Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending November 3rd, 2023.
AID TO ISRAEL: The House on November 2nd passed the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6126), sponsored by Representative Kay Granger, R‑Texas, to provide added funding for the military and State Department in response to the war between Israel and Hamas, by rescinding $14.3 billion of unspent funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Granger said: “We must stand firm with our great ally and do all we can to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.”
An opponent, Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, D‑Connecticut, said “it is outrageous that a major emergency funding bill in response to the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust is tied to offsets” that reduce tax revenue and increase the deficit. The vote was 226 yeas to 196 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 (1): Republican Representative 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 Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 5 yea votes, 12 nay votes, 1 not voting
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS: The House on November 1st passed the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (H.R. 4364), sponsored by Representative Mark Amodei, R‑Nevada, to provide $5.3 billion of fiscal 2024 funding for the federal government’s legislative branch other than the Senate, including the House and the Library of Congress, Capitol Police, and Government Accountability Office. Amodei said the bill made a fiscally responsible close to five percent cut in spending from fiscal 2023 levels while adequately funding efforts to provide services to constituents and oversee the executive branch.
An opponent, Representative Adriano Espaillat, D‑New York, said the bill would eliminate programs, such as the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion, “that help to grow and diversify our country as well as welcome everybody to the table.” The vote was 214 yeas to 197 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, and Val Hoyle Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas |
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representative 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 Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 10 nay votes, 2 not voting
TABLING MOTION TO CENSURE REPRESENTATIVE TLAIB: The House on November 1st tabled a motion (H. Res. 829), sponsored by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R‑Georgia, that would have baselessly censured Representative Rashida Tlaib, D‑Michigan. The vote was 222 yeas to 186 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Val Hoyle Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas |
| Voting Yea (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 11 yea votes, 5 nay votes, 2 not voting
SYMBOLIC RESOLUTION ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION: The House on November 1st passed a resolution (H. Res. 559), sponsored by Representative Michael T. McCaul, R‑Texas, to declare it U.S. policy to use all necessary means to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
McCaul said: “We need to restore deterrence against Iran. We need to use every tool at our disposal to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon.” An opponent, Representative Joaquin Castro, D‑Texas, said the resolution could lead to the U.S. invading Iran to stop its nuclear weapons program, and “the language we are voting on today goes too far” in that direction. The vote was 354 yeas to 53 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (3): Democratic Representative Suzanne Bonamici; Republican Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas |
| Voting Yea (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal Not Voting (1): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 13 yea votes, 3 nay votes, 2 not voting
HAMAS SANCTIONS: The House on November 1st passed the Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act (H.R. 340), sponsored by Representative Brian J. Mast, R‑Florida, to impose sanctions on people affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and similar groups found to be taking terrorist actions against Israel.
Mast said sanctions were needed to “cut off the material support, whether that is money or equipment or something that we might label here in Washington as a dual-use item, from making it to the Gaza Strip or the West Bank or into the hands of Hezbollah or somewhere else.”
A bill opponent, Representative Joaquin Castro, D‑Texas, cited the absence of “a broad humanitarian exemption that would have protected the provision of food, medicine, and other lifesaving supplies into Gaza.”
The vote was 363 yeas to 46 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, and Val Hoyle; Republican Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas |
| Voting Yea (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal Not Voting (1): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 14 yea votes, 2 nay votes, 2 not voting
CONDEMNING INTIMIDATING DEMONSTRATIONS AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: The House on November 2nd passed a resolution (H. Res. 798), sponsored by Representative Burgess Owens, R‑Utah, to condemn support for Hamas and other anti-Israel entities at universities and colleges and the support’s potential to create a hostile environment for Jewish faculty and students. Owens cited an event at Cooper Union college in New York City in saying: “No students, regardless of race, creed, color, or religion, should ever have to use the back door of a campus library out of fear for their safety.”
The vote was 396 yeas to 23 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 Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer |
| Voting Yea (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal Not Voting (1): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 15 yea votes, 2 nay votes, 1 not voting
FAILING TO EXPEL GEORGE SANTOS: The House on November 1st rejected a resolution (H. Res. 773), sponsored by Representative Anthony D’Esposito, R‑New York, that would have expelled Representative George Santos, R‑New York, from the House. D’Esposito cited the filing of twenty-three criminal charges against Santos, and said he had lied about “his education, his work history, his faith, the fact that he was Jewish.” Santos said: “Voting for expulsion at this point would circumvent the judicial system’s right to due process that I am entitled to and desanctify the long-held premise that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty.” The vote was 179 yeas to 213 nays, with 19 voting present.
| Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Val Hoyle; Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas |
| Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland Voting Nay (4): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and Kim Schrier Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 9 yea votes, 7 nay votes, 2 not voting
PROHIBITING FUNDING FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT DETERMINATIONS: The House on November 2nd passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Lauren Boebert, R‑Colorado, to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4821).
