New Tampa Republican Club
Congressional Votes
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The following information is from Congress.org - MegaVote for
Florida's 12th, 14th & 15th Congressional Districts as of:
Florida's 12th, 14th & 15th Congressional Districts as of:
June 17, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Farm Bill – Passage - Vote Passed (66-27, 7 Not Voting)
The Senate gave overwhelming approval to the five-year reauthorization of farm, conservation, and nutrition programs, setting up a legislative showdown with the House. The final vote, which cleared the measure 66-27, came after two weeks of debate and more than 200 amendments offered on the Senate floor. Seven senators missed the vote because of travel delays. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill would cost $18 billion less than the 2008 farm policy law (PL 112-240), which expires Sept. 30. Senators trimmed $4 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to the poor, by requiring that recipients receive a minimum payment of $10 from a heating assistance program to be eligible for SNAP. Nutrition assistance will be a majo sticking point with the House version, which cuts SNAP by $20.5 billion. The Senate bill ends $5 billion a year in direct payments made to farmers and landowners, channeling off those funds to create a hybrid of insurance-like plans and other price controls to help farmers protect against steep market drops. It would reduce support for farmers earning more than $750,000 annually, following a study on the effects of implementation. Unlike the House measure, the bill requires subsidized insurance program participants to meet soil and water conservation requirements. It also replaces dairy price support programs with new insurance and a supply management plan to reduce price-depressing supply surpluses. Before passing the bill, the chamber adopted, 48-38, an amendment from Vermont Democrat Patrick J. Leahy that would provide for ultra-high-speed broadband service in a rural Internet pilot program.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
FY 2014 Defense Authorization – Passage - Vote Passed (315-108, 11 Not Voting)
After voting on a series of amendments, including rejecting one from Adam Smith, D-Wash. to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba by the end of 2014, the House passed this bill authorizing spending on the Defense Department and national security programs for fiscal year 2014. Ignoring the White House administration’s threat to veto the bill, they passed a $638.4 billion measure that includes $85.8 billion for war costs, requirements for the Defense secretary to detail military intervention options in Syria, and new guidelines and harsher penalties for sexual assault in the armed services. Sexual assault amendments from Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio, making it an offense to abuse one’s authority in the chain of command an establishing mandatory minimum sentences of discharge, dismissal and confinement for certain offenses, respectively, were adopted.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes U.S. immigration policy - S.744
This week the Senate will resume consideration of this bill to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy.
Farm Bill - H.R.1947
The House is scheduled to take up its version of the farm bill later this week.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Farm Bill – Passage
- House: FY 2014 Defense Authorization – Passage
- Senate: U.S. immigration policy
- House: Farm Bill
Farm Bill – Passage - Vote Passed (66-27, 7 Not Voting)
The Senate gave overwhelming approval to the five-year reauthorization of farm, conservation, and nutrition programs, setting up a legislative showdown with the House. The final vote, which cleared the measure 66-27, came after two weeks of debate and more than 200 amendments offered on the Senate floor. Seven senators missed the vote because of travel delays. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill would cost $18 billion less than the 2008 farm policy law (PL 112-240), which expires Sept. 30. Senators trimmed $4 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to the poor, by requiring that recipients receive a minimum payment of $10 from a heating assistance program to be eligible for SNAP. Nutrition assistance will be a majo sticking point with the House version, which cuts SNAP by $20.5 billion. The Senate bill ends $5 billion a year in direct payments made to farmers and landowners, channeling off those funds to create a hybrid of insurance-like plans and other price controls to help farmers protect against steep market drops. It would reduce support for farmers earning more than $750,000 annually, following a study on the effects of implementation. Unlike the House measure, the bill requires subsidized insurance program participants to meet soil and water conservation requirements. It also replaces dairy price support programs with new insurance and a supply management plan to reduce price-depressing supply surpluses. Before passing the bill, the chamber adopted, 48-38, an amendment from Vermont Democrat Patrick J. Leahy that would provide for ultra-high-speed broadband service in a rural Internet pilot program.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
FY 2014 Defense Authorization – Passage - Vote Passed (315-108, 11 Not Voting)
After voting on a series of amendments, including rejecting one from Adam Smith, D-Wash. to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba by the end of 2014, the House passed this bill authorizing spending on the Defense Department and national security programs for fiscal year 2014. Ignoring the White House administration’s threat to veto the bill, they passed a $638.4 billion measure that includes $85.8 billion for war costs, requirements for the Defense secretary to detail military intervention options in Syria, and new guidelines and harsher penalties for sexual assault in the armed services. Sexual assault amendments from Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio, making it an offense to abuse one’s authority in the chain of command an establishing mandatory minimum sentences of discharge, dismissal and confinement for certain offenses, respectively, were adopted.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes U.S. immigration policy - S.744
This week the Senate will resume consideration of this bill to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy.
Farm Bill - H.R.1947
The House is scheduled to take up its version of the farm bill later this week.
May 28, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Due to the redistricting of congressional districts, you may live in a new district and your subscription to this newsletter may need to be updated. To ensure that your congressional district information is correct, click on the "Edit Subscription" link at the bottom of this email. Scroll down to "Subscription Management" and enter your email to make changes to your district.
Recent Senate Votes
Farm Bill – Amendment Vote - Vote Agreed to (59-33, 8 Not Voting)
The Senate began working its way through amendments last week to a five-year reauthorization of food and nutrition programs, with a view toward passing the bill after the Memorial Day recess. This year’s farm bill is very similar to last year’s version, with some exceptions including greater support for Southern crops such as rice, cotton and peanuts. The bill would reduce spending on food stamps by about $4 billion and would reduce the deficit by $17.9 billion over ten years. The last amendment vote of the week changed the bill to reduce by 15 percent the amount of crop insurance subsidies for farmers with adjusted gross incomes above $750,000 a year. The amendment includes a clause stating that the new limitation would not take effect if the Agriculture secretary determine that it would result in a decline in overall crop insurance coverage or increase the total cost of the program. Other amendment votes last week included: a Gillibrand, D-N.Y. amendment to block the food stamp cuts (defeated, RC 131); an Inhofe, R-Okla. amendment to turn the food stamp program into a block grant to the states (defeated, RC 132); and a Sanders, I-Vt. amendment to permit states to require labeling of genetically-modified foods (defeated, RC 135). President Obama supports the Senate bill. The House is working on its own farm bill (H.R. 1947), which passed out of committee on May 15. The House measure would reduce the deficit by almost twice as much as the Senate bill, including more than $20 billion in cuts to nutrition programs.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Keystone Pipeline Approval – Final Passage - Vote Passed (241-175, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting)
Returning to an issue from last Congress, the House passed a bill last week to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport diluted bitumen (or “tar sands”) from Canada through the American heartland to refining facilities on the Gulf Coast. Approval of pipelines do not normally spark so much controversy, but Keystone requires presidential approval because it crossed an international boundary, thus placing President Obama in the middle of a fight that places labor unions and environmentalists, two of his key constituencies, on opposing sides. H.R. 3 would seek to remove Obama from the approval process by declaring a presidential permit was not a necessity. It would deem various documents and reports that have been issued b federal and state entities over the last two years as satisfying the various regulatory thresholds to begin construction of the pipeline. It would essentially cut the Environmental Protection Agency out of the oversight process, and would force the Army Corps of Engineers to issue construction permits within 90 days of an application being filed. The president has threatened to veto the bill, though the Senate is unlikely to take it up in any case.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Student Loan Interest Rate Reform – Final Passage - Vote Passed (221-198, 15 Not Voting)
In its last action before the recess, the House passed a bill to overhaul student loan interest rates. Interest rates are currently set to rise from 3.4 to 6.8 percent this summer. H.R. 1911 would set rates for Stafford loans at the level of the 10-year Treasury Note plus 2.5 percent (capped at 8.5 percent), while PLUS loans would be set at 10-year Treasuries plus 4.5 percent (capped at 10.5 percent). Though Republicans stated that the bill was modeled on reforms from President Obama’s FY 2014 budget, the president has threatened to veto the bill . It is not clear what the Senate intends to do about interest rates at this time.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Farm Bill – Amendment Vote
- House: Keystone Pipeline Approval – Final Passage
- House: Student Loan Interest Rate Reform – Final Passage
Due to the redistricting of congressional districts, you may live in a new district and your subscription to this newsletter may need to be updated. To ensure that your congressional district information is correct, click on the "Edit Subscription" link at the bottom of this email. Scroll down to "Subscription Management" and enter your email to make changes to your district.
