NPI's Cascadia Advocate: Last Week in Congress
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending March 24th, 2023.
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
POLITICS OVER PARENTS LEGISLATION: The House on March 24th passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 5), sponsored by Representative Julia Letlow, R‑Louisiana, to make federal funding for local elementary and secondary schools contingent on them notifying a student’s parents of their rights regarding awareness and oversight of the school’s policies, finances, and procedures.
Letlow said: “This bill aims to bring more transparency and accountability to education, allowing parents to be informed and, when they have questions and concerns, to lawfully bring them to their local school boards.”
An opponent, Representative Bobby Scott, D‑Virginia, called the bill “an educational gag order across the nation which will prevent students from learning and prevent teachers from teaching.” The vote was 213 yeas to 208 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer | |
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, 11 nay votes, 1 not voting
TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIP REPORTBACK: The House on March 22nd passed a bill (H.R. 1093), sponsored by Representative Michael T. McCaul, R‑Texas, to have the State Department report to Congress on State’s implementation of a trilateral U.S. security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom that includes cooperation for developing advanced military technologies. McCaul said the measure “will begin to address numerous long-standing challenges in our arms exports to our closest allies and potentially serve as a roadmap for working with other close allies and partners.”
The vote was 393 yeas to 4 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (3): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Earl Blumenauer | |
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: 14 yea votes, 3 not voting
TAIWAN POLICY GUIDANCE: The House on March 22nd passed a bill (H.R. 1159), sponsored by Representative Ann Wagner, R‑Missouri, to require the State Department to periodically update its guidance to Congress regarding U.S. policy toward Taiwan. Wagner said changed guidance was needed given China’s threats against Taiwanese independence, and the bill would “ensure the United States engages Taiwan in a way that deepens our relationship with this important partner.” The vote was 404 yeas to 7 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer | |
Voting Yea (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Dan Newhouse Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 15 yea votes, 2 not voting
SUPPORTING ASEAN DIPLOMACY: The House on March 23rd passed the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations with ASEAN Act (H.R. 406), sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D‑Texas, to provide various legal immunities and privileges to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. A supporter, Rep. Ann Wagner, R‑Mo., said it “will accord ASEAN representatives in the United States the same diplomatic immunities we provide other regional organizations, such as the EU or the Organization of American States. This is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to that organization.”
The vote was 388 yeas to 33 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer | |
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
FAILED VETO OVERRIDE ATTEMPT: The House on March 23rd failed to override President Biden’s veto of 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 preserving 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 resolution opponent, Representative Bobby Scott, D‑Virginia, said it “sought to nullify a popular and sensible rule that enabled retirement plan managers to make fully informed investment decisions.”
The vote was 219 yeas to 200 nays, with a two-thirds threshold required to override the veto. The threshold was not met and the veto was sustained.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer | |
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, 11 nay votes, 1 not voting
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
GORDAN GALLAGHER, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on March 22nd confirmed the nomination of Gordan P. Gallagher to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Colorado. A federal magistrate judge in the district since 2012, Gallagher had previously been a practitioner at his own law firm and a prosecutor for Colorado’s government. A supporter, Senator Michael F. Bennet, D‑Colorado, cited Gallagher’s “stellar reputation in Colorado and nearly 25 years in service to others.” The vote was 53 yeas to 43 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
GRAHAM AMENDMENT TO REVOCATION OF FORCE AUTHORIZATION BILL: The Senate on March 22nd rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R‑South Carolina, to a bill (S. 316) that would have repealed the 2002 authorization of use of military force against Iraq and replaced it with an authorization to use military force against militias in Iraq that are supported by Iran. Graham said the new authorization would “tell the Shiite militias: You come after our troops, we are coming after you.”
An opponent, Senator Timothy Kaine, D‑Virginia, said a new authorization was unnecessary because the executive branch already had ample powers under article II of the Constitution to take measures against the militias.
The vote was 36 yeas to 60 nays.
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
LEE AMENDMENT TO REVOCATION OF FORCE AUTHORIZATION BILL: The Senate on March 23rd rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Mike Lee, R‑Utah, to a bill (S. 316) that would have stipulated that no future authorization of use of military force could extend beyond two years.
Lee said that by exercising Congress’s proper control of military action, the amendment would “ensure that all Americans have a voice in matters of great importance, especially when it comes to matters of war and peace, and that no president has the power historically reserved for monarchs, despots, and tyrants.”
The vote was 19 yeas to 76 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley Voting Nay (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden | |
Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 1 yea vote, 5 nay votes
RISCH AMENDMENT TO REVOCATION OF FORCE AUTHORIZATION BILL: The House on March 23rd rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator James E. Risch, R‑Idaho, to a bill (S. 316) that would have conditioned repeal of the 2002 authorization to use military force against Iraq on assurances that repeal would not harm U.S. ability to detain terrorists. Risch said the condition sought to put the U.S. in “as strong a position as we possibly could when we are in detention or litigation” against suspected terrorists. An opponent, Senator Timothy Kaine, D‑Virginia, said it was unnecessary because no terrorists were being detained under the 2002 authorization. The vote was 41 yeas to 52 nays.
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
The House is planning to take up Steve Scalise’s “Lower Energy Costs Act” (H.R. 1) a bad bill that seeks to prevent the executive branch from acting to prevent the destructive practice of fracking (hydraulic fracturing). Read more about this legislation here. The House is also expected to consider the PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, and the Undersea Cable Control Act, which won’t be as controversial.
The Senate will resume consideration of S.316 (above), which would finally repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. Votes are expected on a set of six Republican amendments to the bill.
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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