Archive : past votes

Posted 12-18-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Medical Research and Associated Activities
Vote Agreed to (94-5, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would reauthorize the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, and would modify the FDA's drug and medical device review and approval process to accelerate the approval and distribution of new drugs and devices. The measure would create three dedicated offset funds within the Treasury into which $6.3 billion would be transferred over 10 years, through 2026. The accounts would include $4.8 billion for NIH medical research, $500 million for FDA approval and review modification and $1 billion for opioid addiction treatment and response. Funding for the accounts would not count against annual discretionary budget caps. Within the NIH funding, $1.8 billion would be for cancer therapy and test development, $1.5 would be for brain-related research and $1.5 billion would be for medical treatments related to genetic characteristics. The measure would also expand the Health and Human Services Department's oversight of mental health issues, would modify the Medicare program for hospitals, and would allow small employers to provide certain reimbursement plans for employees to purchase their own health insurance. The House replaced the original text of HR 34 with an amendment that consisted of the medical research and expedited drug approval legislative provisions.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (92-7, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate adopted the conference report on the bill that would authorize $611.2 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2017, including $59.5 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. It would authorize $222.4 billion for operations and maintenance; $139.6 billion for military personnel; $7.9 billion for military construction and family housing; $10 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.4 billion for defense health care programs, including $334 million from the overseas operations account. It would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. The bill would authorize a 2.1 percent pay raise for military personnel. It would elevate U.S. Cyber Command to an independent major command within the Defense Department. It would prohibit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from being transferred to U.S. soil, and would prohibit the closing of the main base and detention facility at Guantanamo. It would extend, through fiscal 2017, the authority for several bonus and special payments for military members.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations
Vote Agreed to (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the original bill that would provide funding for federal government operations until April 28, 2017, at an annualized rate of $1.070 trillion. The measure would provide $170 million for repairs to the water system in Flint, Mich., $872 million for medical research, and $45 million for an extension, through April 30, 2017, of health benefits for retired coal miners. The measure would include $10.1 billion in supplemental Overseas Contingency Operations funds for the Defense Department and certain other security-related accounts. It would include $4.1 billion in natural disaster funding to address damage caused by hurricane and flooding events in 2016. The measure would also provide for expedited Senate consideration of legislation to waive the requirement that a former member of the armed forces cannot become secretary of Defense until seven years have lapsed since the person left active duty.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations
Vote Agreed to (63-36, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the original bill that would provide funding for federal government operations until April 28, 2017, at an annualized rate of $1.070 trillion. The measure would provide $170 million for repairs to the water system in Flint, Mich., $872 million for medical research, and $45 million for an extension, through April 30, 2017, of health benefits for retired coal miners. The measure would include $10.1 billion in supplemental Overseas Contingency Operations funds for the Defense Department and certain other security-related accounts. It would include $4.1 billion in natural disaster funding to address damage caused by hurricane and flooding events in 2016. The measure would also provide for expedited Senate consideration of legislation to waive the requirement that a former member of the armed forces cannot become secretary of Defense until seven years have lapsed since the person left active duty.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Water Infrastructure Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (69-30, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill that would authorize new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers, allow for the Corps to conduct feasibility studies for additional projects and deauthorize certain existing projects. It also would modify numerous Corps water resources authorities and seek to ensure that Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund spending levels are sustained.
It would authorize $170 million in aid to Flint, Mich., to repair its lead-contaminated drinking water system, including $100 million to replace its water pipes and other infrastructure, and it would establish several new programs to promote safe drinking water and reduce any concentrations of lead, as well as to test for lead in schools and child care centers.

The measure also would take several actions to help California deal with its years-long drought, including by requiring that more northern water be diverted south to drought-stricken areas.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Water Infrastructure Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (78-21, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill that would authorize new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers, allow for the Corps to conduct feasibility studies for additional projects and deauthorize certain existing projects. It also would modify numerous Corps water resources authorities and seek to ensure that Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund spending levels are sustained.

It would authorize $170 million in aid to Flint, Mich., to repair its lead-contaminated drinking water system, including $100 million to replace its water pipes and other infrastructure, and it would establish several new programs to promote safe drinking water and reduce any concentrations of lead, as well as to test for lead in schools and child care centers.

The measure also would take several actions to help California deal with its years-long drought, including by requiring that more northern water be diverted south to drought-stricken areas.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*International Insurance Standards
Vote Passed (239-170, 24 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would prohibit the United States from agreeing to any proposed international insurance standards until the government had publicly published the proposal, and would prohibit the adoption of any international insurance capital standards until the Federal Reserve had issued domestic capital standards for insurance companies. The measure also would specify objectives for U.S. officials negotiating international insurance standards, and would reduce, from $50 million to $43 million, the maximum amount of money that the Securities and Exchange Commission could deposit into its reserve fund during fiscal 2017.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations
Vote Passed (326-96, 11 Not Voting)

The House agreed to concur in the Senate amendment with an additional amendment that would provide funding for federal government operations until April 28, 2017, at an annualized rate of $1.070 trillion. The measure would provide $170 million for repairs to the water system in Flint, Mich., $872 million for medical research, and $45 million for an extension, through April 30, 2017, of health benefits for retired coal miners. The measure would include $10.1 billion in supplemental Overseas Contingency Operations funds for the Defense Department and certain other security-related accounts. It would include $4.1 billion in natural disaster funding to address damage caused by hurricane and flooding events in 2016. The measure would also provide for expedited Senate consideration of legislation to waive the requirement that a former member of the armed forces cannot become secretary of Defense until seven years have lapsed since the person left active duty. The House replaced the amended text of HR 2028 with an amendment that consisted of the continuing appropriations legislative provisions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Water Infrastructure Conference Report
Vote Passed (360-61, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure that would authorize new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers, allow for the Corps to conduct feasibility studies for additional projects and deauthorize certain existing projects. It also would modify numerous Corps water resources authorities and seek to ensure that Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund spending levels are sustained.

The measure also would take several actions to help California deal with its years-long drought, including by requiring that more northern water be diverted south to drought-stricken areas.
The House replaced the original text of S 612 with an amendment that consisted of the water infrastructure legislative provisions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 12-11-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Health Care Videoconferencing – Passage
Vote Passed (97-0, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed the bill that would require the Health and Human Services secretary to examine distance education models that use videoconferencing to connect medical specialists with multiple other health care professionals. The examination also would need to look at the models' impacts on: addressing chronic disease, mental disorders, palliative care and other types of care; health care workforce issues; implementing public health programs; and health care services in rural and underserved communities. The secretary would be required to submit a report to Congress based on this examination.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Medical Research and Associated Activities - Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Additional House Amendment
Vote Passed (392-26, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, and would modify the FDA's drug and medical device review and approval process to accelerate the approval and distribution of new drugs and devices. The measure would create three dedicated offset funds within the Treasury into which $6.3 billion would be transferred over 10 years, through 2026. The accounts would include $4.8 billion for NIH medical research, $500 million for FDA approval and review modification and $1 billion for opioid addiction treatment and response. Funding for the accounts would not count against annual discretionary budget caps. Within the NIH funding, $1.8 billion would be for cancer therapy and test development, $1.5 would be for brain-related research and $1.5 billion would be for medical treatments related to genetic characteristics. The measure would also expand the Health and Human Services Department's oversight of mental health issues, would modify the Medicare program for hospitals, and would allow small employers to provide certain reimbursement plans for employees to purchase their own health insurance. The House replaced the original text of HR 34 with an amendment that consisted of the medical research and expedited drug approval legislative provisions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES
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*Additional Committee Funding – Agreeing to Resolution
Vote Passed (234-181, 19 Not Voting)

The House agreed to the resolution that would allow the House Energy and Commerce Committee to spend an additional $800,000 in 2016 to cover expenses incurred by the committee's select panel investigating alleged sales of fetal tissue.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue.
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*Banking Regulations – Passage
Vote Passed (254-161, 19 Not Voting)

The House passed the bill that would modify the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law to eliminate the requirement that the Federal Reserve automatically review bank holding companies with assets greater than $50 billion. The measure would authorize the Financial Stability Oversight Council to require enhanced Federal Reserve supervision and regulation of any bank holding company based on the FSOC's determination of the individual institution's riskiness.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue.
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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization - Conference Report
Vote Passed (375-34, 25 Not Voting)

The House adopted the conference report on the bill that would authorize $611.2 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2017, including $59.5 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. It would authorize $222.4 billion for operations and maintenance; $139.6 billion for military personnel; $7.9 billion for military construction and family housing; $10 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.4 billion for defense health care programs, including $334 million from the overseas operations account. It would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. The bill would authorize a 2.1 percent pay raise for military personnel. It would elevate U.S. Cyber Command to an independent major command within the Defense Department. It would prohibit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from being transferred to U.S. soil, and would prohibit the closing of the main base and detention facility at Guantanamo. It would extend, through fiscal 2017, the authority for several bonus and special payments for military members.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue.

