and investigative breakthroughs, as well as headline-grabbing exchanges among lawmakers. &nbsp,

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The House even recorded one of its least effective times in recent memory, setting the stage for Republicans to take the lead when they control both chambers of Congress and the White House the following year. &nbsp,

Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest and, in some cases, lowest events from this year. &nbsp,

1. In light of the ethics controversy, Gaetz leaves the Congress.

One of the biggest surprises coming out of Congress this year was Matt Gaetz, a former representative, who announced on November 16 that he would step down from the House and never take the oath of office the following month. &nbsp,

In a surprise announcement for politicians on both sides of the aisle, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Gaetz to lead his solicitor general. The schedule, but, sparked concern because it occurred just weeks before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to vote on whether to launch a “highly harmful” statement about him.

The House Ethics Committee has been looking into allegations that the Florida senator “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted illegal donations, dispensed special protections and mementos to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to hinder federal investigations of his conduct” since April 2021.

Gaetz dropped his attorney general pay a week later, and he has since confirmed that he will host a One America News Network program in the new year. &nbsp, But, his departure did not protect him from the study’s release, as the committee voted silently to launch its findings.

2. House to welcome its second transgender part to the Congress, and bedrooms to follow rules.

After Rep. Elect Sarah McBride (D-DE ) won the November primary election to fill Delaware’s sole House seat, the House is expected to elect its first transgender member. &nbsp,

Although McBride has not yet taken the oath of office, a debate over who can use which restrooms on Capitol Hill has now erupted. Shortly after the November elections, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC ) introduced a bill banning transgender people from using single-sex bathroom facilities — a targeted attack against her newest colleague. &nbsp,

Afterwards, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA ) reacted to the discussion by passing a law prohibiting transgender people from using facilities that don’t conform to the sex they were born with. Johnson claimed that the “unofficial plan” has always been the “unofficial coverage,” but it has since been written in writing for clarity. &nbsp,

” Let me remain firmly clear: A man is a gentleman, and a person is a girl, and a person may be a woman”, Johnson told reporters last month. ” That said, I even believe that’s what Scripture teaches, what I merely said, but I also believe that we treat everyone with respect… and I believe all those things at the same time, and I wanted to make that clear for everyone because there’s lots of inquiries, but that’s where I stand”.

What sanctions might be imposed if someone is found to be breaking the scheme are still undetermined. However, in the past, leadership has resorted to fining members, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA ), setting up$ 5, 000 fines for first offenses and$ 10, 000 for second offenses for members who refused to walk through metal detectors after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

McBride, while emphasizing she disagrees with the plan, said she would agree with Johnson’s law. &nbsp,

3. House produces long-awaited Hunter Biden review

Over the summer, the House released its greatly anticipated investigation into Hunter Biden, a lengthy statement that generally fell on deaf ears as it was released after President Joe Biden had previously withdrawn from the race for president. &nbsp,

In an effort to remove Joe Biden from office, the House Oversight and Judiciary boards conducted two years-long investigations into the Biden home. After lawmakers failed to find clear evidence linking Joe Biden to criminal behavior or any misbehavior that would qualify as a higher crime or misdemeanor, the report was released on August 19 with much fanfare.

House Republicans have left the door open for future inquiries regarding whether they would continue to look into the Biden home despite the outcome of that research. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY ) earlier this month stated that the panel could call Hunter Biden back for additional testimony next year because lawmakers would have access to information they previously did not have. &nbsp,

Since Joe Biden pardoned his brother before taking office, Hunter Biden may not be able to invoke his Fifth Amendment in upcoming depositions because he no longer faces legal repercussions for crimes committed during the time that his pardon covers.

At least one member of the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), has floated a Hunter Biden profit as a possibility. &nbsp,

” Owing to his father’s pardon, Hunter Biden has waived his Fifth Amendment privileges”, Biggs said in a blog on X. ” I look forward to welcoming Hunter again in to get some true responses from him,” he said under oath. He can work from the fact, but he doesn’t hide permanently”.

4. Mayorkas is impeached by the House for allegedly navigating the southwestern border.

The House impeached Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, making him the first sitting Cabinet part to be removed from the lower room in one of the year’s most well-known seats. &nbsp,

The ballot passed on Republicans ‘ second test on Feb. 13, mustering through in a small 214-213 percentage. The major border official was impeached by law enforcement on two articles, accusing him of deliberate and systemic inaction and a violation of the public trust in connection with his managing of the border crisis.

” He’s guilty of aiding and abetting the complete invasion of our country by criminals, gang members, terrorists, murderers, rapists, and over 10 million people from over 160 countries into American communities all across the United States”, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA ), who introduced the articles, said during a floor speech on Feb. 6.

Due to tight profits in the House, the first attempt failed, but GOP leaders brought the content to the surface for a second ballot a week later. Only three Republicans joined all Democrats in rejecting the articles of impeachment: Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO ), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), and Tom McClintock (R-CA ). &nbsp,

When the articles of impeachment reached the Senate more than two months later, the Democratic-led room didn’t care to keep a trial, properly ending the prosecution.

5. House approves a sizable amount of foreign assistance despite the conflict in Ukraine and Israel

After months of negotiations, the House approved a multibillion-dollar act providing funds to Ukraine, Israel, and various allies on April 20— marking the sole international aid optional Congress passed over the last year. &nbsp,

The aid package allocated$ 26.38 billion to Israel and another$ 60.84 billion to Ukraine. After Israel’s first-ever missile attack from Iran days prior, lawmakers were forced to act after months of impasse over the package. &nbsp,

The package’s funding for Israel included$ 3.5 billion to support the development of advanced weapons systems and other defense services, as well as$ 3.5 billion to replenish the nation’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems. Additionally, it added humanitarian aid worth about$ 9 billion for people in conflict-torn countries, including Gaza.

In the meantime, the Ukraine bill authorized billions of dollars to buy defense equipment and services that the wartorn nation has been receiving as it prepares to fend off an invasion from Russia. The bill includes$ 1.3 billion to maintain U.S. military operations in the area and$ 3.8 billion to secure advanced weapons systems and other defense services. &nbsp,

Additionally, the package included$ 8.12 billion to Taiwan to combat any efforts from the Chinese government to invade the East Asian country.

6. Democratic Representative Cuellar is accused of bribery and using foreign influence.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX ) was charged with bribery and alleged he acted as a foreign agent on May 3. &nbsp,

Cuellar and his wife were charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and bribery, the Department of Justice said in an indictment.

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The House Ethics Committee launched its own investigation into the matter in response to his indictment. Although the panel’s investigation is not yet complete, it may continue after Cuellar re-elected to his seat in November. &nbsp,

Cuellar followed former Congressman George Santos in October of the year before becoming the second House member to be charged in the 118th Congress. Cuellar did not suffer the same fate as Santos, who won reelection in November. Instead, he was later expelled from the House.