Good morning! Here’s how Cascadia’s Members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending April 21st, 2023.
In the United States House of Representatives
GENDER AND SCHOOL SPORTS: The House on April 20th passed the inappropriately-named “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” (H.R. 734), sponsored by Representative Gregory W. Steube, R‑Florida, to condition federal funding of school athletic programs on those schools not allowing people whose biological sex at birth is male to take part in female athletic programs.
Steube said the bill “preserves women’s sports and ensures fair competition for generations of women to come.” An opponent, Representative Mark Takano, D‑California, said: “Congress has no business targeting transgender women and girls and imposing a nationwide ban on their participation in school sports.”
The vote was 219 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 (2): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and 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 |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 12 nay votes
RESPONDING TO CHINESE SURVEILLANCE BALLOONS: The House on April 17th passed the Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act (H.R. 1151), sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D‑New York, to condemn China’s surveillance balloon flights over the U.S. since 2017 and have the State Department work with other countries to oppose such flights as invasions of sovereign territory. Meeks said of the flights: “Such a violation of international law and U.S. sovereignty will not be tolerated and must not happen again.” The vote was 405 yeas to 6 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
RESPONDING TO DRONE ATTACK BY RUSSIA: The House on April 17th passed a resolution (H. Res. 240), sponsored by Representative Brandon Williams, R‑New York, to condemn Russia’s recent destruction of a U.S. military drone said to have been flying in international airspace over the Black Sea.
Williams said the resolution would “reassure our allies that we are committed to defend ourselves and our friends, and together, we will ensure the peace through deterrence in unity.” The was unanimous with 410 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
FAILED VETO OVERRIDE OF WATERWAYS REGULATION: The House on April 18th failed to override President Biden’s veto of a resolution (H.J. Res. 27), sponsored by Representative Sam Graves, R‑Missouri., that would have voided an Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency rule issued this January that defines Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
Such waters would be subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. Graves said the rule favored “radical environmental activists over America’s families, small businesses, farmers, builders, and property owners.”
A resolution opponent, the Pacific Northwest’s own Representative Rick Larsen, D‑Washington, said: “This resolution represents a step backward for clean water, increases uncertainty for businesses, and doubles down on fighting and on chaos.” The vote was 227 yeas to 196 nays, with a two-thirds threshold required.
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 Representatives Dan Newhouse and 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 |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes, 11 nay votes, 1 not voting
OVERRIDING DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAWMAKING ON POLICE REFORM: The House on April 19th passed a bill (H.J. Res. 42), sponsored by Representative Andrew Clyde, R‑Georgia, to disapprove of and void the Washington, D.C., Council’s adoption of a law changing policing policies for D.C. police officers. Clyde said the action was necessary because “the D.C. Council’s misguided legislation has driven out men and women in blue who protect us, while disincentivizing individuals to join the force.”
An opponent, Representative Jamie Raskin, D‑Maryland, said the Council was only trying to “promote accountability for police officers who use excessive force or abuse their power, a goal that the vast majority of Americans share.”
The vote was 229 yeas to 189 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 (4): Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Democratic Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Kim Schrier Voting Nay (6): Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland |
Cascadia total: 8 yea votes, 10 nay votes
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY: The House on April 19th passed the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act (H.R. 1149), sponsored by Representative Susan Wild, D‑Pennsylvania, to require the State Department to assist telecommunications infrastructure installments that promote U.S. national security, and require other measures to address security risks from telecommunications. Wild said: “Securing these networks is imperative when it comes to national security and human rights, as well as for our economic security.” The vote was 410 yeas to 8 nays.
Voting Yea (1): Republican Representative Russ Fulcher Not Voting (1): Republican Representative 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: 17 yea votes, 1 not voting
In the United States Senate
FIRE GRANTS AND SAFETY ACT: The Senate on April 20th passed the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870), sponsored by Senator Gary C. Peters, D‑Michigan, to reauthorize through fiscal 2030 several federal firefighting and fire management programs. Peters said: “Fire departments depend on these programs to address staffing needs, replace outdated equipment, fund fire training and education programs, and invest in health screenings for firefighters in the line of duty.” The vote was 95 yeas to 2 nays.
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 6 yea votes
REJECTION OF RAND PAUL’S ANTI-VACCINE AMENDMENT: The Senate on April 18th rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R‑Kentucky, to the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870, above), that would have made grants to local fire departments contingent on those departments not having imposed COVID vaccination requirements on their employees.
Paul said: “Firemen and EMTs who chose not to be vaccinated were never a threat to anyone, never a threat to their communities. On the contrary, these firefighters served their communities bravely and made their neighbors safe.”
An opponent, Sen. Gary C. Peters, D‑Michigan, said: “This amendment would interfere with state and local governments’ ability to determine health policies for their own employees and how to best keep their communities safe.”
The vote was 45 yeas to 54 nays.
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Nay (2): |
Cascadia total: 2 yea votes, 4 nay votes
REJECTION OF RICK SCOTT’S COVID REDIRECTION FUNDS AMENDMENT: The Senate on April 18th rejected an amendment sponsored by Senator Rick Scott, R‑Florida, to the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870, above) that would have used unspent COVID relief funds to help cover the cost of the bill’s firefighting grants program. Scott said that given the more than $31 trillion of government indebtedness, it would be financially prudent to redirect unobligated funds to support firefighters, rather than add to deficit spending.
An amendment opponent, Senator Gary C. Peters, D‑Michigan, said: “Redistributing this funding could weaken our nation’s ability to continue responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and would pull funds from a program that is supporting our communities, families, and small businesses in important ways.” 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
RADHA IEYNGAR PLUMB, UNDERSECRETARY: The Senate on April 18th confirmed the nomination of Radha Iyengar Plumb to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Plumb, currently chief of staff to Defense’s deputy secretary, was formerly an executive at Google and at Facebook, and a national security staffer at several federal agencies.
The vote was 68 yeas to 30 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
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Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
AMY LEFKOWITZ SOLOMON, AAG: The Senate on April 18th confirmed the nomination of Amy Lefkowitz Solomon to be the Justice Department’s Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). A senior official at OJP since the start of the Biden administration, Solomon was in similar roles at OJP during the Obama administration as well. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D‑Ill., called Solomon “a devoted public servant whose policy expertise and commitment to the rule of law will serve the Justice Department and communities across America.” The vote, on April 18, was 59 yeas to 40 nays.
Voting Nay (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): | |
Voting Yea (2): |
Cascadia total: 4 yea votes, 2 nay votes
Key votes ahead
The House plans to take up a resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Commerce relating to “Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414” along with several other bills and resolutions, such as the Secure Space Act and the Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act.
The Senate will take up the nomination of Joshua David Jacobs, of Washington, to be Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It will also consider a motion relating to S.326, the legislative vehicle for a veterans package.
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