Posted 11-27-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Oil and Gas Royalties
Vote Rejected (51-47, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate voted on the McConnell motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would establish revenue sharing for states involved in energy production from onshore and offshore areas leased by the government. It also would incorporate revenues generated by offshore wind energy production projects. Sixty votes were needed to invoke cloture and end debate.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*"Midnight" Rules
Vote Passed (240-179, 15 Not Voting)

The bill would permit a new Congress to use the procedures under the Congressional Review Act to disapprove, en bloc, multiple regulations issued by a president in his final year in office rather than just a single regulation at a time for rules issued during the final 60 session days of the previous Congress.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Iranian Aircraft Purchases
Vote Passed (243-174, 17 Not Voting)

The measure, which combines two separately reported bills, would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from providing any export financing that would benefit the government of Iran or Iranian entities, and it would prohibit the Treasury Department from authorizing transactions by U.S. financial institutions to finance the export or re-export of commercial passenger aircraft to Iran. Under the measure, any prior Treasury authorizations for U.S. financing of commercial aircraft sales to Iran would be retroactively revoked.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 10-9-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Continuing Federal Government Funding, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations and Zika Funding – Cloture Motion on Substitute Amendment
Vote Rejected (45-55)

The Senate voted on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment to the original legislative branch appropriations bill. The substitute amendment would provide funding for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction and military housing for fiscal 2017. It would fund other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at 0.496 percent less than the fiscal 2016 levels, and would provide $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and $500 million for Community Development Block Grants to respond to major disasters. Sixty votes were needed for cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Continuing Federal Government Funding, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations and Zika Funding – Cloture Motion on the Bill
Vote Rejected (40-59, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate voted on the McConnell motion to invoke cloture on the original legislative branch bill whose text would have been replaced with a new bill that would have funded various government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at roughly 0.5 percent less than fiscal 2016 levels. Sixty votes were needed for cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism – Veto Override
Vote Not Sustained (97-1, 2 Not Voting)

The bill narrows the immunity of foreign states and their employees from U.S. lawsuits by victims of terrorist acts. U.S. courts could hear cases involving claims against a foreign state for death, damage or physical injury that occur inside the United States due to terrorism and acts of a foreign state or its employees.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Continuing Federal Government Funding, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations and Zika Funding – Reconsideration of Cloture Motion on Substitute Amendment
Vote Agreed to (77-21, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to reconsider the McConnell motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment to the original legislative branch appropriations bill. The substitute amendment would provide funding for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction and military housing for fiscal 2017. It would fund other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at 0.496 percent less than the fiscal 2016 levels, and would provide $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and $500 million for Community Development Block Grants to respond to major disasters. Sixty votes were needed for cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

The Senate voted on the McConnell motion to invoke cloture on the original legislative branch appropriations bill whose text was replaced with legislative language consisting of the continuing federal government funding resolution that funds other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at roughly 0.5 percent less than fiscal 2016 levels; provides $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus; and provides $500 million for the Community Development Block Grant program to respond to major disasters declared in 2016. It also provides for full-year fiscal 2017 funding for military construction and for programs and activities of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department. It appropriates a total of $185 billion for the VA and military construction, including $82.3 billion in discretionary spending subject to caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. Sixty votes were needed for cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

The Senate voted on legislation that funds other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at roughly 0.5 percent less than fiscal 2016 levels; provides $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus; and provides $500 million for the Community Development Block Grant program to respond to major disasters declared in 2016. It also provides for full-year fiscal 2017 funding for military construction and for programs and activities of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department. It appropriates a total of $185 billion for the VA and military construction, including $82.3 billion in discretionary spending subject to caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*CO-OP Consumer Protection – Passage
Vote Passed (258-165, 8 Not Voting)

The bill would temporarily exempt (through the end of a given year) individuals whose health care coverage is terminated by the closure of a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan from penalties set by the 2010 health care law. The bill's exemption would apply retroactively to any cancellation that occurred after Dec. 31, 2013, and would also apply to any future cancellations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism – Veto Override
Vote Passed (348-77, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES
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*Water Resource Development – Passage
Vote Passed (399-25, 7 Not Voting)

The bill would authorize 31 Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects, including navigation, flood control, environmental restoration and natural disaster damage projects. The bill also would deauthorize five projects and allows for the Corps to conduct feasibility studies for 29 possible projects. The bill, as amended, would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to provide additional assistance to any community in any state in which the president has declared an emergency as a result of the presence of chemical, physical or biological constituents, including lead or other contaminants in the water system, for the repair or replacement of public and private infrastructure, and would authorize the appropriation of $170 million for such assistance.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Continuing Federal Government Funding, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations and Zika Funding – Passage
Vote Passed (342-85, 5 Not Voting)

The bill is the vehicle for the continuing federal government funding resolution that funds other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at roughly 0.5 percent less than fiscal 2016 levels; provide $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus; and provide $500 million for the Community Development Block Grant program to respond to major disasters declared in 2016. It also provides for full-year fiscal 2017 funding for military construction and for programs and activities of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department. It appropriates a total of $185 billion for the VA and military construction, including $82.3 billion in discretionary spending subject to caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 10-2-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations – Cloture on Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (89-7, 4 Not Voting)

The bill appropriates $3.5 billion Legislative Branch bill for fiscal 2017, which covers the operations of the House, the Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol, Library of Congress and other agencies. The measure is expected to be the vehicle for the continuing resolution that would deal with broader veterans funding and emergency money needed to fight the spread of the Zika virus. Sixty votes were needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Prohibit Sales of Military Equipment to Saudi Arabia – Motion to Table
Vote Agreed to (71-27, 2 Not Voting)

The joint resolution prohibits a roughly $1 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, including well more than a hundred Abrams tanks.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Legal Challenges to Federal Rules
Vote Passed (244-180, 7 Not Voting)

The bill postpones, until all legal challenges are completed, the implementation of any new federal rule that would have an economic impact of $1 billion or more per year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Identify Assets of Top Iranians
Vote Passed (282-143, 6 Not Voting)

The bill requires the Treasury secretary to compile and submit to Congress a report detailing the known assets of Iran's top political and military leaders, how those assets were acquired and for what purposes the assets were used.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

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*Defer Taxing Stock Options for Startups
Vote Passed (287-124, 20 Not Voting)

The bill allows employee stockholders in certain startup businesses to defer income taxes on stock options for up to seven years, when they are more likely to have the funds to make the tax payments.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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Bar Ransom Payments for Hostages
Vote Passed (254-163, 14 Not Voting)

The bill specifies that it is the policy of the U.S. government not to pay ransom or release prisoners for the purpose of securing the release of U.S. citizens taken hostage abroad, and it generally prohibits the U.S. government from providing to the government of Iran, either directly or indirectly, any cash or other promissory note. It requires the administration to obtain a Treasury foreign assets license before settling any pending financial claims with Iran, and to publicly disclose each such transaction and payment.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 9-25-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Water Resources Development – Motion to Invoke Cloture
Vote Agreed to (94-3, 3 Not Voting)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill which authorizes $10.6 billion in funding for more than 30 Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects under the current law (PL 113-121), including waterways and flood control systems, as well as Environmental Protection Agency drinking water infrastructure programs. The measure authorizes $220 million in recovery assistance, specifically $100 million for water infrastructure improvements available to "states with emergency drinking water situations" via state revolving fund loans; $70 million in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act credit subsidies; and $50 million in health screening and education grants. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Water Resources Development - Passage
Vote Passed (95-3, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed legislation which authorizes $10.6 billion in funding for more than 30 Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects under the current law (PL 113-121), including waterways and flood control systems, as well as Environmental Protection Agency drinking water infrastructure programs. The measure also authorizes $220 million in recovery assistance, specifically $100 million for water infrastructure improvements available to "states with emergency drinking water situations" via state revolving fund loans; $70 million in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act credit subsidies; and $50 million in health screening and education grants.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Health Expenses Tax Deductions
Vote Passed (261-147, 23 Not Voting)

The legislation repeals the increases in the threshold at which individuals may begin deducting unreimbursed medical expenses from their income as set by the 2010 health care law, thereby rolling the threshold back to 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income for all taxpayers and preventing the threshold from increasing to 10 percent for senior citizens. Under the measure, the medical deduction threshold reverts to 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income beginning with the current 2016 tax year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Disclose Agency Rule-Making Communications
Vote Passed (250-171, 10 Not Voting)

The legislation requires each federal agency to maintain an online searchable list of its regulatory actions and all public communications it makes regarding those regulatory actions. It also prohibits agencies from soliciting support for, or promoting, its regulatory actions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Veterans Affairs Department Accountability
Vote Passed (310-116, 5 Not Voting)

The bill expands the ability of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to fire or demote VA employees based on performance or misconduct, and it overhauls the VA's current disability appeals process by giving veterans the choice of three "lanes" for appeal when dissatisfied with an initial VA benefits decision. It also includes provisions to protect VA whistleblowers against retaliation by supervisors, authorizes the VA to recoup employee bonuses and relocation expenses, allows the VA to reduce Senior Executive Service (SES) employees' pensions upon conviction of certain felonies, streamlines disciplinary actions for SES employees and eliminates all bonuses for SES employees for five years.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

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*Prohibit Guantanamo Transfers
Vote Passed (244-174, 13 Not Voting)

The measure prohibits the Defense Department from transferring or releasing any detainee from the detention facility at the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the United States, its territories or possessions, or to any foreign country or entity. The blanket prohibition would end on Jan. 21, 2017, or earlier once a Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2017 is enacted.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 9-19-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Conference Report – Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report
Vote Rejected (52-46, 2 Not Voting)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the conference report on the bill which would provide $1.1 billion in supplemental funding for the government to prepare for and respond to the public health threat posed by the Zika virus, and it would provide a total of $185 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction in fiscal 2017 — including $82.5 billion in discretionary spending subject to the budget caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. The Zika funding would include $933 million in domestic funding and $175 million for international activities, with approximately $750 million of the total being offset through rescissions to Ebola, Affordable Care Act, and other Health and Human Services Department funding. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations – Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill
Vote Rejected (55-43, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide billions in discretionary defense spending for the Defense Department. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Prevent Government Settlement Donations to 3rd Parties – Passage
Vote Passed (241-174, 16 Not Voting)

The measure prohibits settlement agreements involving the U.S. government from requiring the other party to make a donation to a third party. The bill's prohibition would not apply if the payment is for restitution to affected parties or remedies actual harm. Under the measure, the prohibition applies only to settlement agreements reached after the bill's enactment.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Ease Stock Listing Requirements for Certain Small Firms – Passage
Vote Passed (236-178, 17 Not Voting)

The bill expands the range of companies that can use Form S-3 to register securities sales, exempts the sale of certain securities from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state regulatory agencies and requires the SEC to revise Regulation D (Reg D) with the goal of loosening restrictions and filing requirements under existing Rule 506 exemptions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Loosen Private Equity Fund Requirements – Passage
Vote Passed (261-145, 25 Not Voting)

