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Sunday, March 5th, 2023
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (February 27th-March 3rd)
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending March 3rd, 2023.
In the United States House of Representatives
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
RESOLUTION MOURNING VICTIMS OF QUAKES IN TÜRKIYE: The House on February 27th passed a resolution (H. Res. 132), sponsored by Representative Joe Wilson, R‑South Carolina, mourning the more than 40,000 Turks and Syrians killed by the recent earthquakes in Türkiye, and condemning Syria’s Assad regime for failing to provide adequate relief to victims. Wilson said: “Syria’s brutal dictator Assad is stealing humanitarian aid, and even worse, has continued bombing the affected areas at least 10 times since the earthquake.”
The vote was 414 yeas to 2 nays.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (6): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Earl Blumenauer, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Voting Yea (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cascadia total: 17 yea votes, 1 not voting
NOTIFYING AMERICANS OF RECORDING CAPABILITIES OF “SMART” DEVICES: The House on February 27th passed the Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (H.R. 538), sponsored by Representative John R. Curtis, R‑Utah, to require makers of products that are connected to the Internet and use a camera or microphone to inform consumers that their products have such features. Curtis said the requirement “will ensure consumers are aware of the capabilities of items they are putting in their homes without hamstringing the technology pioneers” who are making the products.
The vote was 406 yeas to 12 nays.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (6): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Earl Blumenauer, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Voting Yea (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cascadia total: 17 yea votes, 1 not voting
VOIDING ESG RULE: The House on February 28th passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 30), sponsored by Representative Andy Barr, R‑Kentucky, to disapprove of and void a Labor Department rule issued in December 2022 that authorized fiduciaries of retirement plans to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in their management of the plans.
Barr said the rule would put Americans “into less diversified, higher fees, and lower-performing portfolios at precisely the time that we need to maximize financial security for Americans approaching retirement.”
A supporter of the rule, Representative Mark DeSaulnier, D‑California, said: “Allowing ESG considerations can help financial professionals identify investments that will be sustainable in the long term and in the best interest of their clients.”
The vote was 216 yeas to 204 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Voting Nay (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Voting Nay (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 12 nay votes
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE ESTIMATES OF INFLATION’S IMPACT: The House on March 1st passed the Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act (H.R. 347), sponsored by Representative Elise M. Stefanik, R‑New York. The bill would require the Council of Economic Advisers and Office of Management and Budget to make estimates of the impact on inflation of each executive order issued by the president expected to have a $1 billion or greater impact on the federal budget. Stefanik said the bill “is about transparency for the American people, and it is long past time for Joe Biden to take into account this harmful impact of his failed, far-left agenda.”
An opponent, Representative Cori Bush, D‑Missouri, called the bill “a waste of government resources, and it is a squandering of time that we should be using to rein in corporate greed and support those of our neighbors who need our help the most.” The vote was 272 yeas to 148 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (4): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas
Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer
Voting Yea (5): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, and Kim Schrier
Voting Nay (5): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Cascadia total: 11 yea votes, 7 nay votes
DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENT TO H.R. 347: The House on March 1st approved an amendment sponsored by Representative Susie Lee, D‑Nevada, to the Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act (H.R. 347, above). The amendment stated that the House, as well as the president, have the task of decreasing inflation and reducing the cost of living by enacting thoughtful legislation. Lee said “productive, bipartisan legislative action is the best way that we can collectively combat inflation and bring down the cost of living.”
The vote was 364 yeas to 56 nays.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher
Voting Yea (6): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Earl Blumenauer, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Voting Yea (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cascadia total: 17 yea votes, 1 nay vote
In the United States Senate
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
JAMAR WALKER, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on February 28th confirmed the nomination of Jamar K. Walker to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). Walker has been a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district since 2015, specializing in cases of alleged corruption and white collar crime. A supporter, Senator Timothy Kaine, D‑Virginia, said Walker’s “experience in and knowledge of the EDVA and his work on cases of that kind will be very critical to his success once he is confirmed.” The vote was 52 yeas to 41 nays.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
JAMAL WHITEHEAD, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on February 28th confirmed the nomination of Jamal N. Whitehead to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Whitehead has been a private practice lawyer at a Seattle law firm since 2016; he has also been a lawyer at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district. The vote was 51 yeas to 43 nays.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
ARACELI MARTINEZ-OLGUIN, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on February 28th confirmed the nomination of Araceli Martinez-Olguin to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Currently an attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, Martinez-Olguin has also been an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyer and a lawyer at Legal Aid at Work. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, cited her “career-long commitment to defending equal justice for all, and a professional background that is historically underrepresented on the bench.” The vote was 48 yeas to 48 nays, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting a 49th yea vote.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
MARGARET GUZMAN, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on March 1st confirmed the nomination of Margaret R. Guzman to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. A state district court judge in Massachusetts since 2009, Guzman had previously been a public defender and lawyer at her own law firm. The vote was 48 yeas to 48 nays, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting a 49th yea vote.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
VOIDING ESG RULE: The Senate on March 1st passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 30, above) to disapprove of and void a Labor Department rule issued in December 2022 that authorized fiduciaries of retirement plans to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in their management of the plans. An opponent, Senator Brian Schatz, D‑Hawaii, called the resolution “only the latest step in a campaign to prevent American financial institutions from making money from the clean energy revolution, and it should offend anyone who supports free markets.” The vote was 50 yeas to 46 nays.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Nay (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Nay (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 1 yea vote, 3 nay votes, 2 not voting
COLLEEN LAWLESS, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on March 2nd confirmed the nomination of Colleen R. Lawless to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Lawless, a private practice lawyer in Illinois from 2009 to 2019, then became a judge on an Illinois circuit court.
The vote was 51 yeas to 41 nays.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
JONATHAN JAMES CANADA GREY, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on March 2nd confirmed the nomination of Jonathan James Canada Grey to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. A magistrate judge in the district for the last two years, Grey had previously been a federal prosecutor in the district and in Ohio. The vote was 49 yeas to 42 nays.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden
Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
Key votes ahead
The House may consider H. Con. Res. 21 (directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Syria), the “Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act,” and S. 619 (a bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID-19) as well as several other items.
The Senate will consider more judicial nominations, beginning with Robert Stewart Ballou, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia.
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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