The amendment would prohibit funding for the finalization of three proposed Endangered Species Act rules published this June. Boebert said adopting the rules “will only result in further one-size-fits-all responses to threatened and endangered species that will benefit absolutely nobody, including the species.”
An opponent, Representative Chellie Pingree, D‑Maine, said the rules were merely “intended to improve and clarify the interagency consultation processes; listing, delisting, and reclassification decisions; and designation of critical habitat.”
The vote was 213 yeas to 212 nays.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez provided the deciding vote to pass the amendment.
| 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 (2): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and 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 Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 5 yea votes, 12 nay votes, 1 not voting
BLOCKING FUNDING FOR BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON FEDERAL LANDS: The House on November 2nd passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Russ Fulcher, R‑Idaho, to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4821), to block funding for a Biden administration executive order that would seek to put thirty percent of U.S. lands and waters under federal jurisdiction by 2030.
Fulcher said the federal government was already overwhelmed by the attempt to manage its existing lands, and an increase would further degrade land management. The vote was 212 yeas to 202 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas Not Voting (2): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer, Republican Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer |
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and 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 Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 5 yea votes, 10 nay votes, 3 not voting
BLOCKING FUNDING FOR BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS: The House on November 2nd passed an amendment sponsored by Representative Richard McCormick, R‑Georgia, to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4821).
The amendment would block funding to implement several Biden administration executive orders regarding renewable energy, electric vehicles, and environmental justice policies in poor and minority communities.
McCormick said the orders were unfeasible and too costly, and would impose a disparate burden on poor communities. An amendment opponent, Rep. Betty McCollum, D‑Minesota, said the environmental justice order aimed to make sure “that everybody gets the same degree of protection from environmental health hazards.” The vote was 217 yeas to 202 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, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer |
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and 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 Not Voting (1): Republican Representative Dan Newhouse |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 10 nay votes, 2 not voting
In the United States Senate
MATTHEW MADDOX, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on October 31st confirmed the nomination of Matthew Maddox to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Maryland. For nine years, Maddox was a private practice lawyer and then a federal prosecutor in Maryland; for the past year and a half he has been a federal magistrate judge for the Maryland district.
A supporter, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, D‑Maryland, said: “I am confident that Judge Maddox will safeguard the rights of all Marylanders, uphold the Constitution and rule of law, and faithfully follow the judicial oath to ‘do equal right to the poor and to the rich.’ ”
The vote was 55 yeas to 42 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
JACOB LEW, AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: The Senate on October 31st confirmed the nomination of Jacob J. Lew to be ambassador to Israel. Lew was Treasury Secretary for President Obama’s second term, then became a partner at the Lindsay Goldberg private equity firm. A supporter, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, D‑Md., said there was “no question about his qualifications, no question about his presence being welcomed by our Israeli friends, no question about his knowledge and commitment to these issues” facing Israel and the U.S.
An opponent, Senator Tom Cotton, R‑Arkansas, said at the Treasury Department, Lew “acted as the de facto business investment banker and business agent for the blood-thirsty ayatollahs” in Iran. 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
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR SEVERAL U.S. DEPARTMENTS: The Senate on November 1st passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366), sponsored by Representative John R. Carter, R‑Texas. The bill would provide fiscal 2024 funding for the Veterans Affairs Department, Agriculture Department, Transportation Department, and Housing and Urban Development agency, as well as about $17.5 billion for military construction programs. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, said the bill’s provisions “deliver big wins for America’s farmers, for our infrastructure, for housing, and for our military bases and veterans and more.”
The vote was 82 yeas to 15 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
BARRING FUNDING FROM ENTITIES LINKED TO PRC GOVERNMENT: The Senate on October 31st passed an amendment sponsored by Senator Josh Hawley, R‑Missouri, to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366, above). The amendment would bar funding of any entity linked to China and China’s government.
An opponent, Senator Patty Murray, D‑Washington, said the funding ban “could have far-reaching, unintended consequences,” including harming the ability of the VA’s “obtaining products for essential mission needs, like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and IT.” The vote was 61 yeas to 36 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING CRUZ AMENDMENT TO DENY PAY TO ANNE CARLSON: The Senate on October 31st rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, R‑Texas, to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366, above).
