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Sunday, May 21st, 2023
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (May 15th-19th)
Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending May 19th, 2023.
In the United States House of Representatives
The House chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
ATTEMPTED EXPULSION OF GEORGE SANTOS: The House on May 17th passed a motion to refer to the House Ethics Committee a resolution (H. Res. 114), sponsored by Representative Robert Garcia, D‑California, that would expel Representative George Santos, R‑New York, from the House.
Representative Anthony D’Esposito, R‑New York, called Santos “a stain on this institution, a stain on the state of New York, a stain on Long Island, and a stain on the beloved Nassau County.”
The vote to refer the resolution to committee was 221 yeas to 204 nays. A yea vote was to send the matter to the Ethics Committee. Most Democrats voted nay on the motion because they wanted to expel Santos from the House instead.
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 (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Voting Present (1): Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 11 nay votes, 1 present vote
SALE OF GUNS TO RETIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS: The House on May 17th passed the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act (H.R. 3091), sponsored by Representative Russell Fry, R‑South Carolina, to authorize a retiring federal law enforcement agency officer in good standing to purchase the retired handgun that the agency issued to the officer.
Fry said: “Not only does this legislation have the potential to save millions of dollars in waste, but it would offset the cost of purchasing new weapons and fund other agency expenses.” An opponent, Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D‑California, said: “The good-standing qualification in this bill is too subjective to accurately protect Americans.” The vote was 232 yeas to 198 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 (3): Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Voting Nay (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Cascadia total: 7 yea votes, 11 nay votes
MORE PUNITIVE MEASURES TARGETING IMMIGRANTS: The House on May 17th passed the Republican-named “Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement Act” (H.R. 2494), sponsored by Representative Andrew R. Garbarino, R‑New York, to make an assault on a law enforcement officer a deportable offense.
Garbarino said the change would “show our brave men and women in law enforcement that we have their backs as they continue to battle the criminal element currently taking advantage of our unsecured southern border.”
An opponent, Representative Jerrold Nadler, D‑N.Y., said: “The bill is so broad and overinclusive that it could lead to truly absurd results and to the deportation of people who had no intention of ever harming a law enforcement officer.”
The vote was 255 yeas to 175 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (3): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas
Voting Nay (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Val Hoyle
Voting Yea (3): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Voting Nay (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Cascadia total: 8 yea votes, 10 nay votes
REPUBLICAN-DRAFTED RESOLUTION BACKING LAW ENFORCEMENT: The House on May 18th passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Representative Ken Buck, R‑Colorado, to state support for the efforts of local law enforcement officers to keep communities safe, and condemn calls to defund or abolish the police. Buck said: “These individuals put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities and keep us safe, and it is time that we acknowledged their selflessness and dedication.”
An opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D‑New York, said: “We should oppose this resolution because it is blatantly one-sided, it blames leftist agitators improperly, and it does not deal with federal law enforcement agencies.”
The vote was 301 yeas to 119 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (4): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representatives Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle
Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer
Voting Yea (7): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, and Marilyn Strickland
Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Pramila Jayapal, and Adam Smith
Cascadia total: 13 yea votes, 5 nay votes
REDUCING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY: The House on May 18th passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Anthony D’Esposito, R‑New York, to a resolution (H. Con. Res. 40, above). The amendment would encourage states to adopt legislation setting out the rights offered to law enforcement officers being investigated or prosecuted for alleged official misconduct as a way to help ensure mutually respectful dialogue between the police and community residents.
D’Esposito said: “My amendment works to ensure law enforcement officials have fair administration of justice during investigations and encourages states to adopt their own bill of rights to support the brave men and women of law enforcement.”
An amendment opponent, Representative Jerrold Nadler, D‑New York said: “This type of legislation has been one of the greatest obstacles to police accountability, hindering investigations, and shielding misconduct from public scrutiny.”
