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Sunday, October 24th, 2021
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (October 18th-22nd)
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, October 22nd, 2021.
In the United States House of Representatives
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
HOLDING STEVE BANNON IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS: The House on October 21st passed a resolution (H. Res. 730), sponsored by Representative Bennie G. Thompson, D‑Mississippi, to find Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for declining to obey a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
Thompson said that “unlike other witnesses who have engaged and worked with our team to find a way to cooperate, Mr. Bannon told us he wouldn’t comply because the former president told him not to.”
A resolution opponent, Representative Jim Banks, R‑Indiana, said: “The Select Committee despises Steve Bannon’s politics, so they are abusing their power to put him in jail.” The vote was 229 yeas to 202 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 (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler
Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cascadia total: 12 aye votes, 5 nay votes
REQUIRING GUIDELINES FOR RENTAL CAR COMPANIES: The House on October 19th passed the Darren Drake Act (H.R. 4089), sponsored by Representative Josh Gottheimer, D‑New Jersey, to require the Homeland Security Department to issue guidelines to car rental companies on strategies for preventing acts of terrorism that use vehicles they rent to individuals.
Gottheimer said the guidelines “will provide rental companies and car dealers with the vital information they need to flag and stop potential terrorist threats in their tracks.” The vote was 379 yeas to 51 nays.
Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz
Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer
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: 15 aye votes, 2 nay votes
ELIMINATING EVENT PERMIT FEES FOR VETERANS: The House on October 19th passed the Free Veterans from Fees Act (H.R. 1029), sponsored by Representative Gregory W. Steube, R‑Florida, to waive special use permit fees for military veterans events at war memorials on federal land in the Washington, D.C., area. A supporter, Representative Ron Kind, D‑Wisconsin, said: “It is the right thing to do, to try to reduce the cost for a lot of these important commemorative occasions happening right here in our nation’s capital.”
The vote was 421 yeas to 3 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
IMPROVING DRUG RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: The House on October 19th passed the National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Act (H.R. 4369), sponsored by Representative Frank Pallone Jr., D‑New Jersey. The bill would have the Food and Drug Administration designate and fund certain colleges and universities as centers for the development of continuous manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs.
Pallone said establishing the centers “will improve the quality of our pharmaceuticals, reduce drug shortages, and help to produce more nimble and efficient manufacturing processes that could be replicated throughout the nation.” The vote was 368 yeas to 56 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
OPIOID PREVENTION GRANTS: The House on October 20th passed the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act (H.R. 2379), sponsored by Representative David J. Trone, D‑Maryland, to reauthorize through 2027 the federal government’s opioid response program for sending grant money to states, and expand the program to include both opioid and other forms of substance abuse. Trone said the bill sought to give states “the consistent, necessary funding they need to meet their specific needs” for preventing abuse.
The vote was 380 yeas to 46 nays.
Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
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: 16 aye votes, 1 nay vote
WAIVING DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: The House on October 20th passed the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act (H.R. 654), sponsored by Representative David P. Joyce, R‑Ohio, to provide for waiving requirements local governments must meet to receive federal matching funding under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. Joyce said the waiver was needed because “with more Americans dying from drug overdoses than ever before, it is critical that we do everything we can to support and empower those working on the front lines in our communities to reduce and prevent addiction among our children.”
The vote was 395 yeas to 30 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
BETTER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES: The House on October 20th passed the Strengthening Americas Strategic National Stockpile Act (H.R. 3635), sponsored by Representative Elissa Slotkin, D‑Michigan. The bill would change operation of the federal government’s stockpile of equipment and drugs for use in medical emergencies, including setting out required stockpiling levels and plans for distribution.
The vote was 397 yeas to 22 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 (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse
Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cascadia total: 16 aye votes, 1 nay vote
HELPING SMALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRMS ROLL OUT 5G RIGHT: The House on October 20th passed the Open RAN Outreach Act (H.R. 4032), sponsored by Representative Colin Z. Allred, D‑Texas, to require the federal government to work with small telecommunications providers on their deployment of Open Radio Access Network (O‑RAN) wireless technology to their customers. Allred said the bill sought to help the providers shift away from reliance on Chinese equipment manufacturers and instead use Open RAN systems that have a more diverse and competitive set of manufacturers.
