Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, October 29th, 2021. Items from last week are included in this week’s report due to House activity on Friday.
In the United States House of Representatives
PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: The House on October 26th passed the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (H.R. 2119), sponsored by Representative Lucy McBath, D‑Georgia, to reauthorize through fiscal 2026 and modify the Family Violence and Prevention Services program for victims of domestic violence, including emergency shelters for abuse victims. McBath said: “We must make sure that our children and their families have the resources they need to prevent domestic violence and abuse.”
An opponent, Representative Virginia Foxx, R‑North Carolina, said the bill “tramples the rights of faith-based providers by forcing organizations to abandon their sincerely held religious beliefs or give up helping victims through these programs.” The vote was 228 yeas to 200 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
SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IN THE WORKFORCE: The House on October 22nd passed the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (H.R. 3110), sponsored by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, D‑N.Y., to extend requirements for an employer to accommodate women to pump their breast milk at work. Maloney said it “would ensure that working moms who want to breastfeed can continue to do so and prevent nursing mothers from being singled out, ridiculed, or fired.” An opponent, Representative Bob Good, R‑Virginia, said the bill “falsely victimizes employees and is truly just another payout for trial lawyers” filing unwarranted lawsuits against employers. The vote was 276 yeas to 149 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 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: 13 aye votes, 4 nay votes
MORE TEMPORARY FUNDING FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION: The House on October 28th passed the Further Surface Transportation Extension Act (H.R. 5763), sponsored by Representative Peter A. DeFazio, D‑Oregon, to extend through December 3rd statutory authority for federal highway, transit, and other transportation programs. DeFazio commented that “we need to act immediately to be certain we don’t have a lapse in authorization” while the House and Senate negotiate their versions of a bill for a five-year authorization for the programs.
The vote was 358 yeas to 59 nays.
| Voting Nay (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: 15 aye votes, 1 nay vote, 1 not voting
GUIDANCE ON SOVEREIGN DEBT: The House on October 25th passed the Sovereign Debt Contract Capacity Act (H.R. 4111), sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D‑California. The bill would require the U.S. representative at the International Monetary Fund to urge the Fund to help member countries evaluate the terms of their sovereign debt contracts. Waters said that with China using secretive sovereign debt contracts to exert power over vulnerable countries, training would help those countries improve transparency and reduce corruption by political leaders. The vote was 391 yeas to 29 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
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN FINANCIAL REPORTING: The House on October 25th passed the Financial Transparency Act (H.R. 2989), sponsored by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, D‑New York, to establish transparency standards for data submitted to federal financial regulators. Maloney said the bill would produce “more transparent and open data sources and data that is readily comparable across businesses and sectors.” The vote was 400 yeas to 19 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
CARING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WITH DISABILITIES: The House on October 27th passed the Protecting America’s First Responders Act (S. 1511), sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley, R‑Iowa, to provide payments, under the Justice Department’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, to police officers and other first responder workers who have been permanently disabled by job-related injuries. The vote was 420 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
In the United States Senate
ELIZABETH PRELOGAR, SOLICITOR GENERAL: The Senate on October 28th confirmed the nomination of Elizabeth Prelogar to serve as U.S. Solicitor General. Prelogar had been the acting solicitor general before her nomination, and was an assistant to the solicitor general from 2014 to 2019. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said Prelogar has “argued nine cases before the Supreme Court and filed hundreds of amicus briefs and other petitions. She knows this job, and she knows it well.” The vote was 53 yeas to 36 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
DOUGLAS PARKER, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH: The Senate on October 25th confirmed the nomination of Douglas L. Parker to serve as the Labor Department’s assistant secretary for occupational safety and health. Parker has headed California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health since September 2019. A supporter, Senator Patty Murray, D‑Wash., said: “At every step in his career, Mr. Parker has been a dogged advocate for worker safety. I have no doubt he will continue when he is confirmed to lead OSHA.” The vote was 50 yeas to 41 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
MYRNA PEREZ, U.S. SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS: The Senate on Octoebr 25th confirmed the nomination of Myrna Perez to serve as a judge on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Since 2006, Perez has been the director of the voting rights and elections program at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said Perez was “really competent and experienced. She has been handling complex civil litigation and will be ready to serve on the Second Circuit on day one.”
The vote was 48 yeas to 43 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
JIA M. COBB, U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: The Senate on October 26th confirmed the nomination of Jia M. Cobb to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for Washington, D.C. Cobb has been a private practice lawyer at a D.C. law firm since 2010. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said Cobb “understands the distinction between being an advocate and a judge. As a judge on the District of D.C., she has promised to rule based on the law and facts of the cases before her.”
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
KAREN WILLIAMS, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR NEW JERSEY: The Senate on October 26th confirmed the nomination of Karen McGlashan Williams to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for New Jersey. Williams, a federal magistrate judge in the state since 2009, was previously a private practice lawyer in Atlantic City. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said Williams’s unanimous well qualified rating from the American Bar Association was “a testament to her integrity, temperament, and experience.”
The vote was 56 yeas to 38 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
PATRICIA GILES, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR VIRGINIA: The Senate on October 26th confirmed the nomination of Patricia Giles to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for the eastern district of Virginia. Giles has been a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district for eighteen years. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Ill., said Giles “has a deep understanding of the district which she has been nominated to serve.”
The vote was 68 yeas to 27 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
MICHEL NACHMANOFF, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR VIRGINIA: The Senate on October 27th confirmed the nomination of Michel Nachmanoff to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for the eastern district of Virginia. Nachmanoff has been a magistrate judge in the district since 2014, and previously was a public defender in the district. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said Nachmanoff has “received praise from prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. It is a testament to his integrity and evenhandedness.”
The vote was 52 yeas to 46 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
SARALA NAGALA, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR CONNECTICUT: The Senate on October 27th confirmed the nomination of Sarala Nagala to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for Connecticut. For the past nine years, Nagala has been an assistant U.S. attorney in the state. The vote was 52 yeas to 46 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
OMAR WILLIAMS, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR CONNECTICUT: The Senate on October 28th confirmed the nomination of Omar Williams to serve as a judge on the U.S. district court for Connecticut. Since 2002, Williams has been first an assistant public defender and then a superior court judge in Connecticut. The vote was 52 yeas to 46 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
MATTHEW OLSEN, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: The Senate on October 28th confirmed the nomination of Matthew Olsen to serve as an assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department. Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center for three years of the Obama administration and a longtime Justice Department official, was most recently a law professor at the University of Virginia.
The vote was 53 yeas to 45 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CHRISTOPHER SCHROEDER, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher Schroeder to serve as an assistant attorney general serving as head of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department. Schroeder was a senior Justice Department official in the Clinton and Obama administrations. The vote was 56 yeas to 41 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
HAMPTON DELLINGER, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Senate on October 28th confirmed the nomination of Hampton Dellinger to serve as an assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy. Until last year, Dellinger was a partner at the Boies Schiller Flexner law firm in Washington, D.C.
The vote was 53 yeas to 37 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
Key votes ahead
This week, the Senate is scheduled to consider more of President Biden’s judicial nominees, including judges for Vermont and Virginia. The Senate will also consider nominees for executive department positions, including at EPA and Labor. The House is slated to consider several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 3992, the Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021.
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