The legislation reduces reporting and other requirements effectively placed on private equity funds by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act (PL 111-203), including by eliminating requirements that such funds report annually on their investments and activities and be subject to unannounced, independent annual audits. It also modifies existing requirements under the Investment Advisers Act regarding the relationship between investment fund managers and their investors under the act to largely exempt private equity funds, including by loosening current restrictions on advertising and expanding the circumstances under which funds do not have to notify investors when there is a change in ownership or control.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 7-24-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Opioid Programs – Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (90-2, 8 Not Voting)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the conference report on the bill that contains numerous provisions to combat increasing rates of opioid drug abuse, including through modifications to prescribing and pain management practices, by creating or modifying programs to expand access to treatment, particularly access to opioid overdose reversal drugs or medication-assisted treatment that eases withdrawal symptoms, and by establishing or strengthening specific programs for vulnerable groups such as drug-addicted infants. It also requires the Veterans Affairs Department to take several actions to better manage and track the use of opioids by veterans.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – Motion to Concur in the House Amendments to the Senate Amendments to the Bill
Vote Agreed to (89-4, 7 Not Voting)

The bill extends the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization through September 2017. It also includes language that would require the FAA to check on security practices in overseas airports that service direct flights to the United States.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Opioid Programs – Agreeing to the Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (92-2, 6 Not Voting)

The conference report on the bill contains numerous provisions to combat increasing rates of opioid drug abuse, including through modifications to prescribing and pain management practices, by creating or modifying programs to expand access to treatment, particularly access to opioid overdose reversal drugs or medication-assisted treatment that eases withdrawal symptoms, and by establishing or strengthening specific programs for vulnerable groups such as drug-addicted infants. It also requires the Veterans Affairs Department to take several actions to better manage and track the use of opioids by veterans.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations – Reconsideration of Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill
Vote Rejected (55-42, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide billions in discretionary defense spending for the Defense Department.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Conference Report – Reconsideration of Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Conference Report
Vote Rejected (52-44, 4 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Judicial Deference in Rule-Making – Passage
Vote Passed (240-171, 22 Not Voting)

The bill effectively overturns two Supreme Court decisions that require courts to give substantial deference to an agency’s interpretation of the law it is implementing and to its own interpretation of regulations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Prohibit Purchase of Heavy Water from Iran – Passage
Vote Passed (249-176, 8 Not Voting)

The bill prohibits federal funds from being used to purchase heavy water (a byproduct of nuclear fuel processing) from Iran, or to issue licenses to purchase heavy water.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Abortion Conscience Rights – Passage
Vote Passed (245-182, 6 Not Voting)

The bill prohibits the federal government, as well as state and local governments, from penalizing, retaliating against or otherwise discriminating against a health care provider because the provider does not provide or sponsor abortion coverage. It provides for a complaint process and civil actions for any violations through the Health and Human Services and Justice departments.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Labeling Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms in Foods – Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to the Bill
Vote Passed (306-117, 10 Not Voting)

The bill establishes the nation's first mandatory requirements for food companies to label genetically modified food products. The measure directs the Agriculture Department to create within two years regulations for determining which foods qualify for labeling as genetically modified. The proposal offers food companies the option of on-label disclosure, the use of a symbol developed by the Agriculture Department or electronic bar codes that consumers can scan with their smart phones.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Iran Sanctions – Passage
Vote Passed (246-179, 8 Not Voting)

The bill generally expands and strengthens existing sanctions against Iran related to its ballistic-missile program, support for international terrorism and its ongoing record of human rights abuses against its own population. Specifically, the measure requires that the president apply terrorism sanctions to the Revolutionary Guards within 120 days of enactment, rather than giving him the discretion available under current law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Fiscal 2017 Interior Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (231-196, 6 Not Voting)

The measure provides a total of $32.1 billion in net discretionary spending subject to budget caps. It increases funding for the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service but cuts funding for EPA, the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Surface Mining and the Fish and Wildlife Service. It includes numerous policy provisions including those to prohibit EPA from limiting greenhouse gas emissions for new and existing power plants, limits methane emissions from the oil and gas industry and regulates air emissions from offshore operations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Bar Iran from U.S. Financial System – Passage
Vote Passed (246-181, 6 Not Voting)

The bill codifies existing regulations that prohibit the administration from allowing the U.S. dollar to be used to facilitate trade transactions with Iran, and it upholds Iran's designation as a "primary money-laundering concern." The prohibition covers direct dollar transactions and "work-arounds," including dollar-clearing, dollar-based conversions and dollar-related foreign currency transactions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 7-17-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*"Sanctuary Cities" – Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill
Vote Rejected (53-44, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would punish local jurisdictions that decline to comply with federal immigration laws by denying them federal funding.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Increase Prison Sentences for Undocumented Criminals – Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill
Vote Rejected (55-42, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would increase prison sentences for undocumented criminals who re-enter the United States multiple times. Specifically, it would set a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for immigrants with felony convictions or caught illegally crossing the border two or more times, and a 10-year maximum sentence on immigrants caught re-entering the U.S. three times.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Labeling Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms in Foods – Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Bill with an Additional Amendment
Vote Agreed to (65-32, 3 Not Voting)

The chamber agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill with an additional amendment that establishes the nation's first mandatory requirements for food companies to label genetically modified food products. The measure directs the Agriculture Department to create within two years regulations for determining which foods qualify for labeling as genetically modified. The proposal offers food companies the option of on-label disclosure, the use of a symbol developed by the Agriculture Department or electronic bar codes that consumers can scan with their smart phones.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Labeling Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms in Foods – Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Bill with an Additional Amendment
Vote Agreed to (63-30, 7 Not Voting)

The chamber agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill with an additional amendment that establishes the nation's first mandatory requirements for food companies to label genetically modified food products. The measure directs the Agriculture Department to create within two years regulations for determining which foods qualify for labeling as genetically modified. The proposal offers food companies the option of on-label disclosure, the use of a symbol developed by the Agriculture Department or electronic bar codes that consumers can scan with their smart phones.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations – Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Bill
Vote Rejected (50-44, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide billions in discretionary defense spending for the Defense Department.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Health Savings Accounts – Passage
Vote Passed (241-181, 11 Not Voting)

The chamber passed legislation which modifies several rules related to health savings accounts (HSAs) including by nearly doubling the maximum contribution limit and allows certain couples to divide up their combined catch-up contributions among either of their HSAs. It also repeals a rule under the 2010 health care law that made over-the-counter medications ineligible for coverage under HSAs and other health-related accounts.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Fiscal 2017 Financial Services Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (239-185, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill which provides a total of $21.7 billion in discretionary funding subject to budget caps. The measure appropriates $11 billion for the IRS, $1.6 billion for the Securities and Exchange Commission and $7.4 billion for the operation of the federal court system, including salaries of judges, magistrates, support personnel and other expenses of the federal judiciary. The legislation also appropriates $692 million for the Executive Office of the President and provides a total of $725 million for federal payments to the District of Columbia.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Opioid Programs – Agreeing to the Conference Report
Vote Passed (407-5, 21 Not Voting)

The chamber agreed to the conference report on the bill which contains numerous provisions to combat increasing rates of opioid drug abuse, including through modifications to prescribing and pain management practices, by creating or modifying programs to expand access to treatment, particularly access to opioid overdose reversal drugs or medication-assisted treatment that eases withdrawal symptoms, and by establishing or strengthening specific programs for vulnerable groups such as drug-addicted infants. It also requires the Veterans Affairs Department to take several actions to better manage and track the use of opioids by veterans.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 7-4-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Cloture on National Instant Criminal Background Check System Amendment
Vote Rejected (53-47)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the on the McConnell, R-Ky., for Grassley, R-Iowa, amendment to the instructions on the McConnell motion to commit, that reauthorizes the National Instant Criminal Background Check System at $125 million annually through fiscal 2020, audits the program and makes federal court information available for the purposes of the program. The underlying bill would fund the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Cloture on Background Checks for All Firearm Sales Amendment
Vote Rejected (44-56)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to commit the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee with instructions to report back forthright with McConnell for Murphy, D-Conn., amendment that requires that a background check be conducted for every firearm sale and requires federal agencies to certify that they have submitted pertinent information for the purpose of background checks. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Cloture on Firearms Transfers and Suspicion of Being a Terrorist Amendment
Vote Rejected (53-47)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McConnell, R-Ky., for Cornyn, R-Texas, amendment to the McConnell, R-Ky., for Feinstein, D-Calif., amendment that requires law enforcement to be notified of any request to transfer a firearm to a person who is, or who has been within five preceding years, investigated on suspicion of being a terrorist, and authorizes the attorney general to delay firearms transfers for such individuals for up to three business days, allowing for the filing of an emergency petition in court to stop the transfer. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Cloture on Firearm Transfer Denial and Reasonable Suspicion of an Individual’s Ties to Terrorism Amendment
Vote Rejected (47-53)

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McConnell, R-Ky., for Feinstein, D-Calif., amendment that authorizes the attorney general to deny the transfer of a firearm to an individual that represents a threat to public safety based on reasonable suspicion that the individual has ties to terrorism. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017. Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Motion to Table on Background Checks for All Firearm Sales Amendment
Vote Agreed to (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

Motion to table the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to commit the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee with instructions to report back forthright with McConnell for Murphy, D-Conn., amendment that requires that a background check be conducted for every firearm sale and requires federal agencies to certify that they have submitted pertinent information for the purpose of background checks. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Motion to Table on "No Fly" or "Selectee" Lists Amendment
Vote Rejected (46-52, 2 Not Voting)

Motion to table the motion to commit the bill to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to report back to the Senate forthwith with the McConnell, R-Ky., for Collins, R-Maine, amendment that authorizes the Attorney General to deny the transfer of a firearm to an individual that appears on the "no fly list" or the "selectee list," notifies law enforcement officials if an individual that has appeared on the Terrorist Screening Database within the last five years has requested a firearm transfer, and allows for an individual denied a firearm to petition the decision in a U.S. or state court of appeals. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

Motion to table the McConnell, R-Ky., for Johnson, R-Wis., amendment to the motion to commit the bill to the Judiciary Committee, that allows for the attorney general to block a gun transfer to an individual that is on the "no fly" or "selectee list," if there is a reasonable basis to believe, based on specific information and evidence, that the individual is in some way related to terrorism, notifies law enforcement officials if an individual that has appeared on the Terrorist Screening Database within the last five years has requested a firearm transfer, and allows for an expedited review for a petition on the denial of the transfer that requires a reasonable basis based on specific and articulate information and credible evidence that the transferee is or has been engaged with terrorism in order to uphold the block on the transfer. The bill funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies at a total of $56.3 billion for fiscal 2017.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Veto Override on Fiduciary Rule – Passage
Vote Failed (239-180, 15 Not Voting)

