Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending September 30th, 2023.
KEEPING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPEN AND AVERTING SHUTDOWN: The House on September 30th voted to pass a short term funding bill to keep the federal government open and prevent a shutdown as of October 1st at midnight. The Senate approved the legislation hours later, and it was signed just before midnight by President Joe Biden. It does not include any new aid for Ukraine, but it does contain additional disaster assistance.
“I’m sure every bet you had was government was going to shut down,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters after the vote. “I don’t know how many times you’re going to count us out. But if there’s one thing you should start understanding, not just that I’ll never give up. But I’m a type of conservative that wants to get things done. It’s easy to be a conservative that wants to do nothing.”
“The American people have won. The extreme MAGA Republicans have lost. It was a victory for the American people and a complete and total surrender by right-wing extremists who throughout the year have tried to hijack the Congress,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeen Jeffries. “Moving forward, we will continue to work in a bipartisan way to discuss a year-end spending agreement consistent with our values, meeting the needs of the American people, solving problems on their behalf and putting people over politics.”
The legislation passed with 335 yeas and 91 nays.
A yes vote was to send the stopgap funding bill to the Senate.
 | 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
FUNDING SCHOOL OUTDOOR TRAINING PROGRAMS: The House on September 26th passed the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110), sponsored by Representative Mark E. Green, R‑Tennessee, to authorize the use of federal government funds for buying weapons to train students in hunting, archery, and other shooting sports. Green said the bill would correct an Education Department mistake in denying funding to such school programs.
Green added that “education policies oriented toward K‑12 schools should place a larger focus on getting kids out from behind screens and into the great outdoors.”
The vote was 424 yeas to 1 nay.
| 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
BOEBERT AMENDMENT BARRING INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE TRAININGS: The House on September 27th passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R‑Colo., to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4368).
The amendment would bar funding for the Agriculture Department to do workplace training programs related to non-heterosexuals. Boebert said: “Federal employees devoted to public service shouldn’t be forced to participate in extreme training sessions that contradict their own values.” An opponent, Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D‑Georgia, said it was appropriate for the Agriculture Department to promote “issues such as empathy, fostering an inclusive workplace, or becoming an ally to all.” The vote was 217 yeas to 214 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
BARRING FUNDING FOR THE FARM TO SCHOOL NETWORK RACIAL EQUITY LEARNING LAB: The House on September 27th passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Pete Stauber, R‑Minnesota, to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4368). The amendment would bar funding for the Farm to School Network Racial Equity Learning Lab. Stauber said the Lab “seeks to inject critical race theory and identity politics into our educational institutions, perpetuating an agenda that emphasizes differences rather than uniting us as Americans.” An opponent, Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D‑Georgia, said the Lab merely “seeks to address racial equity in our farm to school system.”
The vote was 217 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
BLOCKING FUNDING FOR THE CIVILIAN CLIMATE CORPS: The House on September 27th passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Mary Miller, R‑Illinois, to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4368), that would bar funding for the Agriculture Department’s Civilian Climate Corps.
Miller said the Corps “advances Communist China’s attack on American energy and promotes China’s solar panels, lithium batteries, and windmills.”
An opponent, Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D‑Georgia, said: “If we are to address the climate crisis, help farmers, and strengthen our economy, we cannot be hamstrung by funding limitations that deny that climate change is real.”
The vote was 217 yeas to 216 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer |
| 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: 5 yea votes, 13 nay votes
HOULAHAN AMENDMENT TO FUND MILITARY INDUSTRIAL BASE PILOT PROGRAM: The House on September 27th passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D‑Pa., to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 4365). The amendment would move $50 million from a general military spending account to the Defense Production Act Purchases account, to fund a pilot program for developing advanced capabilities in the military industrial base. Houlahan said that by supporting small businesses, the pilot program would “create new production lines, decrease defense-centric manufacturing supply chain vulnerabilities, provide advisory and scaling support, and unlock private equity capital for advanced warfighting capability.”
An amendment opponent, Representative Ken Calvert, R‑California, cited military budget restrictions as reason not to redirect funding to a pilot program.
The vote was 240 yeas to 191 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer |
| 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: 5 yea votes, 13 nay votes
BARRING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD: The House n September 28th passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Matt Gaetz, R‑Florida, to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 4665) that would bar funding for implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, in which the Biden administration re-enlisted the United States in 2021.
Gaetz said that continuing to implement the Agreement would “kill American jobs, kill American manufacturing, make our country less competitive, drive down our GDP while China and India play us like fools.” An amendment opponent, Representative Barbara Lee, D‑California, said: “Without intervention, our warming planet will have irreversible negative impacts on the United States and throughout the world.” The vote was 219 yeas to 213 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
STATE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS WITH REPUBLICAN RIDERS: The House on September 28th passed the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 4665), sponsored by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, R‑Florida.
The bill would provide $51.5 billion for the State Department in fiscal 2024, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, Export-Import Bank, and other international trade and finance agencies.
Diaz-Balart said that by cutting spending on wasteful and unproductive programs, the bill was “able to prioritize funding for the national security threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.” An opponent, Representative Barbara Lee, D‑California, said it “would impose devastating cuts on programs meant to keep both America and the world safe.” The vote was 216 yeas to 212 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
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS WITH REPUBLICAN RIDERS: The House on September 28th passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 4365), sponsored by Representative Ken Calvert, R‑California, to provide $826.45 billion of fiscal 2024 funding for military programs. Calvert said the bill improved U.S. ability to deter Chinese aggression and anti-drug efforts by the military, while increasing pay for junior enlisted servicemembers by an average of 30 percent.