The vote was 268 yeas to 156 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson
Voting Yea (4): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representatives Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle
Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer
Voting Yea (4): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Kim Schrier
Voting Nay (6): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland
Cascadia total: 10 yea votes, 8 nay votes
LIMITING SEARCHES OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS: The House on May 15th passed the Nondisclosure Orders Fairness Act (H.R. 3089), sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R‑Wis. The bill would place restrictions on the power of government entities to conduct searches of an individual’s records that are stored remotely by third-party service providers, in the practice known as cloud computing and storage. Fitzgerald said that law enforcement agencies have been using secrecy orders imposed on the service providers to prevent the disclosure of searches of individual records, and the bill “would stop this abuse, which has allowed the circumvention of Fourth Amendment protections in favor of simple convenience.” The vote was unanimous with 412 yeas.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson
Not Voting (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 not voting
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL POLICE WEEK: The House on May 15th passed a resolution (H. Res. 363), sponsored by Representative Michael Guest, R‑Mississippi, to express support for National Police Week, which took place last week, and recognize the work of U.S. law enforcement officers and the risk of violence that they face. Guest said: “It is of the utmost importance that we honor the men and women of law enforcement and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in this noble pursuit.” The vote was 413 yeas to 2 nays.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and 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: 18 yea votes
In the United States Senate
The Senate chamber (U.S. Congress photo)
NANCY ABUDU, APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate on May 18th confirmed the nomination of Nancy G. Abudu to be a judge on the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Abudu was a lawyer and then official at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from 2005 to 2019; since then, she has been a lawyer at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Atlanta. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑N.Y., said Abudu “has dedicated her career to ensuring that dream is alive and well for everyone in this country.”
An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R‑Kentucky, said Abudu was “unfit for judicial service” due to supposed fearmongering about alleged racist designs to the legal system and membership in groups that undermine the rule of law. The vote was 49 yeas to 47 nays.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
BRADLEY N. GARCIA, APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate on May 15th confirmed the nomination of Bradley N. Garcia to be a judge on the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals. From 2013 to 2022, Garcia was a private practice lawyer at the Melveny & Myers law firm; for the past year, he has been a deputy assistant attorney general at the Justice Department. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Ill., said that in his time at Justice, Garcia “has continued to demonstrate his commitment to public service and defending the rule of law.”
The vote was 53 yeas to 40 nays.
Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo
Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
JENNY C. DANIEL, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on May 17th confirmed the nomination of Jeremy C. Daniel to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Daniel has been a federal prosecutor in the district since 2014, after working for six years as a private practice lawyer in Chicago. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, cited Daniel’s “breadth of experience practicing in the Northern District of Illinois and his expertise in intellectual property and criminal law.” The vote was 56 yeas to 40 nays.
Voting Nay (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Yea (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
VOIDING DHS RULE TO PUNISH IMMIGRANTS: The Senate on May 17th passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 18), sponsored by Senator Roger Marshall, R‑Kansas, to disapprove of and void a Homeland Security Department rule that would allow immigrants into the U.S. to obtain legal residency status, regardless of whether they appear likely to become reliant on government assistance.
Marshall said: “The Biden administration’s public charge rule makes a mockery of the law and the intent of Congress to ensure that immigrants are self-sufficient.”
The vote was 50 yeas to 47 nays.
Voting Yea (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Nay (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Nay (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
OVERRIDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA’S LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY ON POLICING: The Senate on May 16th passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 42), sponsored by Representative Andrew Clyde, R‑Georgia, to disapprove of and void the Washington, D.C., Council’s adoption of a law changing policing policies for D.C. police officers. A supporter, Senator Roger Marshall, R‑Kansas, said voiding the law “makes D.C. safer, but it also sends a message to the entire country–a message that we want safe streets, we want safe communities, we want safe schools, and we want to do it in a bipartisan way.”
The vote, on May 16, was 56 yeas to 43 nays.
Voting Yea (2):
Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo
Voting Nay (2):
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley
Voting Nay (2):
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
Key votes ahead
The House will attempt to void more Biden administration rules by passing Republican-sponsored resolutions. It will also take up the “HALT Fentanyl Act,” Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023 (sponsored by Democratic Senator Jon Tester), and the China Financial Threat Mitigation Act of 2023 (sponsored by Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger.)
The Senate will be in recess this week, with only pro forma sessions scheduled.
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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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