The House voted on overriding the president's veto of legislation that disapproved of the Labor Department's fiduciary rule. The resolution disapproved the rule issued by the Labor Department on April 8, 2016, commonly known as the fiduciary rule on retirement investment advice, that subjects broker-dealers who oversee retirement investments to the fiduciary standard under which they must provide investment advice that is in the best interest of the investor "without regard to the financial or other interests" of the financial institution, adviser or other party. A two-thirds vote of both chambers is needed to override a veto.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Fiscal 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Conference Report – Adoption
Vote Passed (239-171, 24 Not Voting)

The conference report on the bill provides $1.1 billion in supplemental funding for the government to prepare for and respond to the public health threat posed by the Zika virus, and it provides a total of $185 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction in fiscal 2017 — including $82.5 billion in discretionary spending subject to the budget caps, $102.5 billion in mandatory spending and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. The Zika funding includes $933 million in domestic funding and $175 million for international activities, with approximately $750 million of the total being offset through rescissions to Ebola, Affordable Care Act, and other Health and Human Services Department funding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 6-26-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (85-13, 2 Not Voting)

The bill authorizes $602.2 billion for discretionary defense spending in fiscal 2017, including $59 billion for operations overseas. It allows the Defense Department to plan and design a stateside facility to one day house the detainees currently held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. However, it keeps existing prohibitions on Guantanamo’s closure, including blocking any funds authorized in the bill to be used for actually constructing a stateside replacement. The bill requires women to register for the draft, starting Jan. 1, 2018, and creates a commission to examine whether the Selective Service is still needed.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations – Cloture on Motion to Proceed to Bill
Vote Agreed to (94-3, 3 Not Voting)

The legislation would fund the Commerce and Justice departments and NASA. It also would include language that would prevent the administration from spending money to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States or find places to house them here.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*IRS and Free Speech – Passage
Vote Passed (240-182, 12 Not Voting)

The bill prohibits the Treasury Department from requiring that the identity of most contributors to 501(c) tax-exempt organizations be included in annual returns, regardless of the size of the contribution — a restriction that would apply to donors to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (282-138, 14 Not Voting)

The measure provides $575.7 billion in discretionary defense spending, including $517.1 billion subject to spending caps for fiscal 2017 and $58.6 billion in uncapped Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 6-19-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Cloture on Additional Domestic Issues Money Amendment
Vote Rejected (43-55, 2 Not Voting)

The amendment would have increased funding levels for domestic issues by $18 billion above and beyond the current levels specified by the 2015 budget agreement. Sixty votes were needed to end debate on the amendment.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Cloture on Additional Defense Money Amendment
Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

The amendment would have redirected $18 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding to go to authorizations above and beyond the current levels specified by the 2015 budget agreement. Sixty votes were needed to end debate on the amendment.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

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*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Cloture on the Bill
Vote Agreed to (68-23, 9 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted Not Voting
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

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*Ozone Standards – Passage
Vote Passed (234-177, 22 Not Voting)

The measure extends for eight years EPA's deadlines for implementing its new air pollution standards for ground-level ozone so they wouldn't have to be implemented until 2025, rather than 2017, and it modifies the general process by which EPA develops National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and other pollutants, including by requiring reviews of pollutant standards every 10 years rather than every five years.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
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*Puerto Rico Aid – Passage
Vote Passed (297-127, 11 Not Voting)

The bill establishes entities and procedures for Puerto Rico to address its current fiscal crisis, including creation of a financial oversight board to oversee and manage the finances of the U.S. territory and a process under which the island's outstanding debt could be restructured.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES
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*Fiscal 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (233-175, 26 Not Voting)

The bill provides a total of $3.5 billion for operations of the House of Representatives, joint House-Senate items and legislative branch entities such as the Library of Congress, the Capitol Police, Government Accountability Office and Government Publishing Office. It continues to freeze the pay of lawmakers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 6-5-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Congressional Disapproval of Labor Department Rule on the Term "Fiduciary" – Passage
Vote Passed (56-41, 3 Not Voting)

The resolution of disapproval nullifies an Agriculture Department inspection program of domestic and foreign catfish. The joint resolution targets a rule that took effect March 1, 2016, and completed the shifting of responsibility for catfish inspections from the Food and Drug Administration to the Agriculture Department.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Congressional Disapproval of Agriculture Department Rule on Catfish – Passage
Vote Passed (55-43, 2 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Cloture on the Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Zika Vector Control – Passage
Vote Passed (258-156, 19 Not Voting)

The bill temporarily modifies the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to prohibit the EPA or a state government from requiring a permit for the use of registered pesticides near navigable waters. It also temporarily alters the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the EPA and states from requiring permits for the point source use of a pesticide, or the residue resulting from the use of a pesticide, that is registered under FIFRA.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for District of Columbia Home Rule – Passage
Vote Passed (240-179, 14 Not Voting)

The measure repeals the District of Columbia law that modified D.C.'s home rule charter to allow locally generated funds to be spent without congressional approval, and it modifies the 1973 D.C. Home Rule Act to further specify that all city funding is subject to Congress' annually appropriations process. It also alters the 1973 law to specify that the District has no authority to change the District's budget process as it relates to congressional review and approval.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Energy Policy Overhaul – Passage
Vote Passed (241-178, 14 Not Voting)

The bill includes all or parts of 37 House-passed measures including legislation that promote the accelerated development and construction of natural gas pipelines and hydropower projects by increasing the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, require the agency to set hard deadlines for environmental reviews and permitting, and require the designation of at least 10 corridors across federal lands in the Eastern U.S. where pipelines could be built.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Federal Contractors and Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Vote Agreed to (223-195, 15 Not Voting)

The amendment bars federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation. However, the amendment could not violate certain portions of the Constitution.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Passage
Vote Failed (112-305, 16 Not Voting)

The bill provides a total of $37.4 billion in funding subject to discretionary caps for fiscal 2017 for the Energy Department and federal water projects. The bill appropriates $6.1 billion in new funding for civil projects of the Army Corps of Engineers. It provides $12.9 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration and almost $6.2 billion for environmental management activities. It also bars the use of funds in the bill to close the Yucca Mountain license application, or to irrevocably remove Yucca Mountain as an option for repository.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 5-29-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Fiscal 2017 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (90-8, 2 Not Voting)

The military construction and veterans part of the bill would provide a total $177.4 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding for the VA, including increases for health care, benefit claims processing, medical and prosthetic research and homeless veterans assistance. The transportation section of the bill would provide $56.5 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2017 for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related agencies. The overall measure also provides $1.1 billion in emergency funds to combat the Zika virus.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Fiscal 2017 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations – Zika Funding
Vote Agreed to (68-30, 2 Not Voting)

The second-degree amendment to the substitute amendment provides $1.1 billion in emergency funds to combat the Zika virus.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Fiscal 2017 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations – Cloture on the Substitute Amendment
Vote Agreed to (88-10, 2 Not Voting)

The substitute amendment provides a total $177.4 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding in the military construction and veterans part of the bill for the VA, including increases for health care, benefit claims processing, medical and prosthetic research and homeless veterans assistance. The amendment also funds the transportation section of the bill with $56.5 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2017 for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related agencies. It also provides $1.1 billion in emergency funds to deal with the Zika virus.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Fiscal 2016 Zika Response Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (241-184, 8 Not Voting)

The bill provides $622 million in supplemental funds to activities to deal with the Zika virus including $503 million in domestic funding and $119 million in international funding — with the cost of that funding being fully offset. The measure rescinds $352 million originally allocated to fight the Ebola virus along with rescinding $270 million in Department of Health and Human Services administrative funding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (277-147, 9 Not Voting)

The bill authorizes $602.2 billion for discretionary defense spending in fiscal 2017, including $543.4 billion for the Pentagon's base, non-war budget that is subject to spending caps. It also includes $58.8 billion for uncapped Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding for war operations and other anti-terror activities but provides that $23.1 billion of that total be used for non-war, base defense budget needs, including $18 billion for aircraft, ships and other items.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Military-Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations – Federal Contractors and Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Vote Failed (212-213, 8 Not Voting)

The amendment would have barred federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Military-Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (295-129, 9 Not Voting)

The measure provides a total of $81.5 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2017 to fund military construction projects and programs of the Veterans Affairs Department and provides $102.5 billion in mandatory spending for fiscal 2017 and $172 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 5-22-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Cloture to the Substitute Amendment

Vote Rejected (50-42, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected the McConnell, R-Ky. motion to invoke cloture on the Alexander, R-Tenn. substitute amendment that would provide $37.5 billion in fiscal 2017 for various items including $6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $5.4 billion for Department of Energy science research and $12.9 billion for the Department’s nuclear security programs.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Cloture to the Substitute Amendment

Vote Agreed to (97-2, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the McConnell, R-Ky. motion to invoke cloture on the Alexander, R-Tenn. substitute amendment that would provide $37.5 billion in fiscal 2017 for various items including $6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $5.4 billion for Department of Energy science research and $12.9 billion for the Department’s nuclear security programs.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Passage

Vote Passed (90-8, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a measure that would provide $37.5 billion in fiscal 2017 for various items including $6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $5.4 billion for Department of Energy science research and $12.9 billion for the Department’s nuclear security programs.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force – Passage

Vote Passed (412-4, 17 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that establishes a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force to review, modify and update medical best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction – Passage

Vote Passed (413-5, 15 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a measure that creates two new grant programs in the Justice Department to assist in combating opioid abuse: one to state, local and tribal governments that could be used for a variety of opioid abuse reduction programs and activities and one to assist veterans suffering from opioid abuse.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Comprehensive Anti-Opioid Efforts – House Amendment to the Senate-Passed Bill