The vote was 410 yeas to 17 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
IMPROVING U.S. TECHNOLOGICAL STRATEGY: The House on October 20th passed the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act (H.R. 4028), sponsored by Rep. Billy Long, R‑Missouri, to require the Commerce Department to create a government-wide strategy for improving the U.S. information and communications technology sector. Long said of the need for a strategy: “With all the supply chain disruptions we have seen this past year, it is important to know how our domestic production of this crucial equipment can be strengthened in the future.” The vote was 413 yeas to 14 nays.
Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
Not Voting (1): Republican Representative 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: 16 aye votes, 1 not voting
In the United States Senate
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
SENATE FAILS TO BREAK A FILIBUSTER OF THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT: The Senate on October 20th rejected a cloture motion to end debate on a motion to consider the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, D‑Minnesota.
The bill would make numerous changes to voting and election procedures, including declaring Election Day in November as a federal holiday, stipulating that only felons currently under sentence can be deemed ineligible to vote due to criminal offenses, and establishing new criminal offenses for hindering people from voting. Klobuchar said the bill was needed “because the freedom to vote is fundamental to all of our freedoms, and it is currently under attack.”
A bill opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R‑Kentucky, said it was a wrongful attempt to have the federal government usurp states’ authority over elections and voting law. The vote was 49 yeas to 51 nays.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tactically voted with the Republicans so that he could bring the bill back up again at a later date. Because Schumer supports the bill, there were actually fifty votes for it rather than forty-nine.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
GUSTAVO GELPI, APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate on October 18th confirmed the nomination of Gustavo A. Gelpi to serve as a judge on the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals. Gelpi has been a federal district judge in Puerto Rico since 2006. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said of Gelpi: “Leaders on both sides of the aisle trust that he will rule impartially and without regard for partisanship.” The vote was 52 yeas to 41 nays.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CHRISTINE O’HEARN, NEW JERSEY U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christine P. O’Hearn to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for New Jersey. O’Hearn has been a private practice lawyer in Camden since 1993, specializing in labor and employment law. A supporter, Senator Robert Menendez, D‑New Jersey, said O’Hearn’s “professional credentials, combined with her compassion and commitment to the fair and impartial administration of justice, will make her an outstanding judge.”
The vote was 53 yeas to 44 nays.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CHATHERINE LHAMON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: The Senate on October 20th confirmed the nomination of Chatherine Lhamon to be assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department. Lhamon served in the same post during President Obama’s second term, is a former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and, since 2019, has been California’s legal affairs secretary.
A supporter, Senator Patty Murray, D‑Washington, said Lhamon “has a long track record that proves she is a champion for students through and through, and that is exactly what our students need.” The vote was 51 yeas to 50 nays, with Vice President Harris casting a 51st yea vote.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
TANA LIN, WASHINGTON U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on October 21st confirmed the nomination of Tana Lin to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Lin has been a private practice lawyer at a Seattle law firm since 2004. A supporter, Senator Patty Murray, D‑Washington, said Lin “will bring integrity, independence, and compassion to the Seattle courthouse.” The vote was 52 yeas to 45 nays.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
PRISON CAMERA REFORM ACT: Along with this week’s roll call votes, the Senate also passed the Prison Camera Reform Act (S. 2899), to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to address deficiencies and make necessary upgrades to the security camera and radio systems of the Bureau of Prisons to ensure the health and safety of employees and inmates.
Key votes ahead
This week, the Senate is scheduled to consider more of President Biden’s judicial nominees, including judges for the District of Columbia, Virginia, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The Senate may also reconsider the Freedom To Vote Act. The House will consider several bills, including the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2021 and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021. The House may also consider The Build Back Better Act.
Editor’s Note: The information in NPI’s weekly How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted feature is provided by Targeted News Service. 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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Categories: Legislative Advocacy, Series & Special Reports
Tags: Last Week In Congress, U.S. House Roll Call Votes, U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes
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