Recent Senate Votes
Farm Bill – Amendment Vote - Vote Agreed to (59-33, 8 Not Voting)
The Senate began working its way through amendments last week to a five-year reauthorization of food and nutrition programs, with a view toward passing the bill after the Memorial Day recess. This year’s farm bill is very similar to last year’s version, with some exceptions including greater support for Southern crops such as rice, cotton and peanuts. The bill would reduce spending on food stamps by about $4 billion and would reduce the deficit by $17.9 billion over ten years. The last amendment vote of the week changed the bill to reduce by 15 percent the amount of crop insurance subsidies for farmers with adjusted gross incomes above $750,000 a year. The amendment includes a clause stating that the new limitation would not take effect if the Agriculture secretary determine that it would result in a decline in overall crop insurance coverage or increase the total cost of the program. Other amendment votes last week included: a Gillibrand, D-N.Y. amendment to block the food stamp cuts (defeated, RC 131); an Inhofe, R-Okla. amendment to turn the food stamp program into a block grant to the states (defeated, RC 132); and a Sanders, I-Vt. amendment to permit states to require labeling of genetically-modified foods (defeated, RC 135). President Obama supports the Senate bill. The House is working on its own farm bill (H.R. 1947), which passed out of committee on May 15. The House measure would reduce the deficit by almost twice as much as the Senate bill, including more than $20 billion in cuts to nutrition programs.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Keystone Pipeline Approval – Final Passage - Vote Passed (241-175, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting)
Returning to an issue from last Congress, the House passed a bill last week to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport diluted bitumen (or “tar sands”) from Canada through the American heartland to refining facilities on the Gulf Coast. Approval of pipelines do not normally spark so much controversy, but Keystone requires presidential approval because it crossed an international boundary, thus placing President Obama in the middle of a fight that places labor unions and environmentalists, two of his key constituencies, on opposing sides. H.R. 3 would seek to remove Obama from the approval process by declaring a presidential permit was not a necessity. It would deem various documents and reports that have been issued b federal and state entities over the last two years as satisfying the various regulatory thresholds to begin construction of the pipeline. It would essentially cut the Environmental Protection Agency out of the oversight process, and would force the Army Corps of Engineers to issue construction permits within 90 days of an application being filed. The president has threatened to veto the bill, though the Senate is unlikely to take it up in any case.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Student Loan Interest Rate Reform – Final Passage - Vote Passed (221-198, 15 Not Voting)
In its last action before the recess, the House passed a bill to overhaul student loan interest rates. Interest rates are currently set to rise from 3.4 to 6.8 percent this summer. H.R. 1911 would set rates for Stafford loans at the level of the 10-year Treasury Note plus 2.5 percent (capped at 8.5 percent), while PLUS loans would be set at 10-year Treasuries plus 4.5 percent (capped at 10.5 percent). Though Republicans stated that the bill was modeled on reforms from President Obama’s FY 2014 budget, the president has threatened to veto the bill . It is not clear what the Senate intends to do about interest rates at this time.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
May 20, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Water Resources Development Act – Passage - Vote Passed (83-14, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate laid down its marker last week for a full reauthorization of Army Corps of Engineers water projects with a broad, bipartisan majority. S. 601, shepherded to passage by liberal Environment and Public Works chairman Barbara Boxer of California and conservative ranking Republican David Vitter of Louisiana, reauthorizes port and harbor dredging, levees, dams, and storm repair for periods ranging from five to ten years. It also makes numerous reforms to current permitting procedures in an attempt to reduce the amount of time needed to get projects approved and under way. Several of the latter provisions are controversial, particularly language that would impose financial penalties on laggard agency heads. For that reason a compromise was negotiated to sunset th streamlining reforms after 10 years. Another major change concerns the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), the primary funding vehicle for dredging coastal and Great Lakes ports. Though conceived as a dedicated fund for harbor maintenance, in practice congressional appropriators in recent years have diverted HMTF dollars to unrelated projects. S. 601 would slowly end that practice, increasing the amount of funding dedicated to harbor maintenance by $100 million annually for six years, after which time all HMTF revenue would be so directed. Action now moves to the House side, where Transportation and Infrastructure committee chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa. has begun having hearings but appears in no rush.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
CMS Nominee – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (91-7, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed Marilyn Tavenner to be the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Tavenner will play a prominent role in overseeing implementation of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. She is the first Senate-confirmed CMS administrator since 2004.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Energy Department Nominee – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (97-0, 3 Not Voting)
In its last action of the week, the Senate unanimously confirmed MIT physicist Ernest J. Moniz to be the next Energy secretary, replacing another physicist, Steven Chu.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Obamacare Repeal – Passage - Vote Passed (229-195, 9 Not Voting)
The House took its three dozenth or so vote last week on repealing the 2010 health care overhaul. We noted in this space last week that, as introduced, the bill appeared not to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a body created by the law to reduce supply-side Medicare expenditures. It is not clear whether this was a clerical error, or perhaps whether House Republicans had a separate bill dealing with IPAB - Phil Roe of Tennessee has introduced such a bill, and IPAB repeal did pass the House last Congress - but the version of H.R. 45 that passed leaves no such ambiguity. Democrats Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah – both very conservative by their caucus’s standards and in very competitive districts – joined all Republicans in votin ‘yes.’ As with each previous attempt at wholesale repeal, this bill will go nowhere in the Senate. The president issued a perfunctory veto threat.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
SEC Cost-Benefit Analysis – Passage - Vote Passed (235-161, 37 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House took aim at one of Wall Street’s main regulators, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). Republicans have long complained that federal regulations are impeding economic recovery. In that spirit, H.R. 1062 would require the SEC to change its rulemaking procedures by conducting cost-benefit analyses before issuing new rules and two years after a rule takes effect. The bill would also require the agency to review existing rules and alter or repeal them if they are not working. Democrats largely opposed the bill, though 17 did cross over to support the bill. Opponents largely framed the measure as a Trojan horse for dismantling the 2010 overhaul of financial regulations. The administration is opposed to the bill, and it i unlikely to be taken up in the Senate.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 - S.954
After congressional agriculture leaders were forced to swallow an extension last year, the Senate is taking another go at passing a five-year farm bill. One major difference between this year’s measure and the bill that passed the Senate last year is the reappearance of target prices, a win for producers of such crops as peanuts and cotton. The change is largely attributable to the ascension of Mississippi’s Thad Cochran to the ranking Republican slot on the Agriculture committee. The administration has issued a policy statement in support of S. 954.
Smarter Solutions for Students Act - H.R.1911
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill, which would change the way student loan interest rates are calculated.
Northern Route Approval Act - H.R.3
The House is also scheduled to vote on this bill to circumvent the presidential permitting process and approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Water Resources Development Act – Passage
- Senate: CMS Nominee – Confirmation
- Senate: Energy Department Nominee – Confirmation
- House: Obamacare Repeal – Passage
- House: SEC Cost-Benefit Analysis – Passage
- Senate: Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013
- House: Smarter Solutions for Students Act
- House: Northern Route Approval Act
Water Resources Development Act – Passage - Vote Passed (83-14, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate laid down its marker last week for a full reauthorization of Army Corps of Engineers water projects with a broad, bipartisan majority. S. 601, shepherded to passage by liberal Environment and Public Works chairman Barbara Boxer of California and conservative ranking Republican David Vitter of Louisiana, reauthorizes port and harbor dredging, levees, dams, and storm repair for periods ranging from five to ten years. It also makes numerous reforms to current permitting procedures in an attempt to reduce the amount of time needed to get projects approved and under way. Several of the latter provisions are controversial, particularly language that would impose financial penalties on laggard agency heads. For that reason a compromise was negotiated to sunset th streamlining reforms after 10 years. Another major change concerns the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), the primary funding vehicle for dredging coastal and Great Lakes ports. Though conceived as a dedicated fund for harbor maintenance, in practice congressional appropriators in recent years have diverted HMTF dollars to unrelated projects. S. 601 would slowly end that practice, increasing the amount of funding dedicated to harbor maintenance by $100 million annually for six years, after which time all HMTF revenue would be so directed. Action now moves to the House side, where Transportation and Infrastructure committee chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa. has begun having hearings but appears in no rush.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
CMS Nominee – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (91-7, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed Marilyn Tavenner to be the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Tavenner will play a prominent role in overseeing implementation of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. She is the first Senate-confirmed CMS administrator since 2004.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Energy Department Nominee – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (97-0, 3 Not Voting)
In its last action of the week, the Senate unanimously confirmed MIT physicist Ernest J. Moniz to be the next Energy secretary, replacing another physicist, Steven Chu.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Obamacare Repeal – Passage - Vote Passed (229-195, 9 Not Voting)
The House took its three dozenth or so vote last week on repealing the 2010 health care overhaul. We noted in this space last week that, as introduced, the bill appeared not to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a body created by the law to reduce supply-side Medicare expenditures. It is not clear whether this was a clerical error, or perhaps whether House Republicans had a separate bill dealing with IPAB - Phil Roe of Tennessee has introduced such a bill, and IPAB repeal did pass the House last Congress - but the version of H.R. 45 that passed leaves no such ambiguity. Democrats Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah – both very conservative by their caucus’s standards and in very competitive districts – joined all Republicans in votin ‘yes.’ As with each previous attempt at wholesale repeal, this bill will go nowhere in the Senate. The president issued a perfunctory veto threat.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
SEC Cost-Benefit Analysis – Passage - Vote Passed (235-161, 37 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House took aim at one of Wall Street’s main regulators, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). Republicans have long complained that federal regulations are impeding economic recovery. In that spirit, H.R. 1062 would require the SEC to change its rulemaking procedures by conducting cost-benefit analyses before issuing new rules and two years after a rule takes effect. The bill would also require the agency to review existing rules and alter or repeal them if they are not working. Democrats largely opposed the bill, though 17 did cross over to support the bill. Opponents largely framed the measure as a Trojan horse for dismantling the 2010 overhaul of financial regulations. The administration is opposed to the bill, and it i unlikely to be taken up in the Senate.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 - S.954
After congressional agriculture leaders were forced to swallow an extension last year, the Senate is taking another go at passing a five-year farm bill. One major difference between this year’s measure and the bill that passed the Senate last year is the reappearance of target prices, a win for producers of such crops as peanuts and cotton. The change is largely attributable to the ascension of Mississippi’s Thad Cochran to the ranking Republican slot on the Agriculture committee. The administration has issued a policy statement in support of S. 954.
Smarter Solutions for Students Act - H.R.1911
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill, which would change the way student loan interest rates are calculated.
Northern Route Approval Act - H.R.3
The House is also scheduled to vote on this bill to circumvent the presidential permitting process and approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
April 29, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Congress is in recess until Monday, May 6.
Recent Senate Votes
OMB Director – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (96-0, 4 Not Voting)
Last week, the Senate unanimously confirmed Sylvia Matthews Burwell to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The office oversees development of the president’s annual budget proposals and oversees the performance of federal agencies.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Internet Sales Tax – Cloture Motion - Vote Agreed to (63-30, 7 Not Voting)
Before leaving for a week-long recess, the Senate also approved a motion to invoke cloture on S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. S. 743 would allow states to require online retailers to collect sales and use taxes on purchases made by their residents. President Obama supports the measure, saying it would "level the playing field" for brick-and-mortar retailers. The bill is expected to pass when the Senate returns; House action is uncertain.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
High-Risk Insurance Pools – Rule Vote - Vote Passed (225-189, 18 Not Voting)
The House was expected to pass a bill to transfer funds from one Obamacare-created program to another last week, but after agreeing to a framework for debating the measure with this vote, Republican leaders concluded they did not have enough votes and pulled it from the floor. H.R. 1549 would transfer approximately $3.6 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was created to fund various eponymous initiatives, to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which was created to provide health insurance coverage to individuals who could not obtain such insurance until 2014, when another Obamacare program, the health insurance exchanges, are scheduled to begin operation. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill if and when it does come up again.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
FAA Furloughs – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (361-41, 30 Not Voting)
Responding to rising anger with flight delays around the country, Congress acted with rare celerity to avert further furloughs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA had been forced to reduce the hours of its air traffic controllers as a result of the sequester. After several days of thousands of passengers experiencing delays (and presumably well aware that they would hear about it from constituents during the recess), the Senate passed a bill (S. 853) by unanimous consent allowing FAA to transfer up to $253 million to “prevent reduced operations and staffing.” Because the bill could be seen as a spending measure (though it spends no new funds), Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. secured unanimous consent that a House-passed bill with identical text to S 853 would automatically pass the Senate as well. The House passed such a bill last Friday; it is expected to clear the Senate when that body meets in pro forma session on Tuesday, April 30. The White House stated last week that the President will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Federal Helium Sales – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (394-1, 37 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House passed a bill creating a framework for winding down operation of the Federal Helium Reserve. Under current law, the Reserve is mandated to cease commercial helium sales once it pays off its debt, which is expected to occur by October 2013. According to the House Natural Resources committee, the scheduled closure would cut domestic helium supplies in half. H.R. 527 would keep the reserve open with new operating instructions until its capacity is 3 billion cubic feet (down from 10 billion cubic feet at present), at which time commercial sales will no longer be authorized and remaining supplies will only be available for national security and scientific needs. Neither the administration nor Senate leaders have staked out positions on th measure.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: OMB Director – Confirmation
- Senate: Internet Sales Tax – Cloture Motion
- House: High-Risk Insurance Pools – Rule Vote
- House: FAA Furloughs – Suspension Vote
- House: Federal Helium Sales – Suspension Vote
Congress is in recess until Monday, May 6.
