Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, February 11th, 2022.
In the United States House of Representatives
RELIEF AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE: The House on February 8th passed the Postal Service Reform Act (H.R. 3076), sponsored by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, D‑New York.
The bill would establish a health benefits programs for Postal Service workers and retirees while ending a requirement that retirement health benefits be prepaid, and establish new budget and service reporting requirements for the Postal Service. Maloney called the changes an effort “to fix some of the serious problems that have been looming over the post office for years and threatening its financial stability.” The vote was 342 yeas to 92 nays.
 | Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher |
 | Voting Aye (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
 | Voting Aye (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 15 aye votes, 2 nay votes
KEEPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPEN: The House on February 8th passed the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 6617), sponsored by Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, D‑Conn., to extend funding for the federal government though March 11th. The vote was 272 yeas to 162 nays.
| Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher |
| Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 14 aye votes, 3 nay votes
PROTECTING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT: On February 7th, the House of Representatives passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445), sponsored by Representative Cheri Bustos, D‑Illinois, to bar arbitration agreements that prevent a party to the agreement from filing a sexual assault or sexual harassment lawsuit against another party to the agreement.
Bustos said employment agreements that force employees to go to arbitration to settle such cases were unjust “legal traps” used against workers.
An opponent, Representative Jim Jordan, R‑Ohio, said the bill was more likely to benefit trial lawyers than workers, due to encouraging costly litigation while blocking arbitration. The vote was 335 yeas to 97 nays.
| Voting Aye (1): Republican Representative Mike Simpson Voting Nay (1): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher |
| Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 15 aye votes, 2 nay votes
HOMELAND SECURITY PURCHASING PRACTICES: The House on February 7th passed the Promoting Rigorous and Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions (PRICE) Act (S. 583), sponsored by Senator Gary C. Peters, D‑Michigan. The bill would require the Homeland Security Department to annually publish online a report on agency measures to improve its procurement systems. The vote was 426 yeas to 5 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Aye (5): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (10): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 17 aye votes
INCREASING PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY: The House on February 9th passed the Global Respect Act (H.R. 3485), sponsored by Representative David L. Cicilline, D‑Rhode Island, to have the State Department enact visa-blocking sanctions against foreigners accused of sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity discrimination. Cicilline said: “This bill protects LGBTQI people from murder, torture, and other forms of violence.”
An opponent, Representative Claudia Tenney, R‑New York, said: “The bill’s broad language has the potential to sweep in nonviolent conduct and impose visa restrictions on individuals engaged in that conduct.”
The vote was 227 yeas to 206 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): Republican Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson |
| Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader Voting Nay (1): Republican Representative Cliff Bentz |
| Voting Aye (7): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland Voting Nay (3): Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 11 aye votes, 6 nay votes
In the United States Senate
DONALD TUNNAGE, D.C. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: The Senate on February 7th confirmed the nomination of Donald Tunnage to serve as a judge on the Washington, D.C., Superior Court for a 15-year term. Tunnage has been a civil rights trial attorney at the Justice Department since 2009.
The vote was 54 yeas to 39 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
LOREN ALIKHAN, D.C. APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate on February 8th confirmed the nomination of Loren AliKhan to serve as a judge on the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals for a 15-year term. AliKhan has been the District’s solicitor general since 2018, was previously its deputy solicitor general, and before that was a Justice Department lawyer.
The vote was 55 yeas to 41 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
AMY GUTMANN, AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY: The Senate on February 8th confirmed the nomination of Amy Gutmann to serve as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Gutmann had been president of the University of Pennsylvania since 2004. The vote was 54 yeas to 42 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
CHANTALE WONG, ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: The Senate on February 8th confirmed the nomination of Chantale Wong to serve as the U.S. director on the Asian Development Bank. Wong was a senior official at the Millennium Challenge Corporation during the Obama administration, and was on the board of the Asian Development Bank during the Clinton administration.
The vote was 66 yeas to 31 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
SCOTT NATHAN, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE: The Senate on February 9th confirmed the nomination of Scott Nathan to be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Nathan, a longtime executive at the Baupost Group investment firm, was an official in multiple roles during the Obama administration.
A supporter, Senator Robert Menendez, D‑New Jersey, said Nathan would help the agency “to be competitive with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, to promote renewable energy development, and to support COVID-19 recovery, and, at the same time, to recognize and grapple with the complexity of these challenges.”
The vote was 72 yeas to 24 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
RETA JO, EXPORT-IMPORT BANK: The Senate on February 9th confirmed the nomination of Reta Jo Lewis to serve as president of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Lewis, currently a senior official at the German Marshall Fund, was a State Department diplomat during the Obama administration, and before that a Chamber of Commerce executive and private practice lawyer.
A supporter, Senator Sherrod Brown, D‑Ohio, called Lewis “the leader we need in the fight to help U.S. manufacturers compete globally.”
The vote was 56 yeas to 40 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
LEONARD STARK, U.S. FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS: The Senate on February 9th confirmed the nomination of Leonard Stark to serve as a judge on the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Stark, a U.S. district court judge in Delaware since 2010, was previously an assistant U.S attorney and private practice lawyer in the state. A supporter, Senator Dick Durbin, D‑Illinois, said of Stark: “His expertise in adjudicating patents combined with his experience hearing appeals will be an asset to the Federal Circuit and to our industrious, inventive nation.” The vote, on Feb. 9, was 61 yeas to 35 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
NEIL MACBRIDE, U.S. TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL: The Senate on February 9th confirmed the nomination of Neil MacBride to be the Treasury Department’s general counsel. MacBride was a Justice Department lawyer and U.S. attorney in Virginia during the Obama administration, and earlier was chief counsel to Senator Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The vote was 61 yeas to 33 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (1): Democratic Senator Ron Wyden Voting Nay (1): Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 5 aye votes, 1 nay vote
MAX VEKICH, MARITIME COMMISSIONER: The Senate on February 10th confirmed the nomination of Max Vekich to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission for a term ending in mid-2026. Vekich, a former Washington state legislator, has since 2004 been an official at Puget Sound port groups.
A supporter, Senator Maria Cantwell, D‑Washington, said Vekich had “spent his life working in the maritime industry and knows the challenges we face in maritime, intermodal transportation, congestion, and continuing to move forward on how we advance our ports.”
The vote was 51 yeas to 43 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
PROTECTING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT: Along with this week’s roll call votes, the Senate also passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445), which had passed the House in a roll call vote earlier in the week.
Key votes ahead
This week, the Senate will take up H.R. 3076 (the Postal Service Reform Act) and consider the nomination of Robert McKinnon to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services. The House of Representatives will be in recess, with no floor activity planned.
Editor’s Note: The information in NPI’s weekly How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted feature is provided by Targeted News Service. All rights are reserved. Reproduction of this post is not permitted, not even with attribution. Use the permanent link to this post to share it… thanks!
© 2022 Targeted News Service, LLC.