The amendment would have blocked funding to pay National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Acting Administrator Ann Carlson, because Carlson’s nomination as permanent administrator was withdrawn by President Biden. Cruz said: “The appointments clause of the Constitution is a critical check on executive power. The Senate must protect its prerogative to review the president’s nominees to powerful, unelected positions in the federal government.”
An opponent, Senator Brian Schatz, D‑Hawaii, said cancelling Carlson’s salary would set the alarming precedent that “if you have a political or policy disagreement with a particular administration policy, you can take the public servant who is in charge of implementing it and take their salary hostage.”
The vote was 47 yeas to 49 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING BUDD AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT VOTER REGISTRATION FUNDING: The Senate on October 31st rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Ted Budd, R‑N.C., to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366, above). The amendment would have blocked funding for implementing a President Biden executive order to have government agencies promote voter registration. Budd said the order, by having agencies partner with potentially partisan non-government groups, could mean “using official taxpayer resources to advance partisan politics.”
An amendment opponent, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said “expanding the number of voters makes the democracy stronger.”
The vote was 45 yeas to 50 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE AN AUDIT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE: The Senate on November 1st rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Rand Paul, R‑Kentucky, to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366), that would have required the U.S. Comptroller General to make a full audit of the Federal Reserve. Paul said an audit was needed because “the Federal Reserve effectively controls the economy but without scrutiny. No other institution has so much unchecked power.” An opponent, Senator Sherrod Brown, D‑Ohio, said: “This amendment would make the Fed less effective. It would open it up to all kinds of nefarious political pressure.” The vote was 46 yeas to 51 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING CRUZ AMENDMENT CONCERNING DIRECTIVES TO STATE DEPARTMENT: The Senate on November 1st rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, R‑Texas, to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366), that would have required the State Department to pressure Mexico to comply with a 1944 treaty with the U.S. on allocating between the two countries the waters of the Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana Rivers. Cruz said the amendment, by asking Mexico to meet a treaty obligation to provide 350,000 acre-feet of water per year to the U.S. side of the Rio Grande Valley, would aid farmers who need that water due to a drought in the Valley. The vote was 52 yeas to 45 nays, with a three-fifths majority required for approval.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING PAUL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF MOST MAJOR REGULATIONS: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Rand Paul, R‑Kentucky, to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366), that would have required Congressional approval of all new agency rules estimated to have at least a $100 million annual impact on the U.S. economy. Paul said of the effect of passing the amendment: “The American people, through their elected officials, will reclaim the ability to prevent unnecessary government interference in everyday life.”
An opponent, Senator Gary C. Peters, D‑Michigan, said the amendment “would endanger a range of public protections for the environment, American workers, and people with disabilities.” The vote was 46 yeas to 51 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTING AGRICULTURE RELIEF BLOCK GRANTS: The Senate on November 1st rejected the Block Grant Assistance Act (H.R. 662), sponsored by Representative C. Scott Franklin, R‑Florida, which would have authorized the Agriculture Department to issue block grants to states for assistance to farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2022.
A supporter, Senator Rick Scott, R‑Florida., said the authorization would “give certainty to growers and ranchers in all of our states that they have a reliable partner in the federal government to make sure they can recover from natural disasters.”
An opponent, Senator Martin Heinrich, D‑New Mexico, said block grants to states were already authorized, and the bill would delay funding to farmers, making it “both counterproductive and unnecessary.”
The vote was 43 yeas to 53 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
DAVID W. ALLVIN, AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF: The Senate on November 2nd confirmed the nomination of David W. Allvin to be chief of staff of the Air Force. Allvin had been the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, and has a 37-year career in the Air Force as a command pilot and as a senior officer.
A supporter, Senator Jack Reed, D‑Rhode Island, said Allvin “has helped lead the service through a critical period of modernization, and he is well positioned to continue that progress.” The vote was 95 yeas to 1 nay.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
Key votes ahead
The House will consider several bills authorizing the siting of monuments on the National Mall. It is also slated to continue working on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, a Republican government funding bill.
The Senate will take up the nomination of Monica M. Bertagnolli, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the National Institutes of Health. The Senate is also expected to work on a funding package for Israel, Ukraine, and border security.
Congress has until November 18th to adopt a plan to keep the federal government open, otherwise there will be a partial government shutdown.
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