Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s United States Senators voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, June 12th, 2020.
The House was in recess.
In the United States Senate
MAINTAINING NATIONAL PARKS, CONSERVING PUBLIC SPACES: Voting 79 for and 18 against, the Senate on June 10th agreed to start debate on a bill (H.R. 1957) that would greatly increase financial support of federal land agencies including the National Park Service and also boost U.S. government funding of federal, state and local efforts to purchase and protect unspoiled acreage.
To address the deterioration of hundreds of national parks and related areas in recent decades, the bill would allocate up to $6.5 billion over five years for repairs and maintenance, with funding to come mainly from payments to the Treasury by oil, gas and renewable-energy companies. The bill also would guarantee a $900 million annual budget for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides federal and non-federal agencies with funds for acquiring and conserving undeveloped land. The LWCF is largely funded by fees and royalties collected from energy firms engaged in offshore drilling operations.
Cory Gardner, R‑Colorado, spoke in favor of advancing the bill.
“This is an economic and jobs package as much as it is a conservation package. For every $1 million we spend in the Land and Water Conservation Fund, it supports between sixteen and thirty jobs,” Gardner said. “It is our chance to not only protect our environment, to catch up on deferred maintenance, but also to grow our economy when our economy needs the growth.”
No senator spoke against the bill.
 | Voting Nay (2): |
 | Voting Aye (2): |
 | Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CONFIRMING CHARLES BROWN AS AIR FORCE CHIEF: In a unanimous vote of 98 for and none against, the Senate on June 9th confirmed Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., as U.S. Air Force chief of staff. The four-star general becomes the first African-American to lead a U.S. military service, and will leave his post as commander of the Pacific Air Forces to assume the four-year term.
A command pilot, Brown has recorded more than 2,900 flying hours including 130 hours in combat. There was no Senate floor debate on the nomination.
A yes vote was to confirm Brown to lead the Air Force.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
Key votes ahead
The Senate will resume debate in the week of June 15th on a funding bill for the National Park Service and Land and Water Conservation Fund (detailed above), while the House will be in recess. The House is expected to take up a bill reforming policing practices during the week of June 22nd.
Editor’s Note: The information in NPI’s weekly How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted feature is provided by Voterama in Congress, a service of Thomas Voting Reports. All rights are reserved. Reproduction of this post is not permitted, not even with attribution. Use the permanent link to this post to share it… thanks!
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