Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s United States Representatives voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, August 27th, 2021.
The United States Senate was in recess.
In the United States House of Representatives
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE: The House on August 24th passed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), sponsored by Representative Terri A. Sewell, D‑Alabama.
The bill would change the criteria for federal review of changes to voting procedures by state and local governments by requiring those governments to seek federal preapproval, before making changes, if they are found to have violated voting rights too many times in the past twenty-five years.
Sewell said of the need for greater federal oversight:
“While literacy tests and poll taxes no longer exist, certain states and local jurisdictions have passed laws that are modern-day barriers to voting.”
A bill opponent, Representative Buddy Carter, R‑Georgia, called it “a radical and unprecedented federal power grab over state-administered elections under the guise of updating the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”
The vote was 219 ayes to 212 nays.
 | Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
 | Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
 | Voting Aye (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland Voting Nay (3): Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 11 aye votes, 6 nay votes
ADVANCING THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE AMERICAN JOBS & FAMILIES PLAN THROUGH RECONCILIATION: The House on August 24th adopted a resolution bringing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (above) forward to a final vote, while also providing for the adoption of a concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 14) that sets up the reconciliation process for the combined American Jobs & Families Plan. All of the chamber’s Democratic members voted aye and all of the Republican members voted nay, for a vote of 220–212.
The vote took place after nine partially conservative Democratic members relented from insisting that the American Jobs & Families Plan be considered after the bipartisan infrastructure bill recently agreed to by the Senate.
| Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland Voting Nay (3): Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 11 aye votes, 6 nay votes
BUDGETING TRANSPARENCY: The House on August 23rd passed the Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act (S. 272), sponsored by Senator Gary C. Peters, D‑Mich., to require federal government agencies to publish their budget justification materials on the Internet.
A supporter, Representative James Comer, R‑Kentucky., said: “Requiring each agency to provide detailed plain language explanations of how they intend to spend taxpayer dollars ensures Americans can review those decisions at any time.” The vote was 423 ayes to 1 nay.
| Voting Aye (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Aye (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 17 aye votes
EXTENDING TIMEFRAME TO RESEARCH POLICY DIRECTIONS THAT COULD BENEFIT TRIBAL CHILDREN: The House on August 23rd passed a bill (S. 325), sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski, R‑Alaska, to extend to five years the deadline for the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children to submit its report to the federal government on federal programs and policies that involve American Indian children.
A supporter, Representative Don Young, R‑Alaska, said the extension would give the Commission needed time to meet with tribes and other parties to make well-considered recommendations. The vote was 418 ayes to 7 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Aye (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 17 aye votes
Last Week In Congress will be on hiatus next week
The United States House and United States Senate are scheduled to be in recess next week. Last Week In Congress will return later in September.
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