Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, October 8th, 2021.
TEMPORARILY FUNDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: The House on October 1st passed the Surface Transportation Extension Act (H.R. 5434), sponsored by our own Representative Peter A. DeFazio, D‑Oregon.
The bill would authorize, through October 31st, programs operated by the Transportation Department that are funded by the highway trust fund.
DeFazio said the extension was vital because authorization had expired at the close of September. The vote was 365 yeas to 51 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, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 16 aye votes, 1 not voting
RAISING THE DEBT CEILING THROUGH DECEMBER: The Senate on October 7th passed an amendment to a bill (S. 1301) that would suspend the federal government’s debt ceiling through December 3rd, 2021.
A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, said the suspension would allow time for Congress to work on “a long-term solution to the debt limit to make sure financial markets remain stable and our economic recovery stays on track.” An opponent, Senator Mike Lee, R‑Utah, said there needed to be a constraint on debt increases because the debt burden had already reached excessive levels, with corresponding hazards to the economy and inflation. The vote was 50 yeas to 48 nays.
A yes vote was to send the legislation back to the House. Previously, eleven Republican senators voted to allow the bill to be considered, breaking a filibuster.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
JONATHAN MEYER, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR DHS: The Senate on October 4th confirmed the nomination of Jonathan Meyer to serve as general counsel for the Homeland Security Department. From 1999 to 2016, Meyer was a lawyer at Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and in the Senate; since 2016, he has been a private practice lawyer. A supporter, Senator Gary Peters, D‑Michigan, said Meyer “has demonstrated that he understands the complex legal issues facing DHS and the importance of ensuring that the Department cooperates with Congressional oversight.” The vote was 51 yeas to 47 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
PALOMA ADAMS-ALLEN, USAID: The Senate on October 5th confirmed the nomination of Paloma Adams-Allen to serve as deputy administrator of management and resources at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Adams-Allen has been a official at the agency, specializing in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as an advisor at the Organization of American States.
A supporter, Senator Robert Menendez, D‑New Jersey, called Adams-Allen “a dedicated public servant who has spent her entire career focusing on international development and eliminating global poverty.”
The vote was 79 yeas to 20 nays.
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
LAUREN KING, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR WASHINGTON: The Senate on October 5th confirmed the nomination of Lauren J. King to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
King has been a private practice lawyer in the state since 2008, with a specialty in Indian tribal law. A supporter, Senator Patty Murray, D‑Washington, said: “I firmly believe Ms. King has the experience, knowledge, and perspective required to serve on our federal judiciary with distinction.” The vote was 55 yeas to 44 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
SARAH MERRIAM, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR CONNECTICUT: The Senate on October 6th confirmed the nomination of Sarah Merriam to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for Connecticut. Merriam has been a federal magistrate judge since 2015, and previously was a public defender in Connecticut’s federal courts. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, cited “the widespread respect she has earned for her skill, qualifications, temperament, and fidelity to the rule of law.” The vote was 54 yeas to 46 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): | |
Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
The Senate will be in recess this week, with a pro forma session scheduled for this Friday. The House will return to consider the short term lifting of the debt ceiling and consider other legislative business.
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!
© 2021 Targeted News Service, LLC.
The new bridge, a quarter of a mile long, provides a safe way to get…
Read a roundup of Earth Day news and events that we've been tracking.
On April 20th, the Washington State Republican Party endorsed candidates in seven out of ten…
The endorsement, which came after Dave Reichert withdrew from consideration and denounced the party's 2024…
The coalition working to defend the Climate Commitment Act has been raking in money and…
"If I-2117 passes, it would allow more pollution and shift the burden of paying for…