Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending December 1st, 2023.
EXPELLING GEORGE SANTOS: The House on December 1st passed a resolution (H. Res. 878), sponsored by Representative Michael Guest, R‑Mississippi, to expel George Santos from the House. The cited grounds for removal included: campaign finance fraud, false statements on House financial disclosure forms, and lying to receive unemployment benefits.
Guest said there was “a complex web of unlawful activity involving Representative Santos’ campaign, personal, and business finances.” Santos said: “I have done the best I can to serve in this body and to deliver the best I can in my campaign promises to vote as a conservative voice in this body.” The vote to expel Santos, on Dec. 1, was 311 yeas to 114 nays, with 2 voting present.
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 (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, 1 nay vote, 1 not voting
VOIDING CFPB RULE ON DISCLOSURE OF SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT APPLICATION INFO: The House on December 1st passed a resolution (S.J. Res 32), sponsored by Senator John Kennedy, R‑Louisiana, to disapprove of and void a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau agency rule issued this May that requires banks and other financial companies to submit small business credit application information to the Bureau. A resolution supporter, Representative Roger Williams, R‑Texas, said the rule was overly broad, burdensome, discouraged lending because of compliance costs, contained implementation problems, and could leave lenders vulnerable to unjust attacks from left-wing activist groups.
An opponent, Representative Maxine Waters, D‑California, said the rule “would simply require lenders to collect and report data on small business lending. This data will help drive competition in the market, lowering small business costs, and help combat discrimination.”
The vote was 221 yeas to 202 nays, with 1 voting present.
President Biden is expected to veto the resolution.
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): Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez; Republican Representative Dan Newhouse 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 Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 11 nay votes, 1 not voting
RELEASE OF HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS: The House on November 28th passed a resolution (H. Res. 793), sponsored by Representative Haley M. Stevens, D‑Michigan, calling for Hamas to immediately release the hostages it took in its attack on Israel in October. Stevens said: “We must condemn the terrorists who seek to attack the Jewish state. They have brutally killed relatives, neighbors, and fellow Israelis. We must continue to push to return the remaining hostages.”
The vote was unanimous with 414 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
SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL: The House on November 28th passed a resolution (H. Res. 888), sponsored by Representative Mike Lawler, R‑New York., to reaffirm Israel’s right to exist, condemn Hamas’s attack on Israel, and deem the denial of Israel’s right to exist a form of anti-Semitism.
Lawler said: “Congress must never stop pushing back against Israel’s opponents, and we must reject biased attempts to destroy our greatest ally.”
The vote was 412 yeas to 1 nay, with 1 voting present.
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
SANCTIONS AGAINST FIRMS HELPING FACILITATE IRANIAN ACCESS TO FUNDS: The House on November 30th passed the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act (H.R. 5961), sponsored by Representative Michael T. McCaul, R‑Texas, to require sanctions against foreign financial firms that attempt to help Iran transfer $6 billion that had been held in restricted accounts in South Korea but were de-restricted to facilitate the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran.
McCaul said: “Blocking money to Iran is the most consequential thing we can do here in this Congress to stop Iran’s financing of terrorism to Hamas and other proxies to help keep our troops safe who are now under fire from Iran-backed militias.” An opponent, Representative Gregory Meeks, D‑N.Y., said the bill would remove U.S. leverage against Iran by breaking a negotiated agreement under which the $6 billion could only be used in Iran for “approved humanitarian purchases to acquire medicine, medical equipment, agricultural goods, and food.”
The vote was 307 yeas to 119 nays, with 1 voting present.
Voting Yea (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson | |
Voting Yea (4): Democratic Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas; Republican Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (2): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer | |
Voting Yea (7): Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (3): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Pramila Jayapal, and Adam Smith |
Cascadia total: 13 yea votes, 5 nay votes
CRITICIZING BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR INSUFFICIENT DENUNCIATIONS OF HOUTHIS: The House on November 30th passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R‑Tenn., to the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act (H.R. 5961), to criticize the Biden administration for failing to unequivocally condemn the Houthi group in Yemen, which is supported by Iran.
Ogles cited attacks against U.S. citizens and military ships by the Houthis, and said the lack of condemnation “is to the detriment of our national security.”