Recent Senate Votes
OMB Director – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (96-0, 4 Not Voting)
Last week, the Senate unanimously confirmed Sylvia Matthews Burwell to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The office oversees development of the president’s annual budget proposals and oversees the performance of federal agencies.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Internet Sales Tax – Cloture Motion - Vote Agreed to (63-30, 7 Not Voting)
Before leaving for a week-long recess, the Senate also approved a motion to invoke cloture on S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. S. 743 would allow states to require online retailers to collect sales and use taxes on purchases made by their residents. President Obama supports the measure, saying it would "level the playing field" for brick-and-mortar retailers. The bill is expected to pass when the Senate returns; House action is uncertain.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
High-Risk Insurance Pools – Rule Vote - Vote Passed (225-189, 18 Not Voting)
The House was expected to pass a bill to transfer funds from one Obamacare-created program to another last week, but after agreeing to a framework for debating the measure with this vote, Republican leaders concluded they did not have enough votes and pulled it from the floor. H.R. 1549 would transfer approximately $3.6 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was created to fund various eponymous initiatives, to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which was created to provide health insurance coverage to individuals who could not obtain such insurance until 2014, when another Obamacare program, the health insurance exchanges, are scheduled to begin operation. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill if and when it does come up again.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
FAA Furloughs – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (361-41, 30 Not Voting)
Responding to rising anger with flight delays around the country, Congress acted with rare celerity to avert further furloughs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA had been forced to reduce the hours of its air traffic controllers as a result of the sequester. After several days of thousands of passengers experiencing delays (and presumably well aware that they would hear about it from constituents during the recess), the Senate passed a bill (S. 853) by unanimous consent allowing FAA to transfer up to $253 million to “prevent reduced operations and staffing.” Because the bill could be seen as a spending measure (though it spends no new funds), Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. secured unanimous consent that a House-passed bill with identical text to S 853 would automatically pass the Senate as well. The House passed such a bill last Friday; it is expected to clear the Senate when that body meets in pro forma session on Tuesday, April 30. The White House stated last week that the President will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Federal Helium Sales – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (394-1, 37 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House passed a bill creating a framework for winding down operation of the Federal Helium Reserve. Under current law, the Reserve is mandated to cease commercial helium sales once it pays off its debt, which is expected to occur by October 2013. According to the House Natural Resources committee, the scheduled closure would cut domestic helium supplies in half. H.R. 527 would keep the reserve open with new operating instructions until its capacity is 3 billion cubic feet (down from 10 billion cubic feet at present), at which time commercial sales will no longer be authorized and remaining supplies will only be available for national security and scientific needs. Neither the administration nor Senate leaders have staked out positions on th measure.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
April 16, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Last week the Senate confirmed Sally Jewell, former CEO of outdoor retailer REI, to be the next secretary of the Department of Interior.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Gun Control – Cloture Vote - Vote Agreed to (68-31, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate also agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to comprehensive firearms–related legislation that has been in the works since the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last December. Sixteen Republicans agreed to move forward with the bill, while two Democrats facing tough re-election battles next year – Mark Begich of Alaska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas – voted against ending debate. Though it is unclear what shape a final bill will take – or even whether any substantive measure can garner enough support to pass – supporters are hoping to include a strengthened background checks measure sponsored by Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania; language strengthening penalties for straw purchasers; an expanded funding for school safety. If a bill does make it out of the Senate, its fate would be even more uncertain in the Republican-controlled House. President Obama issued a statement in support of S. 649.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes Limit on NLRB Activity - Vote Passed (219-209, 4 Not Voting)
In January, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in Noel Canning v. NLRB that three recess appointments made by President Obama to the National Labor Relations Board were invalid because they did not take place during the court’s definition of a recess. Republican leaders of the House Education and the Workforce Committee called on the Board to “cease all activity” until new nominees could be appointed and confirmed. Last week the full House approved a bill that would mandate such an approach. H.R. 1120 would prevent NLRB from engaging in any activity requiring a quorum of its members – the threshold necessary for issuing legally binding rulings – until such time as the Canning decision is overturned by the Supreme Court or sufficient ne members are confirmed to constitute a quorum. The White House condemned the measure and threatened a veto. It is unlikely to see Senate action.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted Not Voting
Hydropower Facility Development – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (416-7, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill last week under suspension of the rules that would streamline the permitting process for small hydropower facilities. The House passed a similar bill last year that was not taken up by the Senate.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted Not Voting
Upcoming Votes Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 - S.649
The Senate will continue consideration of the gun bill this week. The Manchin-Toomey background check amendment is the next pending action.
Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) - H.R.624
The House will attempt to re-pass legislation originally sent to the Senate last year that would allow private companies to share information with federal intelligence authorities regarding cybersecurity threats.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Interior Secretary Confirmation
- Senate: Gun Control – Cloture Vote
- House: Limit on NLRB Activity
- House: Hydropower Facility Development – Suspension Vote
- Senate: Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013
- House: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)
Last week the Senate confirmed Sally Jewell, former CEO of outdoor retailer REI, to be the next secretary of the Department of Interior.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Gun Control – Cloture Vote - Vote Agreed to (68-31, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate also agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to comprehensive firearms–related legislation that has been in the works since the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last December. Sixteen Republicans agreed to move forward with the bill, while two Democrats facing tough re-election battles next year – Mark Begich of Alaska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas – voted against ending debate. Though it is unclear what shape a final bill will take – or even whether any substantive measure can garner enough support to pass – supporters are hoping to include a strengthened background checks measure sponsored by Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania; language strengthening penalties for straw purchasers; an expanded funding for school safety. If a bill does make it out of the Senate, its fate would be even more uncertain in the Republican-controlled House. President Obama issued a statement in support of S. 649.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes Limit on NLRB Activity - Vote Passed (219-209, 4 Not Voting)
In January, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in Noel Canning v. NLRB that three recess appointments made by President Obama to the National Labor Relations Board were invalid because they did not take place during the court’s definition of a recess. Republican leaders of the House Education and the Workforce Committee called on the Board to “cease all activity” until new nominees could be appointed and confirmed. Last week the full House approved a bill that would mandate such an approach. H.R. 1120 would prevent NLRB from engaging in any activity requiring a quorum of its members – the threshold necessary for issuing legally binding rulings – until such time as the Canning decision is overturned by the Supreme Court or sufficient ne members are confirmed to constitute a quorum. The White House condemned the measure and threatened a veto. It is unlikely to see Senate action.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted Not Voting
Hydropower Facility Development – Suspension Vote - Vote Passed (416-7, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill last week under suspension of the rules that would streamline the permitting process for small hydropower facilities. The House passed a similar bill last year that was not taken up by the Senate.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted Not Voting
Upcoming Votes Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 - S.649
The Senate will continue consideration of the gun bill this week. The Manchin-Toomey background check amendment is the next pending action.
Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) - H.R.624
The House will attempt to re-pass legislation originally sent to the Senate last year that would allow private companies to share information with federal intelligence authorities regarding cybersecurity threats.
