Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending December 15th, 2023.
RESTRICTING EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCY RULEMAKING: The House on December 12th passed the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act (H.R. 357), sponsored by Representative Ben Cline, R‑Virginia, to require that rules issued by federal government agencies be issued by officials who have been confirmed to their posts by the Senate.
Cline said: “The bill will increase political accountability for federal policymaking and restore the right of the American people to choose who governs them.”
An opponent, Representative Jerrold Nadler, D‑New York, said the bill “would add unnecessary delay in the creation, promulgation, and implementation of critical new rules, rules that serve to protect the public’s health, safety, and security.”
The vote was 218 yeas to 203 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
WHOLE MILK IN SCHOOL LUNCHES: The House on December 13th passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 1147), sponsored by Representative Glenn Thompson, R‑Pennsylvania, to authorize public schools enrolled in the federal school lunch program to offer whole milk to their students.
Thompson said the authorization “is about choice. When students turn away from milk, they often opt for far less healthy alternatives that are highly caffeinated, sugar-sweetened, or lack key nutrients.”
An opponent, Representative Bobby Scott, D‑Virginia, said “the bill would undermine the Biden administration’s ongoing rulemaking to better align school nutrition standards with the latest science.”
The vote was 330 yeas to 99 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (4): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici |
| Voting Yea (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Marilyn Strickland |
Cascadia total: 14 yea votes, 4 nay votes
IMPEACHMENT PROBE: The House on December 13th passed a resolution (H. Res. 918), sponsored by Representative Kelly Armstrong, R‑North Dakota., directing three House committees to continue investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to merit the House impeaching President Biden.
Armstrong said: “This inquiry is warranted. It would put the House of Representatives in the best legal position possible to uncover the facts, and the American people deserve nothing less.”
An opponent, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, D‑New York, called Biden “a good, honorable, and decent man who dedicated his life to public service and to making a difference for the American people.”
The vote was 220 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 (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, arie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 12 nay votes
CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES: The House on December 13th passed a resolution (H. Res. 927), sponsored by Representative Elise Stefanik, R‑New York, condemning the rise of anti-Semitism on American college campuses and condemn the recent failure of three presidents of prestigious universities to clearly state that calls for the genocide of Jews violate their institutions’ codes of conduct.
Stefanik said the resolution would help “address this rot of anti-Semitism that is now rooted in our once-premier higher education institutions.”
An opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D‑Maryland, said: “Are we prepared to become the national academic appeals panel for college presidents, coaches, and professors, or is that perhaps best left to the universities themselves?”
The vote was 303 yeas to 126 nays, with 3 voting present.
| 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 (3): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Val Hoyle |
| Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (5): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, and Marilyn Strickland |
Cascadia total: 10 yea votes, 8 nay votes
NDAA CONFERENCE REPORT: The House on December 14th agreed to the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), sponsored by Representative Mike D. Rogers, R‑Alabama, to authorize fiscal 2024 Defense Department spending, and spending on military construction programs and military-related programs at the Energy Department.
Rogers said the report “includes critical new authorities to ensure our warfighters have what they need to deter our adversaries and to prevail in future battles. It goes a long way toward ending woke policies being forced on our servicemembers by leftwing bureaucrats.” An opponent, Representative Matt Rosendale, R‑Montana, criticized its extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which he said “has allowed the FBI to spy on U.S. citizens more than 278,000 times without a warrant.”
The vote was 310 yeas to 118 nays.
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher |
| Voting Yea (3): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Val Hoyle |
| Voting Yea (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal |
Cascadia total: 13 yea votes, 5 nay votes
COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The House on December 11th passed the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act (H.R. 3224), sponsored by Representative Anthony D’Esposito, R‑New York, to extend by two years authorization for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) Office at the Homeland Security Department. D’Esposito said the Office was needed “to prevent the use of WMDs against the United States of America and to promote readiness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.”
The vote was unanimous with 394 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
MCMORRIS RODGERS BILL ON HEALTHCARE COST DISCLOSURE: The House on December 11th passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378), sponsored by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R‑Washington, to require health care entities and health insurers to disclose costs for various types of care and drugs, and price audits at health plans.