Vote Passed (400-5, 28 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation, as amended, that includes 18 bills previously passed by the chamber. Among other items, it establishes two grant programs to create state systems under which physicians and others who prescribe opioids to patients would at the same time prescribe opioid overdose reversal drugs to those patients thought to be at an elevated risk of overdose. It also creates a grant program to create state systems under which trained pharmacists may dispense reversal drugs to opioid users or families of those at risk of an overdose and authorizes $5 million through fiscal 2019 for those grants.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 5-8-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Army Corps of Engineers
Vote Rejected (12-84, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected an amendment by Flake, R-Ariz., to the Alexander, R-Tenn., substitute amendment that would eliminate $69 million from the Army Corps of Engineering construction account.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Cloture to the Substitute Amendment
Vote Rejected (50-46, 4 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Reconsideration of Cloture to the Substitute Amendment
Vote Rejected (52-43, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a reconsideration of the McConnell, R-Ky. motion to invoke cloture on the Alexander, R-Tenn. substitute amendment that would provide $37.5 billion in fiscal 2017 for various items including $6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $5.4 billion for Department of Energy science research and $12.9 billion for the Department's nuclear security programs. Sixty votes were needed to invoke cloture and end debate.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Private Market Investors – Passage
Vote Passed (325-89, 19 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that expands the circumstances under which events where businesses offer unregistered securities in the private market would not be considered "general solicitations" that otherwise require the issuer to verify that the individuals attending the events are accredited investors.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Block Fiduciary Rule – Passage
Vote Passed (234-183, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed joint resolution that disapproves the rule issued by the Labor Department on April 8, 2016, commonly known as the fiduciary rule on retirement investment advice, that subjects broker-dealers who oversee such investments to the fiduciary standard and stipulates what types of activities and communications would give rise to fiduciary investment advice responsibilities.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Washington D.C. School Vouchers – Passage
Vote Passed (224-181, 28 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a measure that reauthorizes for five years, through fiscal 2021, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results program, under which federal funding is provided to eligible students in Washington, D.C., to allow them to attend private schools, and modifies the program to provide for greater student participation and mandates greater accountability by the private schools that participate in the program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue

posted 5-1-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (95-3, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a measure which authorizes $33.1 billion in funding for FAA programs through fiscal 2017, including those related to unmanned aircraft, equipment certification, and aircraft control system technology.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Energy Policy – Passage
Vote Passed (85-12, 3 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a bill which streamlines the permitting for liquefied natural gas exports, mandates improvements to the electric grid's reliability and security, raises energy efficiency standards for commercial and federal buildings, and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Eliminate Funding for Various Commissions
Vote Rejected (25-71, 4 Not Voting)

The chamber rejected an amendment by Joni Ernst, R-Neb., that would have cut $200 million from a number of joint state-federal commissions that promote economic development, infrastructure improvements and job training across four regions of the country.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program
Vote Rejected (48-49, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected an amendment by Dan Coats, R-Ind., that would have limited the use of the Department of EnergyÂ's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program. The vote was subject to a 60-vote threshold.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*IRS Hiring – Passage
Vote Passed (254-170, 9 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a measure which prohibits the IRS from hiring any new employees until the Treasury Department certifies that no IRS worker has serious tax delinquencies. The measure defines such delinquency as an outstanding debt under the Internal Revenue Code for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*IRS Oversight and User Fees - Passage
Vote Passed (245-179, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill which makes Internal Revenue Service spending of the user fees it collects subject to the annual appropriations process, thereby blocking the IRS from spending collected user fees unless Congress provides for such spending in appropriations acts. This restriction would apply to all IRS user fees collected after the date of enactment.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Bar IRS from Rehiring Certain Employees – Passage
Vote Passed (260-158, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure which prohibits the IRS from rehiring former employees who were previously removed or terminated for misconduct. It would apply with respect to any IRS employee removed at any time (before, on or after the date of enactment.)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 4-24-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization ? Cloture on Substitute Amendment

Vote Agreed to (94-4, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the Thune, R-S.D. substitute amendment to an unrelated bill (HR 636) consisting of three bills that would reduce taxes on small businesses. The substitute amendment would authorize $33.1 billion in funding for FAA programs through fiscal year 2017, including those related to unmanned aircraft, equipment certification, and aircraft control system technology. Sixty votes were required to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Financial Stability Oversight Council Overhaul ? Passage

Vote Passed (239-179, 15 Not Voting)

The bill modifies the funding of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Office of Financial Research by making that funding subject to the annual appropriations process, beginning in fiscal 2017. The annual assessments made on bank holding companies and designated nonbank institutions to raise funding to finance the two entities would continue.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*More Banks Operating Under the Federal Reserve?s Small Bank Holding Company Policy ? Passage

Vote Passed (247-171, 15 Not Voting)

The measure requires the Federal Reserve Board to modify its Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement to allow bank and thrift holding companies with assets of up to $5 billion to operate under the policy, up from the current limit of $1 billion.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Broadband Internet Access Regulation ? Passage

Vote Passed (241-173, 19 Not Voting)

The measure prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the rates that Internet service providers may charge for broadband Internet service.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 4-17-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*(Trade Secret Theft – Passage
Vote Passed (87-0, 13 Not Voting)

The Senate passed legislation, as amended, that allows the owner of a trade secret that is misappropriated to bring a civil action if the trade secret is related to interstate or foreign commerce.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – Cloture on Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to an unrelated bill (HR 636) consisting of three bills that would reduce taxes on small businesses. The chamber is expected to amend it with language that would authorize $33.1 billion in funding for FAA programs through fiscal 2017, including those related to unmanned aircraft, equipment certification, and aircraft control system technology. Sixty votes were required to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – Passenger Seat Sizes
Vote Rejected (42-54, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected an amendment that would require the FAA Administrator to prohibit air carriers from reducing the size of seats on passenger aircraft.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

posted 3-27-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*King Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (49-40, 11 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed the nomination of John B. King, Jr. to be secretary of Education.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Genetically Modified Organism Food Labeling – Cloture
Vote Rejected (48-49, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to an unrelated bill (S 764) with a Senate amendment containing the genetically modified organism food labeling measure. The amendment would have blocked state and local labeling requirements for genetically engineered food and seeds. It also would have required the Agriculture Department to establish a national voluntary labeling standard for bioengineered foods, and later would have required the department to issue a mandatory standard if there is not at least "70 percent substantial participation" in voluntary labeling. Sixty votes were required to invoke cloture.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Air Pollution – Passage
Vote Passed (231-183, 19 Not Voting)

The measure establishes separate standards under which electricity-generating power plants that primarily use waste coal as a fuel source could comply with EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, by blocking reductions in emissions allowances for sulfur dioxide as it relates to the rule and by setting an alternative standard for sulfur dioxide under the rule.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Small Business Broadband Deployment – Passage
Vote Passed (411-0, 22 Not Voting)

The bill exempts, for a period of five years after enactment, small-business broadband Internet access providers that have 250,000 or fewer subscribers from the enhanced disclosure requirements of the Federal Communications Commission 2015 net neutrality rule.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Authorize House Amicus Brief for Supreme Court Immigration Case – Adoption
Vote Passed (234-186, 14 Not Voting)

The measure authorizes the Speaker of the House to file as amicus curiae in the Supreme Court on behalf of the House of Representatives regarding the case United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., in support of the position that the Obama administration in that immigration case acted in a manner that is inconsistent with its duties under the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 3-13-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Opioid Abuse – Anti-Kickback Penalties
Vote Rejected (46-50, 4 Not Voting)

The amendment would have increased anti-kickback penalties for doctors prescribing opioids and test a model for limiting Medicare opioid prescriptions. The amendment fell when a budgetary point of order, offered by Wyoming Republican Michael B. Enzi, was sustained. Sixty votes were needed to overcome the point of order.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Opioid Abuse – Additional Funding
Vote Rejected (48-47, 5 Not Voting)

The amendment would have provided an additional $600 million for opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs. The amendment fell when a budgetary point of order, offered by Wyoming Republican Michael B. Enzi, was sustained. Sixty votes were needed to overcome the point of order.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program – Passage
Vote Passed (406-0, 27 Not Voting)

The bill requires states to notify the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department of health care providers who are terminated from the state's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program because of fraud or other "for cause" reasons, and for HHS to maintain a database of providers terminated from a state Medicaid or CHIP program or the federal Medicare program in order to prevent such providers from participating in another state's Medicaid program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Regulatory Action and Kilns – Passage
Vote Passed (238-163, 32 Not Voting)

The measure delays, until after all judicial reviews are completed, new EPA rules that set national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants for the manufacturing of brick and structural clay products or clay ceramics. This delay applies only for those existing legal actions filed within 60 days of when EPA's rule was published in the Federal Register.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 2-21-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*North Korea Sanctions – Passage
Vote Passed (96-0, 4 Not Voting)

The measure, as amended, expands existing sanctions against North Korea by restricting access to the U.S. financial system for entities aiding North Korea, requiring enhanced inspections of ships and aircraft, and holding North Korean officials accountable for human rights violations and cybersecurity attacks.

It also requires mandatory sanctions on individuals that sell or buy North Korean minerals, including coal and steel as well as the blacklisting of any individual complicit in North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Customs and Trade Enforcement – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (73-22, 5 Not Voting)

The conference report on the legislation strengthens enforcement of U.S. trade agreements and intellectual property rights by creating a Trade Enforcement Trust Fund within the Treasury to enforce international trade agreements.

It also creates a division within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prevent trade remedy evasion. It establishes a National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center within Immigration and Customs Enforcement to coordinate federal efforts to prevent intellectual property violations.