March 25, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Recent Senate Votes
Fiscal 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Passage - Vote Passed (73-26, 1 Not Voting)
With a week left to avert a government shutdown, Senators passed a stopgap measure to keep federal funds flowing for the remainder of fiscal 2013. The Senate slightly expanded the spending package included in the original bill the House of Representatives passed on March 6, which only included full appropriations for Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans’ Affairs. Through a last-minute amendment put forth by Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., senators added additional spending provisions from three other related bills. The Senate approved Mikulski’s amendment 70-29 (roll call 42), less than an hour before the bill’s final passag roll call vote. All told, the bill appropriated $517.7 billion for the Defense Department, $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction projects, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, $20.5 billion for the Department of Agriculture and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. Spending on all other government programs will remain flat from fiscal 2012 rates. The bill made slight spending cuts from the earlier stopgap spending bill set to expire on March 27 to get federal outlays under the discretionary spending caps of the 2011 debt limit law (PL 112-25). The senate rejected several floor amendments that cut funds from Homeland Security and defense biofuel programs. Senator Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., relented on consideration for the single-largest spending cut amendment, which would have redirected nearly $381 million in spending for the Army’s Medium Extended Air Defense System. Ayotte’s opposition to the program ha held up final consideration of the bill for a week. The bill returned to the House the next day and received a motion to concur to its amended status, passing it to the president’s desk for signing.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Fiscal 2014 Senate Budget Resolution – Adoption - Vote Agreed to (50-49, 1 Not Voting)
Just before 5:00 in the morning on Saturday, the Senate passed its first budget resolution in four years by a single vote. Four Democrats – Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas – voted with Senate Republicans against the measure. Final passage arrived after senators spent 13 hours considering dozens of floor amendments on a huge swath of policy areas. Without any force of law, the nonbinding resolution laid out Senate Democrats’ alternative to the House budget, which passed two days before on a largely party-line vote (roll call 88). The Senate blueprint laid out $975 in new revenue and $975 i spending cuts over 10 years that promised to reduce the budget deficit $1.8 trillion in all. It also included additional economic stimulus and infrastructure investment funds supported by the White House. During floor debate, the Senate rejected a substitute budget put forth by Rand Paul of Kentucky that slashed spending by $9.6 trillion and cut taxes by $2.3 trillion over 10 years (roll call 69). Another Senate conservative firebrand, Texan Ted Cruz, offered unsuccessful amendments to repeal the Affordable Care Act (roll call 51), cut foreign aid to Egypt and build missile defense batteries on the East Coast (roll call 85), and withhold American funds to the United Nations until China rescinded its one-child population control policy (roll call 86). Republicans received Democratic support to pass amendments endorsing the Keystone XL pipeline (roll call 61), eliminating subsidies to the largest banks (roll call 70), and initiating a biennial budget process (roll call 65.) Senat Democrats played amendment tug-of-war, too. New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen successfully introduced an amendment backing women’s family planning and birth control access provided under the Affordable Care Act (roll call 54). Rhode Islander Sheldon Whitehouse’s amendment to create a carbon tax to combat global warming, however, failed (roll call 58).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
FY 2014 Budget Resolution – Adoption - Vote Passed (220-207, 4 Not Voting)
On Thursday of last week, the House agreed to adopt the concurrent resolution introduced a week earlier by sponsor Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., that would provide $2.769 trillion in new budget authority for FY2014, not including off-budget accounts. It assumed that the spending levels set by the sequester would stay in place and the discretionary savings from the sequester will come from nondefense programs. It also included the repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and changed Medicare to a “premium support” system starting in 2024. In addition, the resolution called for changes to the tax code, including the consolation of the individual income tax brackets from six to two and th reduction or elimination of some tax credits and deductions. In addition to mapping out government spending levels for FY 2014, the resolution included “appropriate budgetary levels for FY2015-FY2023” that would assume $5.7 trillion in reductions over the next ten years in discretionary and mandatory spending. Prior to adopting H. Con. Res. 25, on Wednesday the House rejected five amendments that would have provided alternative budget plans: the Senate’s Concurrent Resolution from Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. (Roll Call 83); the Congressional Black Caucus’ preparation from Robert C. Scott, D-Va. (Roll Call 84); the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ substitute from Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz. (Roll Call 85); the Republican Study Committee’s idea from Rob Woodall, R-Ga. (Roll Call 86); and the Democratic alternative from Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. (Roll Call 87). 171 Democrats attempted to force Republicans to pass or reject th conservative Woodall plan by voting present. That vote was the closest of any of the five to being approved.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
FY 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Final Passage - Vote Passed (318-109, 4 Not Voting)
At the end of the legislative week, the House agreed to the Senate’s amendments to the bill that would approve the continuing appropriations through FY 2013 including $1.043 trillion in discretionary funds before the sequester. It funds departments and agencies at their FY2012 enacted levels, with adjustments for certain programs. The legislation provides $517.7 billion in base discretionary funding for the Defense Department, $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction, $20.5 billion for agriculture programs, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. The legislation i now cleared for the president to sign into law, thus ending the lengthy process of funding government operations for FY2013.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Fiscal 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Passage
- Senate: Fiscal 2014 Senate Budget Resolution – Adoption
- House: FY 2014 Budget Resolution – Adoption
- House: FY 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Final Passage
Recent Senate Votes
Fiscal 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Passage - Vote Passed (73-26, 1 Not Voting)
With a week left to avert a government shutdown, Senators passed a stopgap measure to keep federal funds flowing for the remainder of fiscal 2013. The Senate slightly expanded the spending package included in the original bill the House of Representatives passed on March 6, which only included full appropriations for Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans’ Affairs. Through a last-minute amendment put forth by Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., senators added additional spending provisions from three other related bills. The Senate approved Mikulski’s amendment 70-29 (roll call 42), less than an hour before the bill’s final passag roll call vote. All told, the bill appropriated $517.7 billion for the Defense Department, $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction projects, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, $20.5 billion for the Department of Agriculture and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. Spending on all other government programs will remain flat from fiscal 2012 rates. The bill made slight spending cuts from the earlier stopgap spending bill set to expire on March 27 to get federal outlays under the discretionary spending caps of the 2011 debt limit law (PL 112-25). The senate rejected several floor amendments that cut funds from Homeland Security and defense biofuel programs. Senator Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., relented on consideration for the single-largest spending cut amendment, which would have redirected nearly $381 million in spending for the Army’s Medium Extended Air Defense System. Ayotte’s opposition to the program ha held up final consideration of the bill for a week. The bill returned to the House the next day and received a motion to concur to its amended status, passing it to the president’s desk for signing.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Fiscal 2014 Senate Budget Resolution – Adoption - Vote Agreed to (50-49, 1 Not Voting)
Just before 5:00 in the morning on Saturday, the Senate passed its first budget resolution in four years by a single vote. Four Democrats – Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas – voted with Senate Republicans against the measure. Final passage arrived after senators spent 13 hours considering dozens of floor amendments on a huge swath of policy areas. Without any force of law, the nonbinding resolution laid out Senate Democrats’ alternative to the House budget, which passed two days before on a largely party-line vote (roll call 88). The Senate blueprint laid out $975 in new revenue and $975 i spending cuts over 10 years that promised to reduce the budget deficit $1.8 trillion in all. It also included additional economic stimulus and infrastructure investment funds supported by the White House. During floor debate, the Senate rejected a substitute budget put forth by Rand Paul of Kentucky that slashed spending by $9.6 trillion and cut taxes by $2.3 trillion over 10 years (roll call 69). Another Senate conservative firebrand, Texan Ted Cruz, offered unsuccessful amendments to repeal the Affordable Care Act (roll call 51), cut foreign aid to Egypt and build missile defense batteries on the East Coast (roll call 85), and withhold American funds to the United Nations until China rescinded its one-child population control policy (roll call 86). Republicans received Democratic support to pass amendments endorsing the Keystone XL pipeline (roll call 61), eliminating subsidies to the largest banks (roll call 70), and initiating a biennial budget process (roll call 65.) Senat Democrats played amendment tug-of-war, too. New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen successfully introduced an amendment backing women’s family planning and birth control access provided under the Affordable Care Act (roll call 54). Rhode Islander Sheldon Whitehouse’s amendment to create a carbon tax to combat global warming, however, failed (roll call 58).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
FY 2014 Budget Resolution – Adoption - Vote Passed (220-207, 4 Not Voting)
On Thursday of last week, the House agreed to adopt the concurrent resolution introduced a week earlier by sponsor Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., that would provide $2.769 trillion in new budget authority for FY2014, not including off-budget accounts. It assumed that the spending levels set by the sequester would stay in place and the discretionary savings from the sequester will come from nondefense programs. It also included the repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and changed Medicare to a “premium support” system starting in 2024. In addition, the resolution called for changes to the tax code, including the consolation of the individual income tax brackets from six to two and th reduction or elimination of some tax credits and deductions. In addition to mapping out government spending levels for FY 2014, the resolution included “appropriate budgetary levels for FY2015-FY2023” that would assume $5.7 trillion in reductions over the next ten years in discretionary and mandatory spending. Prior to adopting H. Con. Res. 25, on Wednesday the House rejected five amendments that would have provided alternative budget plans: the Senate’s Concurrent Resolution from Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. (Roll Call 83); the Congressional Black Caucus’ preparation from Robert C. Scott, D-Va. (Roll Call 84); the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ substitute from Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz. (Roll Call 85); the Republican Study Committee’s idea from Rob Woodall, R-Ga. (Roll Call 86); and the Democratic alternative from Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. (Roll Call 87). 171 Democrats attempted to force Republicans to pass or reject th conservative Woodall plan by voting present. That vote was the closest of any of the five to being approved.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
FY 2013 Continuing Appropriations – Final Passage - Vote Passed (318-109, 4 Not Voting)
At the end of the legislative week, the House agreed to the Senate’s amendments to the bill that would approve the continuing appropriations through FY 2013 including $1.043 trillion in discretionary funds before the sequester. It funds departments and agencies at their FY2012 enacted levels, with adjustments for certain programs. The legislation provides $517.7 billion in base discretionary funding for the Defense Department, $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction, $20.5 billion for agriculture programs, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. The legislation i now cleared for the president to sign into law, thus ending the lengthy process of funding government operations for FY2013.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
February 19, 2013:
Recent Congressional Votes
Recent Senate Votes
Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage - Vote Passed (78-22)
The Senate passed a comprehensive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) last week, including a controversial provision that grants expanded authority to tribal courts over non-American Indian offenders. The bill would also expand protections for LGBT victims. VAWA consists of a variety of grant programs to state and local law enforcement agencies and service organizations that specialize in treating victims of such crimes as rape, domestic violence, and stalking. S. 47 extends VAWA for five years. The Senate debated several amendments to the bill, notably defeating a proposal from Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn to remove the expanded tribal court authority (Roll Call 14 ). Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy of Vermont successfully attached a four-year extension of anti-human trafficking measures to the overall bill (Roll Call 15 ). House leaders have been vague about their plans regarding the legislation , which expired last year amid disagreement between the two chambers. President Obama supports the Senate bill.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture - Vote Rejected (58-40, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)
One of the more contentious nomination fights in recent memory was dragged into the President’s Day recess when the Senate failed to invoke cloture on Chuck Hagel’s bid to become Defense Secretary. The former Republican senator from Nebraska endured a withering confirmation hearing on January 31 , during which he was grilled for hours by fellow Republicans on a narrow range of issues, particularly Israel and Iran. The nomination passed out of the Armed Services Committee February 12 on a straight party-line vote , and Reid attempted to end debate two days later. Several Republican senators, including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander stated that they would not vote for cloture that day but would following the recess (though they would ultimately oppose the nomination). After extended back and forth about whether the Republicans were filibustering Hagel by essentially requiring 60 votes to confirm him, the cloture vote failed. Four Republicans – Susan Collins, Thad Cochran, Mike Johanns and Lisa Murkowski – joined all Democrats and independents Angus King and Bernie Sanders in supporting the motion. Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah voted “present,” which in this instance had the same effect as a “no” vote.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension - Vote Passed (354-72, 5 Not Voting)
This bill would expand the definition of “private non-profit facilities” eligible for federal disaster funding to include houses of worship such as churches and synagogues. Many such buildings were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, which brought the issue to lawmakers’ attention.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Hydropower Regulation – Suspension - Vote Passed (422-0, 9 Not Voting)
The House unanimously supported this measure to streamline permitting and regulation of hydropower facilities.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage - Vote Passed (261-154, 16 Not Voting)
Acting to head off a scheduled cost-of-living-adjustment for federal civilian employees, the House extended the freeze on their pay through the end of the calendar year. Military pay is not affected by the bill.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
North Korea Nuclear Test - Vote Passed (412-2, 17 Not Voting)
