Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Friday, March 11th, 2022.
In the United States House of Representatives
DHS APPROPRIATIONS LEGISLATION: The House on March 9th passed an amendment to a bill (H.R. 2471), sponsored by Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries, D‑New York, to fund the Defense Department, Homeland Security Department, and associated military and national security programs in fiscal 2022. A supporter, Representative Kay Granger, R‑Texas, said the spending “provides our military and our troops with the resources they desperately need,” and “also ensures the safety and security of the American people by increasing overall funding for Homeland Security by 11 percent.” The vote was 361 yeas to 69 nays.
 | Voting Aye (2): Republican Representative Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher |
 | Voting Aye (4): Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader; Republican Representative Cliff Bentz Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer |
 | Voting Aye (9): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler, Dan Newhouse, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voting Nay (1): Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal |
Cascadia total: 15 aye votes, 2 nay votes
INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA’S FUTURE: The House on March 9th passed an amendment to a bill (H.R. 2471, above), sponsored by Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries, D‑New York, that would fund federal discretionary domestic programs in fiscal 2022, including an 11.8 percent increase in funding for the legislative branch and 6.7 percent overall increase in funding for non-defense programs.
A supporter, Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, D‑New York, called the funding an effort to “show just how government can work for working people once again and to achieve the betterment of humankind.” An opponent, Representative Chip Roy, R‑Texas, said it increased irresponsible spending while failing to solve the problem of security at the border with Mexico. The vote was 260 yeas to 171 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
STRICTER ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FOR DHS: The House on March 7th passed the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act (H.R. 5616), sponsored by Rep. Val Butler Demings, D‑Florida, to require the Homeland Security Department to send accreditation status reports on its training programs to Congressional oversight committees. Demings said stricter accreditation standards for new Homeland Security officers would “position them to effectively safeguard the American people, our homeland, and institutions.”
The vote was 390 yeas to 33 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
CYBERSECURITY PARTNERSHIPS: The House on March 7th passed the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act (S. 658), sponsored by Senator John Cornyn, R‑Texas, to authorize the Homeland Security Department to partner with private nonprofit groups on cybersecurity training efforts.
A supporter, Representative John Katko, R‑New York, said the bill “will help provide training, exercises, technical assistance, and other important resources to state and local governments, critical infrastructure, and industry partners.”
The vote was 403 yeas to 19 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
RECLASSIFYING ICE OFFICER UNIT: The House on March 8th passed the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681), sponsored by Representative John Katko, R‑New York, to reclassify a special unit of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (known as “shadow wolves”) working on Tohono O’odham Nation land in southern Arizona as special agents. Katko said the reclassification would improve pay for the shadow wolves and enable recruitment of new tribal members into the special unit. The vote was 387 yeas to 33 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
CONDEMNING VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK COLLEGES: The House on March 8th has passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 70), sponsored by Representative Alma S. Adams, D‑North Carolina, condemning violence against historically black colleges and universities. Adams called the resolution a needed response to “the recent despicable, cowardly bomb threats to more than thirty historically black colleges and universities.” The vote was unanimous with 418 yeas.
| 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 (8): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, and Marilyn Strickland; Republican Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse Not Voting (2): Democratic Representative Adam Smith; Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
Cascadia total: 15 aye votes, 2 not voting
BARRING FOSSIL FUEL IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA: The House on March 9th passed the Suspending Energy Imports From Russia Act (H.R. 6968), sponsored by Representative Lloyd Doggett, D‑Texas, to bar imports from Russia of natural gas, oil and petroleum products, and other energy resources.
Doggett said: “To take the energy out of Putin’s brutal assault, we place energy on our sanctions list. It may cost more to fill your tank, but we must work to stop Putin’s tanks from crushing families and freedom.”
An opponent, Representative Louie Gohmert, R‑Texas, said: “There is no way I could vote to exchange getting oil from Putin for getting oil from some other tyrant who wants to destroy America.” The vote was 414 yeas to 17 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
ADDITIONAL VOTE: Along with roll call votes this week, the House also passed the Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act (H.J. Res. 75), making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 2022.
In the United States Senate
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2022: The Senate on March 10th agreed to the House amendments to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2471), sponsored by Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries, D‑New York, that would fund public services and the United States military through the end of the current fiscal year.
A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑New York, called the legislation “the strongest, boldest, and most significant government funding package we have seen in a very long time.” The vote was 68 yeas to 31 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
PROHIBITING EARMARKED APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate on March 10th rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Mike Braun, R‑Indiana, to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2471, above) that would have barred funding for earmark spending on individual appropriations at the request of a member of Congress. Braun said the drafting of the spending bill just before it was sent to Congress meant there had been no time for legislators to review proposed earmark spending. An amendment opponent, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, D‑Vermont, said details about earmarked items had been publicly available on the Internet since summer 2021. The vote was 35 yeas to 64 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 aye votes, 4 nay votes
RELIEF AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE: The Senate on March 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.
A supporter, Senator Lisa Murkowski, R‑Alaska, said the bill sought to “give the Postal Service the tools that it needs to be successful and to fulfill its essential mission and to hold the USPS accountable for improved performance.”
An opponent, Senator Mike Lee, R‑Utah, said it failed to adequately improve the Postal Service’s finances while shifting the cost of providing retiree health benefits onto taxpayers. The vote was 79 yeas to 19 nays.
| Voting Nay (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 aye votes, 2 nay votes
MARIA PAGAN, DEPUTY U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: The Senate on March 10th confirmed the nomination of Maria L. Pagan to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Pagan, currently a legal official at the Trade Representative Office, has been a trade lawyer for the federal government since the 1990s. A supporter, Sen. Ron Wyden, D‑Oregon, said Pagan “is an expert on a host of issues from trade in services to government procurement, and she has litigated several disputes before the WTO.” The vote was 80 yeas to 19 nays.
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
| Voting Aye (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 aye votes
Key votes ahead
This week, the Senate will resume considering the nomination of Shalanda D. Young to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget and debate S.J. Res. 37, the Paul Public Transportation Mask Requirement Resolution of Disapproval. The Senate also plans to vote on the nomination of Susan Tsui Grundmann to be a member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years. The House of Representatives is slated to take up H.R. 963, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act of 2022 as well as H.R. 2116, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2021.
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