The bill also makes permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Customs and Trade Enforcement – Passage
Vote Agreed to (75-20, 5 Not Voting)

The bill also makes permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Limit on National Science Foundation – Passage
Vote Passed (236-178, 19 Not Voting)

The bill allows the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants or enter into cooperative agreements for basic research and science education only if it determines that the grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States and is consistent with the NSF's mission.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Debt Reduction Plans – Passage
Vote Passed (267-151, 15 Not Voting)

The measure requires the Treasury secretary to appear before Congress within a couple of months before the federal government is projected to reach the legal debt limit and report on the state of the nation's public debt and the drivers of increasing debt, the impact of increasing debt and the administration's plans for reducing debt in the short, medium and long terms.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Menu Nutrition Disclosures – Passage
Vote Passed (266-144, 1 Present, 22 Not Voting)

The bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to modify its rules regarding the nutrition information that restaurants and other retail food establishments must provide to customers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*North Korea Sanctions – Concur on the Senate Amendment
Vote Passed (408-2, 23 Not Voting)

The final version of the legislation expands existing sanctions against North Korea by restricting access to the U.S. financial system for entities aiding North Korea, requiring enhanced inspections of ships and aircraft, and holding North Korean officials accountable for human rights violations and cybersecurity attacks.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 2-14-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Energy Policy – Cloture
Vote Rejected (43-54, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky. cloture motion to end debate on the energy policy bill that would streamline permitting for gas exports, boost energy-efficiency standards for commercial and federal buildings, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund and require grid infrastructure upgrades for reliability and security.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Affordable Housing – Passage
Vote Passed (427-0, 6 Not Voting)

The measure makes changes to various housing laws to try to extend affordable housing options to more low-income families. The measure allows Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and the owners of private subsidized housing to verify the income-based eligibility of families through other needs-tested federal programs; changes requirements regarding the inspection of housing units and eases Federal Housing Authority (FHA) requirements for mortgage insurance for condominiums.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Health Care Repeal Reconciliation – Presidential Veto Override
Vote Failed (241-186, 6 Not Voting)

The House voted to attempt to override President Barack Obama's veto of legislation that would have repealed or significantly modified numerous major provisions of the 2010 health care overhaul law. Two-thirds of those members present and voting yes were needed to override the veto.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Iran Sanctions – Passage
Vote Passed (246-181, 6 Not Voting)

The bill restricts the president's ability to lift sanctions on Iranian and other financial institutions as called for by the Iran Nuclear agreement, by allowing sanctions to be lifted only if the president certifies that the institutions have not knowingly helped fund Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, foreign terrorist organizations and other entities sanctioned in connection with Iran's weapons of mass destruction or ballistic missile programs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Reduce SEC Regulation of Small Companies – Passage
Vote Passed (265-159, 9 Not Voting)

The bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct reviews of its existing regulations to determine whether any are outmoded, ineffective or excessively burdensome, and to modify or repeal rules based on those reviews.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Financial Institution Customer Protection – Passage
Vote Passed (250-169, 14 Not Voting)

The legislation prohibits federal banking regulators from requesting that financial institutions terminate their relationships with specific customers or groups of customers unless the agency has a material reason for requesting that termination, and it modifies the 1989 Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act to restrict the conditions under which the Justice Department may conduct investigations involving financial institutions and seek civil penalties, including by limiting the department's subpoena authority.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 2-7-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

Energy Policy – GAO Report on Energy Production
Vote Agreed to (62-29, 9 Not Voting)

The Senate adopted an amendment to the energy policy bill that requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review and submit a report to Congress on energy production in the United States and the effects of crude oil exports. The initial report must be submitted within one year of the bill's enactment date and then resubmitted for the following two years.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

posted 1-31-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Disapprove 'Waters of the United States' Rule - Cloture on Veto Message
Vote Failed (52-40, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky. motion to invoke cloture on the veto message concerning legislation that would disapprove of the rule issued by EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers on June 29, 2015, commonly known as the "waters of the United States" rule that seeks to clarify the federal government's authority to regulate certain intrastate waters under the Clean Water Act, providing that the rule will have no force or effect. Sixty votes were needed to end debate. Failing to invoke cloture essentially upheld the president?s veto of the joint resolution.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

posted 1-24-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Auditing the Federal Reserve – Motion to Proceed
Vote Failed (53-44, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected the Perdue, R-Ga. motion to proceed to a bill that requires the full audit of the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks by the Comptroller General for the United States.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Delay Mountaintop Mining Valley Fill Rules - Passage
Vote Passed (235-188, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that prevents the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) from issuing any final rules related to coal mining activities near streams, including updating a stream buffer zones (SBZ) rule, until after the National Academy of Sciences submits a study on the effectiveness of existing rules in effect — effectively delaying any new or revised SBZ rules for at least three years.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Disapprove "Waters of the United States" Rule - Passage
Vote Passed (253-166, 14 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a joint resolution which disapproves of the rule issued by EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers on June 29, 2015, commonly known as the "waters of the United States" rule that seeks to clarify the federal government's authority to regulate certain intrastate waters under the Clean Water Act, providing that the rule will have no force or effect.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 1-17-16

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Review Federal Regulations for Repeal - Passage
Vote Passed (245-174, 14 Not Voting)

The bill establishes a nine-member commission to review existing federal regulations and identify those that should be repealed in order to reduce costs on the U.S. economy — including those that should be immediately repealed and those that should be repealed over time through a new regulatory "Cut-Go" system under which agencies could not issue new rules unless the cost of a new rule was offset by repealing existing rules identified by the commission.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Class-Action Litigation - Passage
Vote Passed (211-188, 1 Present, 33 Not Voting)

The bill prohibits federal courts from certifying proposed classes of individuals for a class action lawsuit unless each member of the class has suffered the same type and degree of injury, and it requires quarterly reports by asbestos trusts of claims made against the trusts and any payouts made by the trusts for asbestos-related injuries.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Health Care Repeal Reconciliation - Adoption
Vote Passed (240-181, 13 Not Voting)

The House concurred in the Senate amendment to the original House bill. The final version repeals or significantly modifies numerous major provisions of the 2010 health care overhaul law, including the individual and employer mandates, tax subsidies for individuals to purchase health insurance from exchanges, the expansion of Medicaid and Prevention and Public Health Fund. It also effectively eliminates more than a dozen taxes included in the law, including the medical device tax, the "Cadillac" tax on high-cost health plans, the net investment tax and the additional Medicare tax, and it blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year and provides alternative women's health funding for community health centers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 12-27-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Tax Extenders and Omnibus Appropriations - Passage
Vote Agreed to (65-33, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared legislation that retroactively renews for the current 2015 tax year most of the expired provisions and further extends them for varying periods, including by making more than a dozen permanent and extending most others for two years (2015 and 2016). Those made permanent include taxpayers being able to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes, the research and development tax credit, Section 179 capital expensing for businesses, and expanded versions of the child tax credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit for college expenses. It also includes a two-year moratorium on the medical device tax created by the 2010 health care overhaul law.

The chamber adopted an amendment that funds government operations through September 30, 2016, at about $1.149 trillion in discretionary spending. It also ends the U.S. ban on crude oil exports; reauthorizes the 9/11 first-responder health care and victim compensation programs; reauthorizes U.S. intelligence programs and provides for a voluntary cybersecurity information-sharing process between the government and the private sector; requires individuals who have been in certain nations, such as Syria and Iraq, to get regular visas that involve in-person interviews with U.S. officials in order to enter the United States.

It also includes several other tax provisions, including delaying for two years the health care law's tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans and phaseouts of wind and solar energy tax credits.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Tax Extenders - Adoption
Vote Passed (318-109, 6 Not Voting)

The House adopted an amendment that retroactively renews for the current 2015 tax year most of the expired provisions and further extends them for varying periods, including by making more than a dozen permanent and extending most others for two years (2015 and 2016). Those made permanent include taxpayers being able to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes, the research and development tax credit, Section 179 capital expensing for businesses, and expanded versions of the child tax credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit for college expenses. It also includes a two-year moratorium on the medical device tax created by the 2010 health care overhaul law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Omnibus Appropriations - Adoption
Vote Passed (316-113, 5 Not Voting)

The chamber adopted an amendment that funds government operations through September 30, 2016, at about $1.149 trillion in discretionary spending, with $1.067 trillion subject to discretionary spending caps, $73.7 billion designated as Overseas Contingency Operations funds, $7.1 billion designated as disaster spending, $698 million designated as emergency spending and $1.5 billion designated as program integrity initiatives.

It also ends the U.S. ban on crude oil exports; reauthorizes the 9/11 first-responder health care and victim compensation programs; reauthorizes U.S. intelligence programs and provides for a voluntary cybersecurity information-sharing process between the government and the private sector; requires individuals who have been in certain nations, such as Syria and Iraq, to get regular visas that involve in-person interviews with U.S. officials in order to enter the United States; and reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 12-20-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*K-12 Education Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Agreed to (85-12, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared the conference report on the bill that reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 for four years, through fiscal 2020, and modifies programs and policies throughout the law with the overall goal of giving states, school districts, schools, teachers and parents greater control over all aspects of elementary and secondary education. It maintains some federal oversight of state programs through the Education Department's ability to approve state plans for the use of federal funds, but it places strong restrictions on department actions and control.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Visa Waiver Program - Passage
Vote Passed (407-19, 7 Not Voting)

The chamber passed legislation that prohibits individuals who have been to specified nations such as Syria and Iraq from entering the United States unless they are interviewed by U.S. officials and get a regular visa, even if they are from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Red River Private Property - Passage
Vote Passed (253-177, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell to current and adjacent landowners the roughly 30,000 acres of federal land along the Red River, which forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Trade Enforcement - Passage
Vote Passed (256-158, 19 Not Voting)

The House agreed to the conference report on the bill that includes numerous provisions to facilitate trade and improve U.S. trade enforcement, including formally establishing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and enhancing its authority, including authorizing an automated system for the agency to process imports and exports. It also makes permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access and phases out the taxes imposed in seven states in which they were grandfathered.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted Not Voting

posted 12-13-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Budget Reconciliation – Passage
Vote Passed (52-47, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed the bill that repeals large portions of the 2010 health care overhaul law and cuts off federal funding to Planned Parenthood for one year. Specifically, it zeroes-out the law's penalties for noncompliance with the law's requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance. It scraps the law's Medicaid expansion in 2018, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges. It also eliminates certain taxes included in the law, including the tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Agreed to (83-16, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared the conference report on the bill that reauthorizes federal highway and transit programs for five years, through fiscal 2020, at increased funding levels to begin addressing the nation's transportation infrastructure needs. It transfers more than $70 billion from Treasury's general fund and other funds to cover projected shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund over that time and fully fund the measure's estimated $305 billion cost. The measure also reauthorizes Amtrak and restructures its funding to reflect its major lines of business, renews the charter for the Export-Import Bank and rolls back a reduction in the crop insurance program.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Fiscal 2016 Intelligence Authorization - Passage
Vote Passed (364-58, 11 Not Voting)

The chamber passed a bill that authorizes classified amounts in fiscal 2016 for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. government, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA), as well as foreign intelligence activities of the Defense Department, FBI, State Department, Homeland Security Department and other agencies.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*EPA Existing Power Plant Rule Disapproval - Passage
Vote Passed (242-180, 11 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the EPA concerning carbon emissions at existing power plants.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*EPA New and Retrofitted Power Plant Rule Disapproval - Passage
Vote Passed (235-188, 10 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the EPA concerning carbon emissions at new and retrofitted power plants.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