Responding to a nuclear test conducted by the secretive Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea , the House passed a resolution condemning the act and calling for a new round of sanctions. Libertarian Republicans Justin Amash of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the only “no” votes.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage
- Senate: Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture
- House: Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension
- House: Hydropower Regulation – Suspension
- House: Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage
- House: North Korea Nuclear Test
Recent Senate Votes
Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage - Vote Passed (78-22)
The Senate passed a comprehensive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) last week, including a controversial provision that grants expanded authority to tribal courts over non-American Indian offenders. The bill would also expand protections for LGBT victims. VAWA consists of a variety of grant programs to state and local law enforcement agencies and service organizations that specialize in treating victims of such crimes as rape, domestic violence, and stalking. S. 47 extends VAWA for five years. The Senate debated several amendments to the bill, notably defeating a proposal from Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn to remove the expanded tribal court authority (Roll Call 14 ). Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy of Vermont successfully attached a four-year extension of anti-human trafficking measures to the overall bill (Roll Call 15 ). House leaders have been vague about their plans regarding the legislation , which expired last year amid disagreement between the two chambers. President Obama supports the Senate bill.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture - Vote Rejected (58-40, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)
One of the more contentious nomination fights in recent memory was dragged into the President’s Day recess when the Senate failed to invoke cloture on Chuck Hagel’s bid to become Defense Secretary. The former Republican senator from Nebraska endured a withering confirmation hearing on January 31 , during which he was grilled for hours by fellow Republicans on a narrow range of issues, particularly Israel and Iran. The nomination passed out of the Armed Services Committee February 12 on a straight party-line vote , and Reid attempted to end debate two days later. Several Republican senators, including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander stated that they would not vote for cloture that day but would following the recess (though they would ultimately oppose the nomination). After extended back and forth about whether the Republicans were filibustering Hagel by essentially requiring 60 votes to confirm him, the cloture vote failed. Four Republicans – Susan Collins, Thad Cochran, Mike Johanns and Lisa Murkowski – joined all Democrats and independents Angus King and Bernie Sanders in supporting the motion. Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah voted “present,” which in this instance had the same effect as a “no” vote.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension - Vote Passed (354-72, 5 Not Voting)
This bill would expand the definition of “private non-profit facilities” eligible for federal disaster funding to include houses of worship such as churches and synagogues. Many such buildings were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, which brought the issue to lawmakers’ attention.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Hydropower Regulation – Suspension - Vote Passed (422-0, 9 Not Voting)
The House unanimously supported this measure to streamline permitting and regulation of hydropower facilities.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage - Vote Passed (261-154, 16 Not Voting)
Acting to head off a scheduled cost-of-living-adjustment for federal civilian employees, the House extended the freeze on their pay through the end of the calendar year. Military pay is not affected by the bill.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
North Korea Nuclear Test - Vote Passed (412-2, 17 Not Voting)
Responding to a nuclear test conducted by the secretive Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea , the House passed a resolution condemning the act and calling for a new round of sanctions. Libertarian Republicans Justin Amash of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the only “no” votes.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
February 4, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Temporary Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage - Vote Passed (64-34, 2 Not Voting)
The federal debt limit will have no force or effect until May 19, thanks to Senate action last week to clear a House-passed measure for President Obama’s signature. In addition to suspending the debt limit, the bill commits the Senate (and the House) to passing a budget resolution for the first time in four years, under pain of its members having their paychecks withheld. Before the bill could pass, Democrats had to table several Republican amendments from Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Rand Paul of Kentucky and David Vitter of Louisiana (Roll Call Votes 6-10). Portman offered two amendments: the first would have require that any bill to raise the debt limit include non-interest spending cuts of an equal or greater amount; the second would have cut discretionary spending by one percent every three or four months if Congress does not agree to a budget resolution by October 1, 2013. Toomey’s amendment would have prioritized certain accounts for receipt of payment in the event Congress did not raise the debt limit, placing debt interest, Social Security and military personnel at the front of the line. The Paul amendment would have banned the transfer of certain weapons systems such F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. The Vitter amendment would have introduced spending cuts to the bill. All but the Paul amendment, which had very little support, split the Senate exactly along party lines. Democrats rejected each amendment unanimously except the second Portman amendment, which attracted the support of Kay Hagan (N.C.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Jon Tester (Mont.).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Disaster Relief – Final Passage - Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting)
Relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy cleared Congress last week, almost exactly three months after the storm devastated coastal communities in New York and New Jersey. After defeating an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would have offset the bill’s cost with a 0.49 percent across-the-board spending cut (Roll Call Number 3), the upper chamber just managed to clear the 60-vote threshold leadership had agreed to set for passage of the bill. All told, the package contains $50.5 billion, to be disbursed through programs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Health and Human Services, and Army Corps of Engineers, among others. All but $5.4 billion of this amount is designated as emergency spending, meaning it does not apply to discretionary budgetary caps set by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Secretary of State Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (94-3, 1 Present, 2 Not Voting)
The senior Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat John Kerry, was confirmed as the 68th Secretary of State last week. Kerry received near-unanimous support from his colleagues, the only dissenters being Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. Kerry officially took over from Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday, February 1.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - S.47
The Senate will begin debate on a reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act, which stalled last year amidst disagreement between the House and Senate. This bill is virtually identical to the one the Senate passed last year and is co-sponsored by 59 senators in addition to Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont. A vote on the motion to proceed to the measure is scheduled for Monday, Feburary 4.
Require a PLAN Act - H.R.444
The House is expected to consider and pass a bill that would require the president to submit a FY 2014 budget that achieves balance within the document’s 10-year timeframe. (The "PLAN" in the bill’s title stands for "Presidential Leadership and No Deficits.")
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Temporary Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
- Senate: Disaster Relief – Final Passage
- Senate: Secretary of State Confirmation
- Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
- House: Require a PLAN Act
Temporary Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage - Vote Passed (64-34, 2 Not Voting)
The federal debt limit will have no force or effect until May 19, thanks to Senate action last week to clear a House-passed measure for President Obama’s signature. In addition to suspending the debt limit, the bill commits the Senate (and the House) to passing a budget resolution for the first time in four years, under pain of its members having their paychecks withheld. Before the bill could pass, Democrats had to table several Republican amendments from Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Rand Paul of Kentucky and David Vitter of Louisiana (Roll Call Votes 6-10). Portman offered two amendments: the first would have require that any bill to raise the debt limit include non-interest spending cuts of an equal or greater amount; the second would have cut discretionary spending by one percent every three or four months if Congress does not agree to a budget resolution by October 1, 2013. Toomey’s amendment would have prioritized certain accounts for receipt of payment in the event Congress did not raise the debt limit, placing debt interest, Social Security and military personnel at the front of the line. The Paul amendment would have banned the transfer of certain weapons systems such F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. The Vitter amendment would have introduced spending cuts to the bill. All but the Paul amendment, which had very little support, split the Senate exactly along party lines. Democrats rejected each amendment unanimously except the second Portman amendment, which attracted the support of Kay Hagan (N.C.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Jon Tester (Mont.).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Disaster Relief – Final Passage - Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting)
Relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy cleared Congress last week, almost exactly three months after the storm devastated coastal communities in New York and New Jersey. After defeating an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would have offset the bill’s cost with a 0.49 percent across-the-board spending cut (Roll Call Number 3), the upper chamber just managed to clear the 60-vote threshold leadership had agreed to set for passage of the bill. All told, the package contains $50.5 billion, to be disbursed through programs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Health and Human Services, and Army Corps of Engineers, among others. All but $5.4 billion of this amount is designated as emergency spending, meaning it does not apply to discretionary budgetary caps set by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Secretary of State Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (94-3, 1 Present, 2 Not Voting)
The senior Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat John Kerry, was confirmed as the 68th Secretary of State last week. Kerry received near-unanimous support from his colleagues, the only dissenters being Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. Kerry officially took over from Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday, February 1.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - S.47
The Senate will begin debate on a reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act, which stalled last year amidst disagreement between the House and Senate. This bill is virtually identical to the one the Senate passed last year and is co-sponsored by 59 senators in addition to Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont. A vote on the motion to proceed to the measure is scheduled for Monday, Feburary 4.
Require a PLAN Act - H.R.444
The House is expected to consider and pass a bill that would require the president to submit a FY 2014 budget that achieves balance within the document’s 10-year timeframe. (The "PLAN" in the bill’s title stands for "Presidential Leadership and No Deficits.")
January 28, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Recent Senate Votes
Temporary Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (78-16, 6 Not Voting)
The only action in the Senate last week focused on the upper chamber's internal rules. There has been much bitter recrimination between majority Democrats and minority Republicans in recent years over a general lack of productivity, which the majority blames on obstruction - mostly in the form of a geometric increase in usage of the filibuster - and the minority blames on stonewalling, mostly in the form of Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "filling the amendment tree" on bills brought to the floor, thereby preventing Republicans (or anyone else, for that matter) from offering amendments. A group of Democrats led by Tom Udall of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon had been pushing a return to the "talking" filibuster of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington fame, which they claimed could be pushed through with a simple majority of 51 votes at the beginning of the 113th Congress. Udall and Merkley (and most other Democrats) deemed this the "constitutional" option, since nowhere in the Constitution does it state that the Senate should operate under anything but majority rule except in rare circumstances such impeachment of a president and approving treaties. Republicans dubbed the Merkley/Udall proposal the "nuclear" option, claiming it would completely destroy what was left of the body's traditional comity and leave the minority little choice but to engage in parliamentary guerrilla war to have a voice in the chamber. In the event, the nuclear button was not pushed, and what changes occurred last week will mostly tinker around the edges. Senators cast two votes, the first on a temporary rules change applicable only in the 113th Congress. The biggest effect of the change would be to limit the ability to filibuster the motion to proceed, which is a procedural hurdle that must be leapt in order to consider a bill on the floor. If the two leaders agree on a set of four amendments, two each from the minority and majority, debate on the motion to proceed would be limited to four hours. The other change would limit post-cloture debate time on lower-level judges and executive branch nominees.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Permanent Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (86-9, 5 Not Voting)
The second vote instituted a permanent change to the Senate’s rules; it also chiefly concerns the motion to proceed. Currently when the majority leader files a cloture petition in order to end debate, two days of session must pass before a cloture vote can be held and, if cloture is invoked, 30 additional hours must pass before voting on the actual matter at hand (in this case, the motion to proceed to the bill). The rules change would allow a cloture vote to be held the day after a petition is filed, if the cloture petition is signed by both the Majority and Minority Leaders and seven members each from the majority and minority. If cloture on the motion to proceed is then invoked, senators would immediately vote on the motion instead of waiting 30 hours. The other permanent rules change would condense the process for motions to go to conference with the House, reducing the number of motions needed – and thus the number of opportunities to filibuster – from three to one.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage - Vote Passed (285-144, 3 Not Voting)
The House temporarily defused a looming crisis over the debt limit last by passing a bill that, rather than raising the limit – that is, setting a new cap on the federal government’s borrowing authority – actually suspends it – meaning there technically is no limit – until May 19, at which point the limit would be reset at a new, higher level, to reflect government borrowing activity in the interim period. In addition, the bill would institute an enforcement mechanism for each house of Congress to pass a FY 2014 budget resolution. Beginning April 15, if a chamber has not passed a budget, that chamber’s members would not receive their paychecks. This would carry on until the earlier of passage of a budget or the last day of the 113th Congress. Though House Democrats mostly decried the bill as a gimmick, President Obama has stated he will sign the bill if it reaches him.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package on Monday, January 28, as well as an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would offset the bill's cost with spending cuts.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. - H.R.325
Majority Leader Reid has stated he will bring the House debt limit/no-budget-no-pay bill to the floor.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Temporary Rules Changes
- Senate: Permanent Rules Changes
- House: Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
- Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
- Senate: To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes.