An opponent, Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, D‑Connecticut, said the bill “harms our military readiness by undermining morale and failing to support our servicemembers with its divisive policy riders” on matters such as abortion, sex, and race. The vote was 218 yeas to 210 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): 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: 7 yea votes, 11 nay votes
AUTHORIZING INSPECTOR GENERAL TO AUDIT AID TO UKRAINE: The House on September 28th passed the Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 5692), sponsored by Representative Thomas H. Kean, R‑New Jersey. The bill would establish an inspector general office to audit spending to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia, and provide funding for the military’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
The vote was 311 yeas to 117 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
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS WITH REPUBLICAN RIDERS: The House on September 28th passed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 4367), sponsored by Representative David P. Joyce, R‑Ohio, to provide $63 billion of fiscal 2024 funding for Homeland Security, as well as $20 billion for disaster recovery efforts in Maui, Florida, and elsewhere.
Joyce said: “This bill returns to a tried-and-true border security approach by investing in methods to both secure the border and deter those who have no legitimate basis for entry.” An opponent, Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, D‑Conn., said the bill “weakens our national security, defunds border security, harms the Homeland Security workforce, and leaves Americans vulnerable to escalating disasters.” The vote was 220 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 (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas |
| 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: 7 yea votes, 11 nay votes
REJECTING AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL WITH REPUBLICAN RIDERS: The House on September 28th rejected the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4368), sponsored by Representative Andy Harris, R‑Maryland.
Harris said the bill made needed spending cuts given recent high deficits and inflationary budgets, and “prioritizes critical ag research and plant and animal health programs, invests in our rural communities, provides nutrition assistance to those in need, and ensures that American consumers have a safe food and drug supply.” An opponent, Representative Marcy Kaptur, D‑Ohio, said the bill “is riddled with divisive policy riders and detrimental funding cuts galore that will hurt American farmers and the American people.”
The vote was 191 yeas to 237 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer |
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (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 |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 14 nay votes
In the United States Senate
KEEPING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPEN AND AVERTING SHUTDOWN: The Senate on September 30th joined the House in voting to pass a short term funding bill (H.R. 5860, above) to keep the federal government open and prevent a shutdown as of October 1st at midnight.
“As I’ve said from day one, this is a bridge CR [continuing resolution], a temporary solution,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“We won’t stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America’s security and for democracy around the world.”
A yes vote was to send the bill to President Biden, who signed it into law.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
CLOTURE ON SEPARATE STOPGAP FUNDING BILL: The Senate on September 26th passed a motion to invoke cloture and proceed to consideration of a bill (H.R. 3935), sponsored by Representative Sam Graves, R‑Misouri., that would serve as the vehicle for a continuing resolution to maintain funding for government programs until mid-November. A cloture supporter, Senator Susan M. Collins, R‑Maine, said: “My hope is, during that 45-day period when the continuing resolution is keeping government functioning at the levels that are needed, that we can continue our progress on the appropriations bills.”
The vote to invoke cloture was 77 yeas to 19 nays.
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 5 yea votes, 1 not voting
PRESERVING PRAIRIE CHICKEN ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTING: The Senate on September 28th failed to override President Biden’s veto of a resolution (S.J. Res. 9), sponsored by Senator Roger Marshall, R‑Kansas, that would have disapproved of and voided a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule putting populations of the lesser prairie-chicken on threatened and endangered species lists, with accompanying environmental regulations for chicken habitat.
Marshall said the listing “will federalize millions of acres of ranchland, increasing the regulatory burden for our farmers and ranchers, ultimately increasing the cost of food.” The vote to override was 47 yeas to 46 nays, with a two-thirds threshold required.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
PRESERVING LONG-EARED BAT ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTING: The Senate on September 28th failed to override President Biden’s veto of a resolution (S.J. Res. 24), sponsored by Senator Markwayne Mullin, R‑Oklahoma, that would have disapproved of and voided a Fish and Wildlife Service rule listing the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. The vote to override was 47 yeas to 45 nays, with a two-thirds threshold required.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
TODD GEE, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Todd Gee to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi for a four-year term. Gee, an official in the Justice Department’s public integrity program since 2018, has also been a lawyer on the House Homeland Security Committee and an assistant U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.
The vote was 82 yeas to 8 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
TARA MCGRATH, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY: The Senate on September 29th confirmed the nomination of Tara McGrath to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. An assistant U.S. attorney for the District from 2008 to 2019, McGrath has also been a judge advocate and a lawyer in the Marines. The vote was 52 yeas to 37 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea(2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
Key votes ahead
The House is expected to consider a resolution to vacate the speakership after Kevin McCarthy opted to provide Republican votes to keep the federal government open. If McCarthy loses, legislative business is likely to grind to a halt for an unspecified period of time while a new Speaker is chosen.
The Senate is planning to consider several judicial and executive nominations, including for James C. O’Brien to be Assistant Secretary of State, Brendan Abell Hurson to be a U.S. District Court Judge (in Maryland), and Susan Kim DeClercq to be a U.S. District Court Judge (in Michigan).
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