K-12 Education Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Passed (359-64, 10 Not Voting)

The chamber agreed to the conference report on the bill that reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 for four years, through fiscal 2020, and modifies programs and policies throughout the law with the overall goal of giving states, school districts, schools, teachers and parents greater control over all aspects of elementary and secondary education. It maintains some federal oversight of state programs through the Education Department's ability to approve state plans for the use of federal funds, but it places strong restrictions on department actions and control.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Energy Security and Infrastructure Overhaul - Passage
Vote Passed (249-174, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation which promotes the accelerated development and construction of natural gas pipelines and hydropower projects by increasing the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and requiring the agency to set hard deadlines for environmental reviews and permitting, and by requiring the designation of at least 10 corridors across federal lands in the Eastern U.S. where pipelines could be built. It also includes numerous provisions intended to increase the security and reliability of the nation's electrical power grid; revises national energy efficiency standards and requires the Energy Department to expedite decisions on applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Passed (359-65, 9 Not Voting)

The House adopted the conference report on the bill that reauthorizes federal highway and transit programs for five years, through fiscal 2020, at increased funding levels to begin addressing the nation's transportation infrastructure needs. It transfers more than $70 billion from Treasury's general fund and other funds to cover projected shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund over that time and fully fund the measure's estimated $305 billion cost. The measure also reauthorizes Amtrak and restructures its funding to reflect its major lines of business, renews the charter for the Export-Import Bank and rolls back a reduction in the crop insurance program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 11-29-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*EPA Existing Power Plant Rule Disapproval - Passage
Vote Passed (52-46, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the EPA concerning carbon emissions at existing power plants.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*EPA New and Retrofitted Power Plant Rule Disapproval - Passage
Vote Passed (52-46, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the EPA concerning carbon emissions at new and retrofitted power plants.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Bank Mortgage Liability - Passage
Vote Passed (255-174, 4 Not Voting)

The bill creates a safe harbor from lawsuits for banks that originate non-qualified mortgages that do not comply with ability-to-repay requirements, as long as the bank retains the mortgage in its own portfolio.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - Not Voting

*Auto Loans - Passage
Vote Passed (332-96, 5 Not Voting)

The bill nullifies 2013 guidance issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding fair lending practices for indirect auto lenders, after the CFPB determined that car loans provided through auto dealers were artificially high and discriminatory.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - Not Voting

*Federal Reserve Overhaul - Passage
Vote Passed (241-185, 7 Not Voting)

The bill modifies Federal Reserve operations and oversight in an effort to make it more accountable, including by requiring the Fed to develop detailed strategies with set goals for conducting monetary policy that would be reviewed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and requiring the Fed chairman to testify before Congress if GAO determines that the strategy no longer complies with bill requirements. It also provides for GAO audits of all Fed activities, including its deliberations over monetary policy. The legislation requires Fed to conduct cost-benefit analyses of all proposed rules and limits the Fed's emergency lending powers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - Not Voting

*Syrian and Iraqi Refugees - Passage
Vote Passed (289-137, 8 Not Voting)

The bill prohibits refugees from Syria or Iraq from being admitted into the United States unless the individual has had a comprehensive background check and the government, including the FBI and national intelligence director, certifies to Congress that he or she does not pose a threat.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - Not Voting

posted 11-22-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Revised Defense Authorization - Passage
Vote Agreed to (91-3, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared legislation that authorizes $599 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016, $5 billion less than both the president's overall request and the original conference agreement. It provides $33 billion of the original $38 billion in added funds for defense, including $8 billion through the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The measure authorizes $715 million for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State, $406 million to train and equip Syrian opposition forces and $300 million for lethal weapons for Ukraine. It modifies the military retirement system, blocks the Pentagon from retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft and authorizes $11 billion for the F-35 Fighter.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Military-Construction-VA Appropriations - Passage
Vote Passed (93-0, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate passed an amended version of the bill that funds veterans' health programs and military bases. The measure, which contains nearly $80 billion in discretionary funding, also includes language that prohibits transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. homeland and a ban on another round of base closures.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization - Cloture
Vote Agreed to (82-7, 11 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to create a conference committee with the House concerning legislation that reauthorizes surface transportation programs for six years.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

posted 11-15-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*"Waters of the United States" Definition - Passage
Vote Failed (57-41, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would require the Obama administration to revisit its rule updating federal regulation of streams and wetlands.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*"Waters of the United States" Rule Disapproval - Passage
Vote Passed (53-44, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA relating to the definition of "waters of the United States" and what bodies of water are subject to federal regulation.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Military-Construction-VA Appropriations – Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (93-0, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that funds veterans' health programs and military bases. The measure, which contains nearly $80 billion in discretionary funding, also includes language that prohibits transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. homeland and a ban on another round of base closures.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted Not Voting

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Revised Defense Authorization - Passage
Vote Passed (370-58, 5 Not Voting)

The House agreed to legislation that authorizes $599 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016, $5 billion less than both the president's overall request and the original conference agreement. It provides $33 billion of the original $38 billion in added funds for defense, including $8 billion through the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The measure authorizes $715 million for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State, $406 million to train and equip Syrian opposition forces and $300 million for lethal weapons for Ukraine. It modifies the military retirement system, blocks the Pentagon from retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft and authorizes $11 billion for the F-35 Fighter.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted Not Voting

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Passed (363-64, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that reauthorizes surface transportation programs for six years, with policy provisions including those that would replace the Surface Transportation Program with a block grant program, create a new grant program for nationally significant freight and highway projects, and make a number of changes to the environmental review process. It also would liquidate the Federal Reserve's surplus funds and redirect that money to the General Fund. Future money that would have been deposited in the funds would also be deposited in the General Fund. The more than $325 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization package also contains Senate amendments that offset to cover Highway Trust Fund shortfalls for three years and a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Efforts to fully fund all six years of the reauthorization are expected to be made in conference with the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted Not Voting

posted 11-8-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cybersecurity Information Sharing - Passage
Vote Passed (74-21, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a measure would direct the federal government to develop procedures to facilitate information sharing, and it would authorize the voluntary sharing and receipt of a cybersecurity threat and operation of defensive measures by private entities.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Budget Agreement and Debt Limit - Passage
Vote Agreed to (64-35, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared legislation which suspends the debt limit until March 15, 2017, and it partially rolls back the sequester of discretionary spending scheduled for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 to increase caps for those two years by a total of $80 billion, split equally between defense and non-defense. It requires additional funding through the war-related Overseas Contingency Operations account for both years, as well. It also prevents a sharp increase in Medicare Part B premiums for certain beneficiaries in 2016 and keeps the Social Security disability insurance trust fund solvent until 2022. It includes $79.9 billion in mandatory spending cuts and revenue increases to offset the bill's costs, and would reduce the deficit by $497 million according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Retail Investor Protection - Passage
Vote Passed (245-186, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that prohibits the Labor Department from implementing a final rule on fiduciary standards for retirement investment advisers until after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) conducts a study and issues a final rule setting standards of conduct for broker-dealers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Export-Import Bank Reauthorization-- Passage
Vote Passed (313-118, 3 Not Voting)

The chamber moved a measure that reauthorizes the official export credit agency of the United States for four years; sets new, lower, lending caps; aims to increase accountability and transparency at the bank; and directs the president to initiate negotiations to reduce and eventually eliminate government export subsidies worldwide.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Budget Agreement and Debt Limit - Passage
Vote Passed (266-167, 2 Not Voting)

The House agreed to legislation which suspends the debt limit until March 15, 2017, and it partially rolls back the sequester of discretionary spending scheduled for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 to increase caps for those two years by a total of $80 billion, split equally between defense and non-defense. It requires additional funding through the war-related Overseas Contingency Operations account for both years, as well. It also prevents a sharp increase in Medicare Part B premiums for certain beneficiaries in 2016 and keeps the Social Security disability insurance trust fund solvent until 2022. It includes $79.9 billion in mandatory spending cuts and revenue increases to offset the bill's costs, and would reduce the deficit by $497 million according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 11-1-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*"Sanctuary Cities" - Cloture
Vote Failed (54-45, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would withhold federal funds from cities and jurisdictions that do not comply with certain federal immigration laws. The measure would also set sentencing requirements for individuals who repeatedly re-enter the United States illegally after deportation.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Cybersecurity Information Sharing - Cloture
Vote Agreed to (83-14, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Burr, R-N.C., substitute amendment to the bill that would direct the federal government to develop procedures to facilitate information sharing, and would authorize the voluntary sharing and receipt of a cybersecurity threat and operation of defensive measures by private entities.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Debt Prevention - Passage
Vote Passed (235-194, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that allows the Treasury Department, once the statutory debt limit is reached, to continue borrowing above that limit in order to pay the principal and interest on both government debt held by the public as it comes due and on obligations held by the Social Security trust fund.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program Reauthorization - Passage
Vote Passed (240-191, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that reauthorizes the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results program for five years, through fiscal 2021. It is a federally funded program under which eligible students in Washington, D.C., can receive vouchers to attend private schools and is the nation's only federally funded private school voucher program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production - Passage
Vote Passed (254-177, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that reclassifies certain mining operations as "infrastructure projects" in order to allow the permitting for mining on federal lands to be conducted under a streamlined permitting process created for infrastructure projects by a 2012 presidential order.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Health Care Reconciliation - Passage
Vote Passed (240-189, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that repeals key elements of the 2010 health care overhaul law including the individual and employer mandates and the medical device and "Cadillac" taxes, and it blocks for one year federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 10-25-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization - Adoption
Vote Agreed to (70-27, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany the bill that would reauthorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations - Cloture
Vote Rejected (49-47, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $35.4 billion in discretionary funding in fiscal 2016 for the Energy Department, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation and several regional authorities.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Establishing a Select Investigative Panel Under the House Energy and Commerce Committee - Adoption
Vote Passed (242-184, 8 Not Voting)