Recent Senate Votes
Temporary Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (78-16, 6 Not Voting)
The only action in the Senate last week focused on the upper chamber's internal rules. There has been much bitter recrimination between majority Democrats and minority Republicans in recent years over a general lack of productivity, which the majority blames on obstruction - mostly in the form of a geometric increase in usage of the filibuster - and the minority blames on stonewalling, mostly in the form of Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "filling the amendment tree" on bills brought to the floor, thereby preventing Republicans (or anyone else, for that matter) from offering amendments. A group of Democrats led by Tom Udall of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon had been pushing a return to the "talking" filibuster of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington fame, which they claimed could be pushed through with a simple majority of 51 votes at the beginning of the 113th Congress. Udall and Merkley (and most other Democrats) deemed this the "constitutional" option, since nowhere in the Constitution does it state that the Senate should operate under anything but majority rule except in rare circumstances such impeachment of a president and approving treaties. Republicans dubbed the Merkley/Udall proposal the "nuclear" option, claiming it would completely destroy what was left of the body's traditional comity and leave the minority little choice but to engage in parliamentary guerrilla war to have a voice in the chamber. In the event, the nuclear button was not pushed, and what changes occurred last week will mostly tinker around the edges. Senators cast two votes, the first on a temporary rules change applicable only in the 113th Congress. The biggest effect of the change would be to limit the ability to filibuster the motion to proceed, which is a procedural hurdle that must be leapt in order to consider a bill on the floor. If the two leaders agree on a set of four amendments, two each from the minority and majority, debate on the motion to proceed would be limited to four hours. The other change would limit post-cloture debate time on lower-level judges and executive branch nominees.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Permanent Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (86-9, 5 Not Voting)
The second vote instituted a permanent change to the Senate’s rules; it also chiefly concerns the motion to proceed. Currently when the majority leader files a cloture petition in order to end debate, two days of session must pass before a cloture vote can be held and, if cloture is invoked, 30 additional hours must pass before voting on the actual matter at hand (in this case, the motion to proceed to the bill). The rules change would allow a cloture vote to be held the day after a petition is filed, if the cloture petition is signed by both the Majority and Minority Leaders and seven members each from the majority and minority. If cloture on the motion to proceed is then invoked, senators would immediately vote on the motion instead of waiting 30 hours. The other permanent rules change would condense the process for motions to go to conference with the House, reducing the number of motions needed – and thus the number of opportunities to filibuster – from three to one.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Recent House Votes
Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage - Vote Passed (285-144, 3 Not Voting)
The House temporarily defused a looming crisis over the debt limit last by passing a bill that, rather than raising the limit – that is, setting a new cap on the federal government’s borrowing authority – actually suspends it – meaning there technically is no limit – until May 19, at which point the limit would be reset at a new, higher level, to reflect government borrowing activity in the interim period. In addition, the bill would institute an enforcement mechanism for each house of Congress to pass a FY 2014 budget resolution. Beginning April 15, if a chamber has not passed a budget, that chamber’s members would not receive their paychecks. This would carry on until the earlier of passage of a budget or the last day of the 113th Congress. Though House Democrats mostly decried the bill as a gimmick, President Obama has stated he will sign the bill if it reaches him.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package on Monday, January 28, as well as an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would offset the bill's cost with spending cuts.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. - H.R.325
Majority Leader Reid has stated he will bring the House debt limit/no-budget-no-pay bill to the floor.
January 22, 2013:
Recent Congressional Votes
Recent House Votes
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Substitute Amendment - Vote Agreed to (327-91, 14 Not Voting)
After agreeing unanimously to the FEMA reforms, the House dove into the much thornier issue of providing actual money for Sandy victims. Conservatives on the GOP side have been arguing for months that any new spending for disaster aid should be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget. This fact at least partly explains Speaker John Boehner’s decision to cancel anticipated action before the end of the 112th Congress. The several weeks’ delay allowed Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers of Kentucky and fellow appropriator Rodney Frelinghuysen of Sandy-affected New Jersey to come up with legislative language and procedure that could win enough support for passage. Their proposal divided the aid into two tranches, one covering only the most immediate needs, to be offered as a substitute amendment by Rogers, and the second to take care of longer-term needs for coastal New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Conservative Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina was allowed to offer an amendment to the Rogers language that would have offset its costs – about $17 billion – with a 1.6 percent cut across the rest of the federal budget. Mulvaney’s amendment was rejected – though over two thirds of Republicans voting supported it – and Rogers’s $17 billion language then passed with strong bipartisan support.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Long-term Recovery Aid - Vote Agreed to (228-192, 12 Not Voting)
The Frelinghuysen amendment in support of long-term recovery efforts proved much more controversial and more difficult to pass. It provided an additional $33 billion on top of the $17 billion in the Rogers amendment. In addition to the question of spending offsets, many Republicans questioned whether the type of mitigation efforts supported by the Frelinghuysen language belonged in a disaster aid bill. That type of spending, they argue, ought to be debated as part of the regular budgetary and appropriations process. Several amendments to Frelinghuysen were adopted, among them a rescission of funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Roll Call 16) and a restriction on the use of funds in the bill to acquire new federal land (Roll Call 21). Ultimately the Frelinghuysen language was adopted, but with the support of only 38 Republicans, mostly those from the affected states and other regions that have relied on federal support for disaster recovery in the past, such as the Gulf Coast.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Final Passage - Vote Passed (241-180, 11 Not Voting)
The final package voted on the by House consisted of the Rogers and Frelinghuysen amendments and the disaster aid reforms. Ultimately the bill provides around $50.5 billion to the areas affected by the storm. Almost all of that total is designated “emergency spending,” meaning it falls outside of budgetary caps established for this fiscal year by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement. The final bill did pick up a few more Republican votes, but it would not have come close to passage without near-unanimous Democratic support. The issue of whether to offset disaster aid appears certain to resurface again. Rep. Mulvaney, while lamenting defeat of his amendment, said he was nonetheless "encouraged" to receive 162 votes.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Disaster Aid Reform - Vote Passed (403-0, 26 Not Voting)
The House engaged in a multiple-step process last week in order to finally pass the bulk of an assistance package for victims of Hurricane Sandy (after passing a bill two weeks ago increasing the National Flood Insurance Program’s borrowing authority). The first step was passing this bill designed to introduce efficiencies to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster recovery procedures. Among other things, the bill would streamline environmental reviews, reduce debris removal costs, and allow FEMA to make limited repairs to housing structures if that would be less costly than providing trailers. It would also direct FEMA to provide Congress with recommendations for reducing future recovery costs.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is expected to take up the House-passed disaster aid package this week.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes - H.R.325
Republicans appear to have given up their strategy of using the debt ceiling to extract concessions from President Obama on spending and entitlements. That does not mean they plan simply to raise it, however. Their new gambit, expected to be on the floor Wednesday, would actually suspend the ceiling until May 19. Simultaneously, it would introduce a requirement that if either house of Congress does not pass a budget resolution by April 15 (as technically required by law), members of that house would not be paid until 1) a budget is passed or 2) the end of the 113th Congress, whichever occurs first.
Recent Congressional Votes
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Substitute Amendment
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Long-term Recovery Aid
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Final Passage
- House: Disaster Aid Reform
- Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
- House: To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes
Recent House Votes
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Substitute Amendment - Vote Agreed to (327-91, 14 Not Voting)
After agreeing unanimously to the FEMA reforms, the House dove into the much thornier issue of providing actual money for Sandy victims. Conservatives on the GOP side have been arguing for months that any new spending for disaster aid should be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget. This fact at least partly explains Speaker John Boehner’s decision to cancel anticipated action before the end of the 112th Congress. The several weeks’ delay allowed Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers of Kentucky and fellow appropriator Rodney Frelinghuysen of Sandy-affected New Jersey to come up with legislative language and procedure that could win enough support for passage. Their proposal divided the aid into two tranches, one covering only the most immediate needs, to be offered as a substitute amendment by Rogers, and the second to take care of longer-term needs for coastal New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Conservative Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina was allowed to offer an amendment to the Rogers language that would have offset its costs – about $17 billion – with a 1.6 percent cut across the rest of the federal budget. Mulvaney’s amendment was rejected – though over two thirds of Republicans voting supported it – and Rogers’s $17 billion language then passed with strong bipartisan support.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Long-term Recovery Aid - Vote Agreed to (228-192, 12 Not Voting)
The Frelinghuysen amendment in support of long-term recovery efforts proved much more controversial and more difficult to pass. It provided an additional $33 billion on top of the $17 billion in the Rogers amendment. In addition to the question of spending offsets, many Republicans questioned whether the type of mitigation efforts supported by the Frelinghuysen language belonged in a disaster aid bill. That type of spending, they argue, ought to be debated as part of the regular budgetary and appropriations process. Several amendments to Frelinghuysen were adopted, among them a rescission of funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Roll Call 16) and a restriction on the use of funds in the bill to acquire new federal land (Roll Call 21). Ultimately the Frelinghuysen language was adopted, but with the support of only 38 Republicans, mostly those from the affected states and other regions that have relied on federal support for disaster recovery in the past, such as the Gulf Coast.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Final Passage - Vote Passed (241-180, 11 Not Voting)
The final package voted on the by House consisted of the Rogers and Frelinghuysen amendments and the disaster aid reforms. Ultimately the bill provides around $50.5 billion to the areas affected by the storm. Almost all of that total is designated “emergency spending,” meaning it falls outside of budgetary caps established for this fiscal year by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement. The final bill did pick up a few more Republican votes, but it would not have come close to passage without near-unanimous Democratic support. The issue of whether to offset disaster aid appears certain to resurface again. Rep. Mulvaney, while lamenting defeat of his amendment, said he was nonetheless "encouraged" to receive 162 votes.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted NO
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Disaster Aid Reform - Vote Passed (403-0, 26 Not Voting)
The House engaged in a multiple-step process last week in order to finally pass the bulk of an assistance package for victims of Hurricane Sandy (after passing a bill two weeks ago increasing the National Flood Insurance Program’s borrowing authority). The first step was passing this bill designed to introduce efficiencies to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster recovery procedures. Among other things, the bill would streamline environmental reviews, reduce debris removal costs, and allow FEMA to make limited repairs to housing structures if that would be less costly than providing trailers. It would also direct FEMA to provide Congress with recommendations for reducing future recovery costs.
