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Sunday, June 19th, 2022
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (June 13th-17th)
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, June 17th, 2022.
In the United States House of Representatives
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT: The House on June 13th passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S. 3580), sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, D‑Minnesota. The bill would change Federal Maritime Commission practices, including requiring the Commission to review fines charged by common ocean carriers, and bar common ocean carriers from refusing to ship goods if they have adequate cargo space for the goods. A supporter, Representative Peter A. DeFazio, D‑Oregon, called the bill “vital for ensuring fair and efficient shipping, which is integral to the well-being of our economy.”
The vote was 369 yeas to 42 nays.
Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Not Voting (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 not voting
PILOT PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY AIR INFRASTRUCTURE: The House on June 13th passed the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act (H.R. 6270), sponsored by Representative Rick Larsen, D‑Washington, to authorize a $25 million Transportation Department pilot program for issuing grants to fund advanced air mobility infrastructure. Such infrastructure includes vertical airplane takeoff and landing facilities, known as vertiports. A supporter, Representative Peter A. DeFazio, D‑Oregon, said the grants would help federal regulators get ahead of the curve on how to handle an emerging technology with tremendous potential to improve transportation.
The vote, on June 13, was 338 yeas to 73 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
POLICE PROTECTION FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES’ FAMILY MEMBERS: The House on June 14th passed the Supreme Court Police Parity Act (S. 4160), sponsored by Senator John Cornyn, R‑Texas, to authorize the Supreme Court Police force to provide protection for immediate relatives of justices if the court’s marshal deems such protection necessary. A supporter, Representative Ted Lieu, D‑California, said the protection would help ensure that justices “are free from fear of violence or physical intimidation to make decisions based on the Constitution and law as applied to the facts of the cases before them.”
The vote was 396 yeas to 27 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, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal
Cascadia total: 16 aye votes, 1 nay vote
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: The House on June 14th passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773), sponsored by Rep. Debbie Dingell, D‑Michigan, to provide about $1.4 billion of annual supplemental funding for Interior Department efforts to conserve plant and wildlife species, including endangered species.
Dingell said: “We have a conservation, economic, and moral rationale to act in order to protect and recover America’s wildlife for future generations.” An opponent, Representative Bruce Westerman, R‑Arkansas, criticized the bill’s lack of legislative oversight provisions and its increase in deficit spending.
The vote was 231 yeas to 190 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
RURAL RESCUE ACT: The House on June 14th passed the Small State and Rural Rescue Act (H.R. 7211), sponsored by Representative John Katko, R‑New York, to expand the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Small State and Rural Advocate office in reviewing requests for FEMA to provide disaster assistance. Katko said the bill “will go a long way in providing support for the rural communities and small states” of the U.S. when they endure disasters.
The vote was 396 yeas to 14 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
EQUITY IN FINANCING: The House on June 15th passed the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act (H.R. 2543), sponsored by Representative Maxine Waters, D‑California. The bill would require the Federal Reserve to prioritize eliminating racial and ethnic economic disparities in its activities.
A supporter, Representative Barbara Lee, D‑California, said it “will reorient our financial systems to support wealth creation in historically underserved communities.” An opponent, Representative John W. Rose, R‑Tennessee, said it “would impose additional and burdensome reporting requirements on public companies, reduce access to credit, distract the Federal Reserve from pursuing its statutory mandate, and further politicize our regulatory agencies.”
The vote was 215 yeas to 207 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
ADDRESSING COST OF LIVING INCREASES: The House on June 16th passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (H.R. 7606), sponsored by Representative Abigail Davis Spanberger, D‑Virginia. Among other measures, the bill would create the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters at the Agriculture Department, and charge the investigative office with prosecuting violations of meatpacking and poultry marketing laws. Spanberger said the bill responded to Americans’ desire for “lower meat prices both now and in the future. They want lower gas prices and to make biofuels accessible to more Americans.”
An opponent, Representative Glenn Thompson, R‑Pennsylvania, said the bill’s new regulations would be decreasing “American farmers’ abilities to meet global food demand and doubling down on the idea that more spending and big government will feed the world.” The vote was 221 yeas to 204 nays.
Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Aye (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader
Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representative Peter DeFazio; 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: 10 aye votes, 7 nay votes
In the United States Senate
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
HONORING OUR PACT ACT: The Senate on June 16th passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (H.R. 3967), sponsored by Representative Mark Takano, D‑California. The bill would take various measures to treat and record health problems in military veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their time in the military, including the war in Iraq.
A supporter, Senator Jerry Moran, R‑Kansas, said the measures would connect “toxic-exposed veterans with the care they need and they deserve and to provide veterans with certainty and support.” The vote was 84 yeas to 14 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
ALAN LEVENTHAL, AMBASSADOR TO DENMARK: The Senate on June 15th confirmed the nomination of Alan M. Leventhal to be the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Leventhal is chairman and CEO of the office properties company Beacon Capital, and serves on the board of several Boston-area charities and universities. The vote was 63 yeas to 32 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
Key votes ahead
The House will take up the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Health Act, LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, and debate the Senate amendments to the Honoring our PACT Act.
The Senate will consider the nominations of Ana Isabel de Alba to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California and Mary T. Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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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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