Rodgers said the bill “advances foundational healthcare reforms for patients, lowers healthcare costs, and reduces the deficit.” An opponent, Representative Lloyd Doggett, D‑Texas, faulted the bill for failing to address price transparency in the Medicare Advantage program and at facilities owned by private equity firms. The vote was 320 yeas to 71 nays.
| Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (5): Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer |
| Voting Yea (9): Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Suzan DelBene |
Cascadia total: 15 yea votes, 3 nay votes
FAA REAUTHORIZATION: The House on December 11th passed the Airport and Airway Extension Act (H.R. 6503), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R‑Mo., to extend into early March authorization for several Federal Aviation Administration programs, including taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Graves said the extension was needed to “maintain safety in the national airspace system in the absence of a long-term reauthorization.” The vote was 376 yeas to 15 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
DUCK HUNTING PERMITS: The House on December 12th passed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act (S. 788), sponsored by Sen. John Boozman, R‑Arkansas, to make electronic migratory bird hunting stamps, also known as duck stamps, fully valid. A supporter, Rep. Bruce Westerman, R‑Arkansas, said that currently, hunters need to carry a signed paper duck stamp, and fully validating electronic stamps would be a sensible modernization of the duck stamp program.
The vote was 403 yeas to 20 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Yea (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer Not Voting (1): Democratic Representative Val Hoyle |
| 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
SHARING REPORTS OF SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL ACTIVITY: The House on December 12th passed the Foreign Affiliates Sharing Pilot Program Extension Act (H.R. 5524), sponsored by Representative Sylvia R. Garcia, D‑Texas, to extend by three years the authorization for a Treasury Department pilot program for having a financial firm share reports of possible illegal activity with the firm’s foreign branches. Garcia said that by allowing such information sharing in a pilot program, “the U.S. anti-money laundering and financial counterterrorism efforts would be strengthened, modernized, and streamlined.”
The vote was 396 yeas to 28 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
OPIOID THERAPIES: The House on December 12th passed the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4531), sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie, R‑Ky., to reauthorize through fiscal 2028 and modify various government programs related to opioid abuse, and recovery and treatment of such abuse. Guthrie said the programs helped to “make sure those who have this substance use disorder have access to proper care, the opportunity to not just recover, but to have full and productive lives.” The vote was 386 yeas to 37 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
ADDRESSING PARKINSON’S DISEASE: The House on December 14th passed the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act (H.R. 2365), sponsored by Representative Gus M. Bilirakis, R‑Florida., to have the Health and Human Services Department carry out a project for treating and potentially curing Parkinson’s.
Bilirakis said the project “will provide an integrated strategy to support and coordinate research efforts, collaborate to prevent duplication, encourage development of safe and effective treatments, and review the impact on patients and their caregivers and families.” The vote was 407 yeas to 9 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
NDAA CONFERENCE REPORT: The Senate on December 13th agreed to the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670, above), sponsored by Representative Mike D. Rogers, R‑Alabama, to authorize fiscal 2024 Defense Department spending, and spending on military construction programs and military-related programs at the Energy Department.
A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, said with the legislation “we will give our servicemembers the pay raise they deserve; we will strengthen our resources in the Indo-Pacific to deter aggression by the Chinese government and give critical resources for training, advising, and capacity-building for the military and Taiwan.” The vote was 87 yeas to 13 nays.
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
RICHARD FEDERICO, APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate on December 11th confirmed the nomination of Richard E.N. Federico to be a judge on the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Federico was a lawyer in the Navy from 2003 to 2017, and more recently has been a federal public defender in Oregon and Kansas. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, said Federico had “a brilliant legal mind.”
The vote was 61 yeas to 29 nays.
| Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch |
| Voting Yea (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley Not Voting (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 3 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 2 not voting
HARRY COKER, NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR: The Senate on December 12th confirmed the nomination of Harry Coker to be National Cyber Director. Coker was executive director of the National Security Agency (NSA) from 2017 to 2019, and was a security official in the Navy, Central Intelligence Agency, and NSA for more than four decades. The vote was 59 yeas to 40 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
JERRY EDWARDS, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on December 14th confirmed the nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr., to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Edwards, an official in the attorney’s office for the district starting in 2019, was previously a private practice lawyer at a Shreveport law firm. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, cited Edwards’ “character, strong ties to the Western District of Louisiana, and extensive legal experience.” The vote was 66 yeas to 24 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
BRANDON LONG, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on December 14th confirmed the nomination of Brandon S. Long to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Long has been a prosecutor, specializing in drug crimes, in the attorney’s office for the district since 2014.
The vote was 64 yeas to 22 nays.
| Voting Nay (1): Republican Senator Mike Crapo Not Voting (1): Republican Senator Jim Risch |
| Voting Yea (2): |
| Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 1 nay vote, 1 not voting
Key votes ahead
The House is done holding floor votes for the year.
The Senate is slated to take up several executive nominations, including that of former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to be Social Security Commissioner. The Senate may also take up the nomination of Sara Hill to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
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