Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s United States Senators voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, May 28th, 2021.
The House of Representatives was in recess.
In the United States Senate
BLOCKING CONSIDERATION OF BILL TO CREATE BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK: Voting 54 for and 35 against, the Senate on May 28th failed to break a filibuster and proceed with consideration of a recently-approved House bill that would establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol by Donald Trump’s militant supporters.
Forty-eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus voted for the bill, along with six Republicans: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Susan Collins of Maine. Nine Republicans were not present for the vote.
Two Democrats were also not present: Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema and our own Patty Murray. Murray said that she missed the vote due to having flown to attend a family matter, but released a statement condemning its outcome.
“I’ve heard all the various excuses why Republicans are opposing this bill,” Senate Majority Chuck Schumer said in a speech after the vote. “It’s too early. It goes on too long. It’s not needed. Almost all of these excuses are meritless and were invented in the past two weeks. We all know what’s going on here. Senate Republicans chose to defend the Big Lie [the attack on U.S. democracy] because they believe anything that might upset Donald Trump could hurt them politically.”
A yes vote was to invoke cloture and advance the bill.
 | Voting Nay (2): |
 | Voting Aye (2): |
 | Voting Aye (1): Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Patty Murray |
Cascadia total: 3 aye votes, 2 nay votes, 1 not voting
PROCEEDING WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT: Voting 68 to 30, the Senate on May 27th agreed to advance legislation (S. 1260) that would authorize $110 billion for technology research through 2026. Most of the money would be invested into artificial intelligence, semiconductors, next generation wireless protocols, quantum computing, and biotech. The legislation is aimed at safeguarding the United States’ technological competitiveness and ensuring that the U.S. has the capacity to manufacture its own chips.
This vote followed the consideration of several amendments, most of which were rejected. The successful amendments were offered by Ben Sasse (to authorize appropriations for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to conduct research and development in key technology focus areas) and Chris Coons (to establish the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation).
A subsequent amendment offered by the Pacific Northwest’s Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo was also adopted (to ensure trade is conducted consistent with American values, to ensure resiliency in critical supply chains, to improve transparency and administration of trade programs and oversight and accountability of trade agencies, and to promote American competitiveness.)
“For decades, the Chinese government has manipulated global competition and trade in their favor to grow at America’s expense,” said Senator Ron Wyden (D‑Oregon). “It rips off IP, steals technology and sends dangerous counterfeits to our market. It undercuts manufacturers with overproduction and unfair subsidies.”
“It uses censorship and discriminatory digital policies against its own populations and American businesses alike. Worst of all is the practice of forced labor – morally repugnant on its own, and also a threat to American jobs.”
“Senator Crapo and I have an amendment that goes after these rip-offs directly. It’s about leveling the playing field with stronger trade rules and quicker enforcement, as well as greater transparency in trade.”
“More needs to be done on Chinese censorship and oppression and I will have plenty to say about that before this bill becomes law.”
“For years, Senators have been clamoring for a more open process and more amendment votes. I can’t tell you how many speeches I’ve heard on the floor about the virtues of regular order,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“Well, this competition bill ought to be the answer to my colleagues’ prayers. The bill has moved through the regular order, flying through various Senate Committees with staggering bipartisan votes. The entire Senate opted to take up the bill by a vote of 86–11. And here on the floor, we’ve held the kind of vigorous, bipartisan, open amendment process that Senators have been calling for.”
A yes vote was to invoke cloture and advance a substitute version of the bill.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
KRISTEN CLARKE, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Voting 51 to 48, the Senate on May 25th confirmed Kristen M. Clarke to be an Assistant Attorney General heading the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Clarke’s Wikipedia entry states that she “is an American attorney who is the president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She previously managed the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office under Eric Schneiderman. In 2019, Clarke successfully represented Taylor Dumpson, the first Black American woman student body president of American University, in her landmark case against white supremacists.”
A yes vote was to confirm Clarke.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CHIQUITA BROOKS-LASURE, MEDICARE & MEDICAID ADMINISTRATOR: Voting 55 to 44, the Senate on May 25th confirmed Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The position is considered to be one of the most important within the Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS), which is headed by Secretary Xavier Becerra. Brooks-LaSure is the first Black person to be confirmed to the post.
“As the official charged with overseeing providing services to poor and older Americans in Medicare and Medicaid, Ms. Brooks-LaSure will manage roughly $1 trillion of the federal budget in addition to the [Patient Protection] Act’s health insurance marketplaces and regulations,” The New York Times explains.
A yes vote was to confirm Brooks-LaSure.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
LWIC will be on hiatus next Sunday
The Senate will be in recess this week, convening only for what are known as “pro forma” sessions. The House will also remain in recess beyond tomorrow’s Memorial Day holiday. Last Week In Congress will return on June 13th.
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