Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending September 22nd, 2023.
PROCEDURAL MOTION ON REPUBLICAN MILITARY APPROPRIATIONS BILL: The House on September 21st rejected a resolution to consider the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 4365), sponsored by Representative Ken Calvert, R‑California, as well as two other bills.
The appropriations bill would spend $826 billion on military programs in fiscal 2024, including a 5.2 percent pay increase for military members.
A resolution supporter, Representative Tom Cole, R‑Oklahoma, said: “Providing funding for our national defense is both Congress’ privilege and its responsibility. In order for our brave men and women in uniform to do their jobs, Congress must do its job.” An opponent, Representative James P. McGovern, D‑Massachusetts, said: “This bill has horrible, harmful policy riders that strip people’s rights and push MAGA culture wars.” The vote was 212 yeas to 216 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
OVERSIGHT OF EDUCATION FOR VETERANS: The House on September 18th passed the Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act (H.R. 3981), sponsored by Representative Morgan McGarvey, D‑Kentucky, to adopt added requirements for educational institutions with military veterans who are using GI Bill benefits to help pay for their tuition. McGarvey said the bill sought to ensure “that the men and women who put on the uniform of our country aren’t defrauded by dishonest institutions that fail to set our veterans up for success.”
The vote was unanimous with 410 yeas.
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 (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Dan Newhouse Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 16 yea votes, 2 not voting
INDIGENOUS FAMILY SAFETY PROGRAMS: The House on September 18th passed the Native American Child Protection Act (H.R. 663), sponsored by Representative Ruben Gallego, D‑Arizona, to reauthorize, through fiscal 2028, several programs having to do with American Indian child protection and family violence programs, and make certain revisions to the programs.
Gallego said the programs “give tribes the tools to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute child abuse and family violence involving Native American children.”
The vote was 378 yeas to 32 nays.
Voting Nay (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 (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Dan Newhouse Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 15 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
HELPING CHILDREN OF VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA: The House on September 19th passed a bill (S. 112), sponsored by Senatir Mike Braun, R‑Indiana, to provide Veterans Affairs Department benefits to offspring of Vietnam War veterans who were born with spina bifida or other birth defects.
A supporter, Representative Mike Bost, R‑Illinois, said the bill would improve on the VA’s current program “by establishing care and coordination teams for these children to ensure they have the care and support and continued connections that they need for their entire lives.” The vote was unanimous with 422 yeas.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Earl Blumenauer, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz | |
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
DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VETERANS: The House on September 20th passed the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 1530), sponsored by Representative Morgan Luttrell, R‑Texas, to require changes to Veterans Affairs Department procedures for determining whether a given veteran qualifies for medical disability benefits. Luttrell cited the current roadblocks to qualifying for disability benefits, and said the bill “takes important steps to identify and break down these barriers in the disability exam process, ensuring our veterans receive the highest quality care and support.” The vote was unanimous with 423 yeas.
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
VERNON OLIVER, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on September 19th confirmed the nomination of Vernon D. Oliver to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Connecticut. Oliver has been a superior court judge in the state since 2009; previously, he was an attorney in Connecticut’s government. A supporter, Senator Richard Blumenthal, D‑Connecticut, said Oliver “is a phenomenal person, not just an extraordinary judge.”
The vote was 53 yeas to 44 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
RITA LIN, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on September 19th confirmed the nomination of Rita Lin to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Lin spent 10 years as a private practice lawyer; since then, she has been a federal prosecutor in the Northern District and, for the past five years, a county superior court judge in San Francisco.
A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said: “Her evenhanded approach to judicial decisionmaking and significant experience litigating both civil and criminal matters in federal court will serve the Northern District of California well.”
The vote was 52 yeas to 45 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
CHARLES BROWN, JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: The Senate on September 20th confirmed the nomination of Charles Q. Brown, Jr., to be appointed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to be appointed as a general in the Air Force. Brown, currently a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chief of staff for the Air Force, has been a pilot and senior officer in the Air Force since 1984. The vote was 83 yeas to 11 nays.
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
RANDY GEORGE, ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF: The Senate on September 21st confirmed the nomination of Randy George to be the Army’s chief of staff. George had regiment and division commander roles in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; he had been the Army’s vice chief of staff for 13 months.
A supporter, Senator Joni Ernst, R‑Iowa, said: “I have full confidence that he will continue to modernize the Army and maintain our highly trained and lethal force to fight and win our nation’s wars.”
The vote was 96 yeas to 1 nay.
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
ERIC SMITH, MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT: The Senate on September 21st confirmed the nomination of Eric Smith to be Commandant of the Marine Corps. Smith, who has been acting commandant for the past two months, was previously assistant commandant, and has been a commissioned officer in the Marines since 1987, including service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
A supporter, Senator Dan Sullivan, R‑Alaska, said Smith had command experience at every level of the Marines, and his substantial combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan highlighted a stellar career thus far.
The vote was unanimous with 96 yeas.
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
Key votes ahead
The House’s schedule is difficult to anticipate because many Republican members have been defying Kevin McCarthy and voting against procedural motions, thus bringing McCarthy and Scalise’s plans to an abrupt halt. Scalise’s office says there will be votes starting Tuesday on a set of annual appropriations bills, but whether those votes actually happen or not remains to be seen. Congress is rapidly running out of time to avert a government shutdown.
The Senate plans on Tuesday to take up H.R.3935, a bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize and improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil aviation programs. This is an appropriations bill.
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