Rep. Dennis Ross voted YES
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is expected to take up the House-passed disaster aid package this week.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes - H.R.325
Republicans appear to have given up their strategy of using the debt ceiling to extract concessions from President Obama on spending and entitlements. That does not mean they plan simply to raise it, however. Their new gambit, expected to be on the floor Wednesday, would actually suspend the ceiling until May 19. Simultaneously, it would introduce a requirement that if either house of Congress does not pass a budget resolution by April 15 (as technically required by law), members of that house would not be paid until 1) a budget is passed or 2) the end of the 113th Congress, whichever occurs first.
January 8, 2013
Recent Congressional Votes
Recent House Votes
Establishing the Rules of the House - Vote Passed (228-196, 5 Not Voting)
Rep Dennis Ross voted Yes
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted No
After electing the Speaker, the next order of business in organizing the House is traditionally establishing the rules for that Congress. This is typically a prosaic piece of business, but there were several controversial items in the rules package this year. The resolution reauthorizes the House’s Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to continue litigation defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the court system. It also authorizes the Oversight Committee to continue its civil action against Attorney General Eric Holder over documents related to the Fast and Furious gun walking scandal. The last controversial provision concerns the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a panel created by the 2010 health care overhaul to look for ways to lower health care costs. As envisioned in the health care bill, Congress would automatically vote on the panel’s recommendations; under the rules of the House in the new Congress, it will not be possible to consider those recommendations. The House passed a bill last March to repeal IPAB outright (Roll Call Number 126). It is worth noting that President Obama has not made any nominations to the panel, so it currently has no members and therefore no ability to make recommendations. Democrats attempted to revise the package twice, first with inclusion of a study regarding the voting rights of delegates from the U.S. territories and Puerto Rico, and later with legislative language to create national early voting. Both efforts were voted down.
Hurricane Sandy Relief – Suspension - Vote Passed (354-67, 8 Not Voting)
Rep Dennis Ross voted Yes
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Speaker Boehner caused no small amount of indignation when he adjourned the House at the end of the last Congress without taking up a relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The delay caused the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to approach its borrowing limit, necessitating this suspension bill to raise the program’s borrowing authority by $9.7 billion. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote later in the day. Boehner has pledged that the remainder of the roughly $60 billion in aid would be considered in the House January 15.
Recent Congressional Votes
- House: Establishing the Rules of the House
- House: Hurricane Sandy Relief – Suspension
Recent House Votes
Establishing the Rules of the House - Vote Passed (228-196, 5 Not Voting)
Rep Dennis Ross voted Yes
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted No
After electing the Speaker, the next order of business in organizing the House is traditionally establishing the rules for that Congress. This is typically a prosaic piece of business, but there were several controversial items in the rules package this year. The resolution reauthorizes the House’s Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to continue litigation defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the court system. It also authorizes the Oversight Committee to continue its civil action against Attorney General Eric Holder over documents related to the Fast and Furious gun walking scandal. The last controversial provision concerns the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a panel created by the 2010 health care overhaul to look for ways to lower health care costs. As envisioned in the health care bill, Congress would automatically vote on the panel’s recommendations; under the rules of the House in the new Congress, it will not be possible to consider those recommendations. The House passed a bill last March to repeal IPAB outright (Roll Call Number 126). It is worth noting that President Obama has not made any nominations to the panel, so it currently has no members and therefore no ability to make recommendations. Democrats attempted to revise the package twice, first with inclusion of a study regarding the voting rights of delegates from the U.S. territories and Puerto Rico, and later with legislative language to create national early voting. Both efforts were voted down.
Hurricane Sandy Relief – Suspension - Vote Passed (354-67, 8 Not Voting)
Rep Dennis Ross voted Yes
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Speaker Boehner caused no small amount of indignation when he adjourned the House at the end of the last Congress without taking up a relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The delay caused the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to approach its borrowing limit, necessitating this suspension bill to raise the program’s borrowing authority by $9.7 billion. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote later in the day. Boehner has pledged that the remainder of the roughly $60 billion in aid would be considered in the House January 15.
December 10, 2012
Recent Congressional Votes
Disability Treaty – Ratification - Vote Rejected (61-38, 1 Not Voting)
Despite a last-minute appearance by former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas in support of the treaty, Senate Republicans mustered enough opposition to defeat the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Supporters, including Dole and Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., described the treaty as essentially enshrining the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336) as an international standard. Kerry highlighted the treaty’s support among veterans groups. The treaty’s detractors, including Republican presidential candidate and former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, raised the possibility of “international bureaucrats” making child-care decisions in place of parents, including potentially restricting home schooling. All international treaties require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, so supporters fell five votes short. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada vowed another vote in the next Congress.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Authorization – Final Passage - Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)
Following a Monday cloture vote, last week the Senate gave unanimous support to its FY 2013 defense authorization bill. The measure provides funding for all branches of the armed services (excluding the Coast Guard), nuclear security operations at the Department of Energy, and “overseas contingency operations,” i.e., funding for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas conflicts. Fiscal 2013 funding in the bill would come to roughly $631 billion, $88 billion of which covers war costs. Major amendments adopted during debate would further toughen sanctions against Iran; clarify that U.S. citizens and permanent residents may not be detained without charge or trial if apprehended on American soil; prohibit transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to a U.S. facility; and ensure that the Pentagon is able to purchase alternative fuels. The provision on alternative fuels is likely to be a sticking point in conference negotiations with the House, whose bill prohibits purchase of such fuels if they are more expensive than traditional options such as petroleum. Despite President Obama’s veto message, both chambers’ bills contain restrictions on Guantanamo detainee transfers, retirement of Air National Guard planes, and TRICARE enrollment fees. Though conferees have not been named for either side (that is likely to happen this week), staff discussions have already begun.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage - Vote Passed (92-4, 4 Not Voting)
The Senate cleared the way for more open trade with the Russian Federation and the tiny Eastern European republic of Moldova last week with passage of a House measure that lifts 1970s-vintage restrictions on both countries. The move was necessitated by Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization over the summer; had trade restrictions not been rescinded, the U.S. would have been vulnerable to retaliatory actions by the Russians. Moldova has been a WTO member since 2001 and appears simply to have hitched a ride on a moving legislative vehicle. Despite cheers from the business community for the free trade measure, the Russian government is deeply unhappy with accompanying language chiding its poor human rights record and sanctioning individuals associated with the imprisonment and death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The bill is currently before the president and will likely be signed into law shortly.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Energy Efficiency – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-2, 1 Present, 30 Not Voting)
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on an energy measure, the House came together to pass a bill clarifying federal efficiency standards for a variety of heavy appliances, including air conditioners and commercial refrigerators (excluding walk-in refrigerators). Though the measure appears uncontroversial, its prospects are not clear in the Senate given the crowded calendar.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Global Internet Governance – Adoption - Vote Passed (397-0, 34 Not Voting)
The House unanimously agreed to Senate language expressing the sense of Congress that the Internet should remain “free from government control.” The concurrent resolution was adopted amid the backdrop of a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations body broadly responsible for fostering cooperation among governments and the private sector on international telecommunications governance. Technology companies such as Google have voiced concern that the ITU conference could lead to adoption of restrictive regulations making it easier for national governments to censor content.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-1, 32 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House cleared a Senate bill that would remove the pejorative “lunatic” from the United States Code. The lone House dissenter was Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, who insisted that lunatic should be retained, pointing to his fellow Members of Congress as living, breathing examples of the term. The bill awaits the president’s signature.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes. - S.3637
The Senate is scheduled to hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a bill that would extend the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program through the end of 2014. TAG is a program administered by the FDIC that provides full deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. The program was created in the midst of the financial crisis in late 2008 and later extended for two years in late 2010. It is set to expire at the end of this year, however, and lobbyists for small and independent banks are making a heavy push to extend the program again. Republicans are wary of keeping it alive, so invoking cloture is no guarantee.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - H.R.4310
The House is scheduled to consider several bills under suspension of the rules, as well as a Motion to go to Conference on the defense authorization bill.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Disability Treaty – Ratification
- Senate: Defense Authorization – Final Passage
- Senate: Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage
- House: Energy Efficiency – Suspension
- House: Global Internet Governance – Adoption
- House: Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension
- Senate: To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes.