An opponent, Representative Gregory Meeks, D‑New York, said that in fact the administration “has repeatedly called out the violence of Houthi militants that they have perpetuated against civilians, including recent missile launches toward Israel.” The vote, was 226 yeas to 199 nays, with 1 voting present.
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
REPUBLICAN BILL TO PUNISH IMMIGRANTS: The House on November 30th passed the Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act (H.R. 5283), sponsored by Representative Nicole Malliotakis, R‑New York, to bar the federal government from using various federal lands to house foreign nationals not authorized to be in the U.S.
Malliotakis said housing immigrants on federal lands was not fair to people who are going through the legal procedures for moving to the U.S., and she cited the burden that has been placed on New York City by a recent agreement to house at least 2,000 unauthorized migrants at a federal facility in Brooklyn.
A bill opponent, Representative Dan Goldman, D‑New York, called it “another ploy by the Republicans to score political points without actually addressing the desperately needed reforms to our immigration system.”
The vote, on Nov. 30, was 224 yeas to 203 nays, with 1 voting present.
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
ADDITIONAL VOTES BY VOICE: Along with roll call votes this week, the House passed these measures by voice vote:
JEFFREY M. BRYAN, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on November 28th confirmed the nomination of Jeffrey M. Bryan to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Minnesota. For the past decade, Bryan has been a district court and appeals court judge in Minnesota; previously, he was a federal prosecutor in the state. A supporter, Senator Amy Klobuchar, D‑Minnesota, said of Bryan: “Through his devotion to justice and the rule of law, he has earned the respect and support of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officials across the political spectrum.” The vote was 49 yeas to 46 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
MARGARET M. GARNETT, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on November 28th confirmed the nomination of Margaret M. Garnett to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Over the past two decades, Garnett has variously been a private practice lawyer, prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, and lawyer for the New York and New York City governments. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, called Garnett not just “brilliant but wise, not just determined but kind, not just an outstanding lawyer but a true friend and defender of our system” of justice. The vote was 49 yeas to 46 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
CONTINUING DEBATE ON LABOR APPOINTEE: The Senate on November 28th rejected a cloture motion to end debate on the nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez to be the Labor Department’s Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. Rodriguez is a private practice lawyer in Miami, specializing in employment law; he was, for eight years, a member of the Florida state legislature. The vote was 44 yeas to 51 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
MICAH SMITH, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on November 29th confirmed the nomination of Micah Smith to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Hawaii. Since 2012, Smith has been a federal prosecutor in U.S. Attorney’s Offices in first New York and then Hawaii.
The vote was 57 yeas to 41 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
JAMEL SEMPER, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on November 29th confirmed the nomination of Jamel Semper to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. A state prosecutor for most of the 2010s, Semper has, since 2018, been a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey. A supporter, Senator Robert Menendez, D‑New Jersey, said: “Semper has demonstrated unflinching fidelity to the rule of law. Time and time again, Mr. Semper has kept New Jerseyans safe, while also building bridges between residents and those who have sworn an oath to protect them.” The vote was 54 yeas to 44 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
SHANLYN PARK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Senate on November 30th confirmed the nomination of Shanlyn Park to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Hawaii. Park has been a circuit court judge in Hawaii’s government since 2021; previously, she had been a private practice lawyer, and was a federal public defender in the state for two decades. A supporter, Senator Mazie Hirono, D‑Hawaii, said: “As a judge, she has earned high marks for her even-handed approach and well-reasoned, fair decisions.” The vote was 53 yeas to 45 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
ADDITIONAL VOTES BY VOICE: The Senate also confirmed a set of senior officer nominations in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force.
The House will take up several bills, including the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 and the DETERRENT Act.
House Republicans are also planning a vote on a resolution that would repeal the income-driven repayment plan for new and existing student loan borrowers created by the final rule published by the Department of Education on July 10th, 2023, and prohibit the department from creating a similar plan in the future.
The Senate will consider the nomination of Irma Carrillo Ramirez, of Texas, to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit (which encompasses Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.) The Senate may also consider the nomination of Loren L. AliKhan to be a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
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