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Sunday, November 21st, 2021
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (November 15th-19th)
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, November 19th, 2021.
In the United States House of Representatives
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT PASSES: On Friday, November 21st, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which combines elements of President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan into one bill.
The Build Back Better Act is the centerpiece of President Biden’s 2021 legislative agenda, along with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The legislation would:
“With the passage of the Build Back Better Act, we – this Democratic Congress – are taking our place in the long and honorable heritage of our democracy, which – with legislation that will be the pillar of health and financial security in America. It will be historic in forging landmark progress for our nation,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D‑California, in floor remarks urging adoption of the bill.
“Today, President Biden and House Democrats chose leftist special interest groups and illegal immigrants over the needs of hardworking American families,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R‑California. “While Democrats are ignoring the needs of American workers and families, Republicans are paying attention: we will continue to fight against their radical, failed agenda.”
The vote was 220 to 213. A yes vote was to send the legislation to 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
CENSURING PAUL GOSAR: The House on November 17th passed a resolution (H. Res. 789), sponsored by Representative Jackie Speier, D‑California, to censure Representative Paul Gosar, R‑Arizona, and remove him from two committees, after he posted an altered cartoon video on his social media accounts that showed him attacking President Biden. Speier said: “Inciting violence begets violence.”
An opponent, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R‑California, said Gosar deleted the video on his own and affirmed that “he does not believe in violence to anyone,” and McCarthy claimed that the House had failed to censure Democrats for similarly inflammatory behavior toward President Trump.
The vote was 223 yeas to 207 nays, with two Republicans voting aye.
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
ENSURING ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR VETERANS: The House on November 15th passed the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act (S. 1095), sponsored by Sen. Jerry Moran, R‑Kansas, to provide greater tuition and job training benefits for survivors of deceased military veterans.
A supporter, Rep. Mark Takano, D‑California, said the bill would “ensure the survivors and dependents of those who bravely serve our country are not hindered by tuition costs when pursuing their education.”
The vote was unanimous with 424 yeas.
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 (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, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler
Cascadia total: 15 aye votes, 2 not voting
REQUIRING VA TO OBTAIN GUIDANCE FROM VETERANS LIVING IN U.S. TERRITORIES: The House on November 18th passed a bill (H.R. 3730), sponsored by Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, D‑Northern Mariana Islands. It would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to form an advisory committee to consult the agency on issues facing veterans who live in Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories. The vote was 420 yeas to 4 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 SECURITY PROCEDURES AT U.S. AIRPORTS: The House on November 18th passed the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (H.R. 5574), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus, D‑Nevada. The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to take measures for increasing comprehension of airport security materials, including accommodations for foreign language speakers and those with vision or hearing impairments. The vote was 369 yeas to 49 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
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
GRAHAM STEELE, ASSISTANT TREASURY SECRETARY: The Senate on November 16th confirmed the nomination of Graham Steele to be assistant secretary for financial institutions at the Treasury Department. Steele was a senior staffer on the Senate Banking Committee from 2015 to 2017, and since then has been a Federal Reserve staffer and an official at Stanford’s business school. A supporter, Senator Sherrod Brown, D‑Ohio, said “the staff of many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can attest to his commitment to service and the ability to find common ground.” The vote was 53 yeas to 42 nays.
Voting Aye (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Aye (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 5 aye votes, 1 nay vote
ROBERT BONNIE, AGRICULTURE UNDERSECRETARY: The Senate on November 16th confirmed the nomination of Robert Bonnie to serve as the Agriculture Department’s under secretary for farm production and conservation. Bonnie was an Agriculture official in the Obama administration, then joined a Duke University environmental institute from 2017 through 2020.
The vote was 76 yeas to 19 nays.
Voting Aye (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: 6 aye votes
JONATHAN KANTER, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Jonathan Kanter to serve as assistant attorney general heading the antitrust division of the Justice Department. Kanter, currently partner at his own law firm, was previously an antitrust lawyer both in private practice and at the Federal Trade Commission. The vote was 68 yeas to 29 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
ADDITIONAL SENATE VOTES: The Senate confirmed the nomination of four individuals for positions in the executive branch on November 17th, 2021. Two of the four nominees are from the Pacific Northwest.
These nominees were all confirmed without opposition and without roll call votes.
Last Week In Congress will be on hiatus next Sunday
This is Thanksgiving Week, so no votes are planned this week in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Have a great Thanksgiving!
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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# Written by Targeted News Service :: 7:30 AM
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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