- House: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
Disability Treaty – Ratification - Vote Rejected (61-38, 1 Not Voting)
Despite a last-minute appearance by former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas in support of the treaty, Senate Republicans mustered enough opposition to defeat the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Supporters, including Dole and Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., described the treaty as essentially enshrining the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336) as an international standard. Kerry highlighted the treaty’s support among veterans groups. The treaty’s detractors, including Republican presidential candidate and former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, raised the possibility of “international bureaucrats” making child-care decisions in place of parents, including potentially restricting home schooling. All international treaties require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, so supporters fell five votes short. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada vowed another vote in the next Congress.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Authorization – Final Passage - Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)
Following a Monday cloture vote, last week the Senate gave unanimous support to its FY 2013 defense authorization bill. The measure provides funding for all branches of the armed services (excluding the Coast Guard), nuclear security operations at the Department of Energy, and “overseas contingency operations,” i.e., funding for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas conflicts. Fiscal 2013 funding in the bill would come to roughly $631 billion, $88 billion of which covers war costs. Major amendments adopted during debate would further toughen sanctions against Iran; clarify that U.S. citizens and permanent residents may not be detained without charge or trial if apprehended on American soil; prohibit transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to a U.S. facility; and ensure that the Pentagon is able to purchase alternative fuels. The provision on alternative fuels is likely to be a sticking point in conference negotiations with the House, whose bill prohibits purchase of such fuels if they are more expensive than traditional options such as petroleum. Despite President Obama’s veto message, both chambers’ bills contain restrictions on Guantanamo detainee transfers, retirement of Air National Guard planes, and TRICARE enrollment fees. Though conferees have not been named for either side (that is likely to happen this week), staff discussions have already begun.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage - Vote Passed (92-4, 4 Not Voting)
The Senate cleared the way for more open trade with the Russian Federation and the tiny Eastern European republic of Moldova last week with passage of a House measure that lifts 1970s-vintage restrictions on both countries. The move was necessitated by Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization over the summer; had trade restrictions not been rescinded, the U.S. would have been vulnerable to retaliatory actions by the Russians. Moldova has been a WTO member since 2001 and appears simply to have hitched a ride on a moving legislative vehicle. Despite cheers from the business community for the free trade measure, the Russian government is deeply unhappy with accompanying language chiding its poor human rights record and sanctioning individuals associated with the imprisonment and death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The bill is currently before the president and will likely be signed into law shortly.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
Energy Efficiency – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-2, 1 Present, 30 Not Voting)
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on an energy measure, the House came together to pass a bill clarifying federal efficiency standards for a variety of heavy appliances, including air conditioners and commercial refrigerators (excluding walk-in refrigerators). Though the measure appears uncontroversial, its prospects are not clear in the Senate given the crowded calendar.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Global Internet Governance – Adoption - Vote Passed (397-0, 34 Not Voting)
The House unanimously agreed to Senate language expressing the sense of Congress that the Internet should remain “free from government control.” The concurrent resolution was adopted amid the backdrop of a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations body broadly responsible for fostering cooperation among governments and the private sector on international telecommunications governance. Technology companies such as Google have voiced concern that the ITU conference could lead to adoption of restrictive regulations making it easier for national governments to censor content.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-1, 32 Not Voting)
In its final action of the week, the House cleared a Senate bill that would remove the pejorative “lunatic” from the United States Code. The lone House dissenter was Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, who insisted that lunatic should be retained, pointing to his fellow Members of Congress as living, breathing examples of the term. The bill awaits the president’s signature.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted YES
Upcoming Votes
To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes. - S.3637
The Senate is scheduled to hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a bill that would extend the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program through the end of 2014. TAG is a program administered by the FDIC that provides full deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. The program was created in the midst of the financial crisis in late 2008 and later extended for two years in late 2010. It is set to expire at the end of this year, however, and lobbyists for small and independent banks are making a heavy push to extend the program again. Republicans are wary of keeping it alive, so invoking cloture is no guarantee.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - H.R.4310
The House is scheduled to consider several bills under suspension of the rules, as well as a Motion to go to Conference on the defense authorization bill.
December 3, 2012
Recent Congressional Votes
Sportsmen’s Access to Federal Land – Motion to Waive - Vote Rejected (50-44, 6 Not Voting)
Sen. Jon Tester’s bill to increase sportsmen’s access to federal lands hit a snag over budgetary rules last week. Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised a point of order that a provision of the bill to raise duck stamp fees violated budgetary caps agreed to in last year’s debt ceiling deal. Democrats attempted to waive the budget rules but failed to muster the necessary 60 votes. “Duck stamp” is the nickname for a federal license to hunt migratory birds whose proceeds are directed toward wetlands conservation. Congress had enacted all previous fee increases, but the bill would move that authority to the Interior Department, which was also a sore point among Republicans on top of the budget issue. Tester’s wide-ranging bill, which had garnered support from a large coalition of outside groups including the National Rifle Association and Nature Conservancy, had looked like a safe bet for easy passage, as it had cleared several earlier procedural hurdles with no less than 84 votes. The prospects for the bill are uncertain at this point: Democrats could attempt to attach it to another bill, such as the defense authorization or whatever agreement (if any) emerges from fiscal cliff talks.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Disability Treaty – Motion to Proceed - Vote Agreed to (61-36, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to proceed to consideration of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations treaty meant to outline the rights of disabled individuals and create a framework for implementing plans to protect those rights. The treaty contains language outlining the “general obligations” of signatory nations vis a vis their disabled citizens as well as sections on issues ranging from independent living to human dignity. There is currently an agreement in place to vote on ratification of the treaty on Tuesday, December 4.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Authorization – Amendment - Vote Agreed to (94-0, 6 Not Voting)
After months of delay, the Senate began working through amendments to the annual defense authorization bill in earnest last week. A number of notable amendments passed on the floor, including this one from Sens. Menendez, D-N.J., Kirk, R-Ill., and Lieberman, I-Ct., which further tightens sanctions on Iran. Others include those offered by Sens. Feinstein, D-Calif. (clarifying that American citizens and permanent residents apprehended on U.S. soil may not be detained indefinitely or without trial – Roll Call 213); Ayotte, R-N.H. (prohibiting transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay – RC 212); and Udall, D-Colo. (striking language forbidding the defense department from taking part in a pilot biofuels program - RC 206). Dozens of other amendments were considered, with most agreed to by unanimous consent. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed cloture on the bill Friday afternoon, lining up a cloture vote Monday evening, December 3. Though the bill looks to be on a path toward passage, its prospects have been complicated by a veto threat from President Obama. The Administration presented a long list of grievances in its policy statement, including objections to the bill’s language on detainees, Air National Guard force structure, and costs relating to TRICARE, the military’s health care program. The President has also issued a veto threat against the House version of the bill (H.R. 4310).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
STEM Visa Program – Final Passage - Vote Passed (245-139, 48 Not Voting)
The House took another bite of the apple last week in attempting to create a visa program intended to allow foreign students who obtain advanced degrees in STEM fields from American universities to remain in the country. A previous attempt to pass the bill under suspension of the rules failed to garner the necessary two thirds for passage (Roll Call 590). This time the leadership opted to go through regular order, which meant only a simple majority was needed. Only a handful of Democrats voted for the measure, as the bulk of the caucus objected to the bill’s elimination of the diversity visa program, which employs a lottery to distribute up to 55,000 visas every year to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The bill would move the diversity visa slots into the new STEM visa program. The Senate will not take up the measure this year; it is seen instead as the House Republican majority laying down a marker for the type of immigration reform measure that could pass muster with their caucus.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - S.3254
The Senate will hold a cloture vote on the defense authorization on Monday, December 3, with a view toward final passage this week.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - TREATYDOC.112-7
The Senate will hold a ratification vote on Tuesday, December 4.
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012 - H.R.2838
The House will take up several measures under suspension of the rules, including a Coast Guard and maritime transportation reauthorization bill.
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Sportsmen’s Access to Federal Land – Motion to Waive
- Senate: Disability Treaty – Motion to Proceed
- Senate: Defense Authorization – Amendment
- House: STEM Visa Program – Final Passage
- Senate: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
- Senate: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- House: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012
Sportsmen’s Access to Federal Land – Motion to Waive - Vote Rejected (50-44, 6 Not Voting)
Sen. Jon Tester’s bill to increase sportsmen’s access to federal lands hit a snag over budgetary rules last week. Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised a point of order that a provision of the bill to raise duck stamp fees violated budgetary caps agreed to in last year’s debt ceiling deal. Democrats attempted to waive the budget rules but failed to muster the necessary 60 votes. “Duck stamp” is the nickname for a federal license to hunt migratory birds whose proceeds are directed toward wetlands conservation. Congress had enacted all previous fee increases, but the bill would move that authority to the Interior Department, which was also a sore point among Republicans on top of the budget issue. Tester’s wide-ranging bill, which had garnered support from a large coalition of outside groups including the National Rifle Association and Nature Conservancy, had looked like a safe bet for easy passage, as it had cleared several earlier procedural hurdles with no less than 84 votes. The prospects for the bill are uncertain at this point: Democrats could attempt to attach it to another bill, such as the defense authorization or whatever agreement (if any) emerges from fiscal cliff talks.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Disability Treaty – Motion to Proceed - Vote Agreed to (61-36, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to proceed to consideration of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations treaty meant to outline the rights of disabled individuals and create a framework for implementing plans to protect those rights. The treaty contains language outlining the “general obligations” of signatory nations vis a vis their disabled citizens as well as sections on issues ranging from independent living to human dignity. There is currently an agreement in place to vote on ratification of the treaty on Tuesday, December 4.
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted NO
Defense Authorization – Amendment - Vote Agreed to (94-0, 6 Not Voting)
After months of delay, the Senate began working through amendments to the annual defense authorization bill in earnest last week. A number of notable amendments passed on the floor, including this one from Sens. Menendez, D-N.J., Kirk, R-Ill., and Lieberman, I-Ct., which further tightens sanctions on Iran. Others include those offered by Sens. Feinstein, D-Calif. (clarifying that American citizens and permanent residents apprehended on U.S. soil may not be detained indefinitely or without trial – Roll Call 213); Ayotte, R-N.H. (prohibiting transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay – RC 212); and Udall, D-Colo. (striking language forbidding the defense department from taking part in a pilot biofuels program - RC 206). Dozens of other amendments were considered, with most agreed to by unanimous consent. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed cloture on the bill Friday afternoon, lining up a cloture vote Monday evening, December 3. Though the bill looks to be on a path toward passage, its prospects have been complicated by a veto threat from President Obama. The Administration presented a long list of grievances in its policy statement, including objections to the bill’s language on detainees, Air National Guard force structure, and costs relating to TRICARE, the military’s health care program. The President has also issued a veto threat against the House version of the bill (H.R. 4310).
Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. Marco Rubio voted YES
Recent House Votes
STEM Visa Program – Final Passage - Vote Passed (245-139, 48 Not Voting)
The House took another bite of the apple last week in attempting to create a visa program intended to allow foreign students who obtain advanced degrees in STEM fields from American universities to remain in the country. A previous attempt to pass the bill under suspension of the rules failed to garner the necessary two thirds for passage (Roll Call 590). This time the leadership opted to go through regular order, which meant only a simple majority was needed. Only a handful of Democrats voted for the measure, as the bulk of the caucus objected to the bill’s elimination of the diversity visa program, which employs a lottery to distribute up to 55,000 visas every year to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The bill would move the diversity visa slots into the new STEM visa program. The Senate will not take up the measure this year; it is seen instead as the House Republican majority laying down a marker for the type of immigration reform measure that could pass muster with their caucus.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES
Rep. Kathy Castor voted NO
Upcoming Votes
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - S.3254
The Senate will hold a cloture vote on the defense authorization on Monday, December 3, with a view toward final passage this week.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - TREATYDOC.112-7
The Senate will hold a ratification vote on Tuesday, December 4.
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012 - H.R.2838
The House will take up several measures under suspension of the rules, including a Coast Guard and maritime transportation reauthorization bill.
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