The House adopted a resolution which created the Select Investigative Panel on Abortion and Fetal Tissue Donation under the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This select panel will be allowed to investigate and report on all issues related to medical procedures and practices involving fetal tissue donation and procurement, federal funding and support for abortion providers, and late-term abortions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Homebuyers Assistance Act - Passage
Vote Passed (303-121, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation which effectively delays until Feb. 1, 2016, implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's integrated rules regarding lender disclosures to consumers applying for home mortgage loans, prohibiting enforcement of the rules and lawsuits against lenders until then as long as the lender makes a good-faith effort to comply with the rules.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Native American Energy Act - Passage
Vote Passed (254-173, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that provides for the expedited review and consideration of energy projects on Native American lands, and it limits participation in required environmental reviews of such projects and requires that judicial reviews of all energy projects involving Indian tribes be considered by the D.C. District and Circuit courts.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Repeal Oil Export Ban - Passage
Vote Passed (261-159, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that allows the export of crude oil produced in the United States by removing the export ban imposed by the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act (PL 94-163), and it prohibits U.S. officials from imposing or enforcing restrictions on U.S. crude oil exports.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill.

posted 10-18-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization - Adoption
Vote Agreed to (70-27, 3 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations - Cloture
Vote Rejected (49-47, 4 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Establishing a Select Investigative Panel Under the House Energy and Commerce Committee - Adoption
Vote Passed (242-184, 8 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Homebuyers Assistance Act - Passage
Vote Passed (303-121, 10 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Native American Energy Act - Passage
Vote Passed (254-173, 7 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Repeal Oil Export Ban - Passage
Vote Passed (261-159, 14 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill.

posted 10-11-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Federal Government Funding - Passage
Vote Agreed to (78-20, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed the bill to provide funding for federal government operations until December 11. The measure does not include any provisions that would defund Planned Parenthood. It directs the Homeland Security Department Inspector General to review the data and methods used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to classify personnel as law enforcement officers, and requires TSA to reclassify any staff of the Office of Inspection that are currently misclassified.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2016 Military Construction-VA Appropriations – Cloture
Vote Rejected (50-44, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $77.6 billion for military construction and veterans' issues. The measure also would provide $8.1 billion overall for military construction projects and $163.8 billion for the Veterans' Affairs Department.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Women's Health - Passage
Vote Passed (236-193, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation which allows states to exclude from a state's Medicaid contracts those medical providers who also perform abortions, thereby permitting states to deny non-abortion health care reimbursements to organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Specifically, it expands the exceptions for which a state is not required to provide reimbursement under its state Medicaid plans to medical assistance for services "by any individual or entity based on the individual's or entity's involvement in abortions."

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Federal Government Funding - Passage
Vote Passed (277-151, 6 Not Voting)

The House agreed to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to legislation, known as the "clean continuing resolution", which provides funding for federal government operations until December 11. The measure does not include any provisions that would defund Planned Parenthood. It directs the Homeland Security Department Inspector General to review the data and methods used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to classify personnel as law enforcement officers, and requires TSA to reclassify any staff of the Office of Inspection that are currently misclassified.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization -- Adoption
Vote Passed (270-156, 8 Not Voting)

The House adopted the conference report to accompany the bill that authorizes $604.2 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016 and allows $38.3 billion of the $89.2 billion in uncapped Overseas Contingency Operations funds to be used for additional base defense needs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Victims of Iranian Terrorism - Passage
Vote Passed (251-173, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure that prohibits the President from waiving sanctions or refraining to applying sanctions pursuant to the Iran Nuclear Agreement until Iran pays the legal terrorism-related judgments it owes. Under the measure, the president must certify to Congress that the Iranian government has paid all of its outstanding judgments before sanctions against Iran could be lifted or assets released.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 10-4-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Twenty-Week Abortion Ban - Cloture
Vote Rejected (54-42, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later, except in cases of rape, incest against a minor or when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger. Specifically, it would provide an exemption for pregnancies that are the result of rape against adult women if the woman obtained counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours before the abortion.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Appropriations – Cloture
Vote Rejected (54-42, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the intended legislative vehicle for the bill that would provide nearly $576 billion in discretionary spending for defense programs in fiscal 2016, including $86.9 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations account.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Continuing Appropriations "Shell" - Cloture
Vote Rejected (47-52, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the Cochran, R-Miss., substitute amendment no. 2669 that would provide continuing appropriations for government operations through Dec. 11, 2015, at an annual rate of about $1.017 trillion. It also would prohibit for one year federal funding for Planned Parenthood or its affiliates unless they certify that they will not perform, or fund other entities that perform, abortions during that period. The substitute amendment would redirect $235 million to community health centers.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Environmental Reviews - Passage
Vote Passed (233-170, 31 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation that would modify the environmental review process for federally-funded projects and for federal permits for private projects by setting deadlines on agency reviews, and by limiting the grounds for civil actions against an environmental review or permit approval. The lead agency - which would need to set a review schedule and oversee the preparation of a single environmental review document that would satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements - would have two years to complete the review, with the option to extend the review period by one year. When multiple agencies have jurisdiction over a project, the agencies would need to conduct their portions of the NEPA review concurrently, instead of sequentially.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 9-27-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Iran Nuclear Agreement Disapproval Resolution 'Shell' - Cloture
Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., substitute amendment no. 2640, that would replace the measure with a joint resolution that would disapprove of the nuclear agreement reached with Iran by the United States and five other nations that was transmitted by the president to Congress on July 19, 2015, for purposes of prohibiting any waiver or suspension of statutory sanctions by the United States pursuant to the agreement.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Frivolous Lawsuit Sanctions
Vote Passed (241-185, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would change federal rules governing civil lawsuits to require federal courts to impose sanctions on parties that file frivolous civil lawsuits. The sanctions would need to include monetary payments to the other party to cover the other party's attorney fees and costs. The bill also would eliminate the so-called "safe harbor" clause by removing the ability of parties to withdraw or correct claims considered frivolous within 21 days of filing.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Planned Parenthood Funding Moratorium -- Passage
Vote Passed (241-187, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would bar, for one year, federal funding for Planned Parenthood and its affiliates unless they certify that, during that period, they will not perform abortions or provide funds to other entities that perform abortions. The prohibition would apply to all federal funds, including Medicaid. The bill would provide exceptions for abortions provided in the case of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Failed Abortions -- Passage
Vote Passed (248-177, 1 Present, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would require health care practitioners to give the same level of care to an infant born alive during a failed abortion as they would give to any other infant born at the same gestational age. The bill also would require health care practitioners to ensure that these infants are immediately sent to a hospital.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 9-20-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Iran Nuclear Agreement Disapproval Resolution 'Shell' - Cloture
Vote Rejected (58-42)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Iran Nuclear Agreement Approval – Passage
Vote Failed (162-269, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)

The House rejected a bill that would express Congress' approval of the Iran nuclear agreement signed on July 14, 2015 between United States, Iran and five other nations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Delay Iran Nuclear Sanctions Relief -- Passage
Vote Passed (247-186)

The House passed a bill that would delay until Jan. 21, 2017, the authority of the president to waive, suspend, or reduce existing sanctions on Iran or on Iranian officials or individuals slated to be granted relief from sanctions under the Iran nuclear agreement.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 8-16-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Prohibit Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Vote Rejected (53-46, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to legislation that would prohibit Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of the organization's affiliates, subsidiaries, successors or clinics. The bill would state that it shall not be interpreted to reduce overall federal funding available for women's health or to affect abortion-related limitations in appropriations laws.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

posted 8-9-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (65-34, 1 Not Voting)

That Senate passed a bill as amended, that would provide a six-year authorization of highway and transit programs, with a roughly $45 billion package of offsets, enough to cover three years of shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund. The measure would authorize for the federal-aid highway program from the Highway Trust Fund $39.6 billion in fiscal 2016, with levels annually increasing to $45.7 billion in fiscal 2021.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Three-Month Surface Transportation Extension and Veterans Health Care – Passage
Vote Passed (91-4, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would extend the authorization for federal-aid highway and transit programs through Oct. 29, 2015. Authority to spend money from the Highway Trust Fund would also be extended through that date. The bill would transfer $8.1 billion from the Treasury to replenish the Highway Trust Fund and cover projected shortfalls so that construction projects could continue to be fully funded during that time (the amount transferred would cover projected trust fund shortfalls through the end of the year). The measure also would allow the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) to use $3.4 billion from the Veterans Choice Fund to pay for care provided - from May 1 to Oct. 1, 2015 - to veteran patients by non-VA providers under VA Care in the Community programs.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Congressional Approval of Major Rules
Vote Passed (243-165, 25 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would amend the Congressional Review Act to require Congress to approve all executive agency regulatory proposals categorized as "major rules" before their implementation and would also create an expedited consideration process for joint congressional resolutions of approval. The bill defines "major rules" as regulations with an annual economic impact greater than $100 million, and would not require congressional approval of regulations that are not categorized as "major rules" or of rule proposals issued by the Federal Reserve or the Federal Open Market Committee.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Veterans Affairs Accountability and Highway Transportation Funding – Passage
Vote Passed (385-34, 1 Present, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize federal-aid highway and transit programs for three months, through October 2015, and would transfer $8.1 billion from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund to cover shortfalls during that time. The bill also would authorize the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) to use $3.4 billion to pay for veteran care through non-VA providers and instruct the VA to consolidate all non-VA programs into a single program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Veterans Affairs Accountability – Passage
Vote Passed (256-170, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would expand the ability of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to remove or demote VA employees based on performance or misconduct. The bill would also protect VA whistleblowers that report misconduct, modify the Senior Executive Service performance appraisal process, establish an 18-month probationary period for new VA employees, and place limits on administrative leave and bonuses within the VA.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 8-2-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Surface Transportation Reauthorization 'Shell' – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (67-26, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on amendment no. 2327 to the McConnell, R-Ky., substitute amendment, as modified, that would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. The McConnell substitute amendment would provide a six-year authorization of surface transportation programs, with enough offsets to cover three years of shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Coal Combustion Residuals – Passage
Vote Passed (258-166, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would establish minimum federal standards regarding the disposal and storage of coal combustion residuals (CCR) that would codify parts of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule regarding coal ash, while superseding other elements of the rule. Additionally, the bill would permit states to create their own coal ash permit programs, but would provide for EPA oversight of the bill's standards in cases when a state lacks its own program or fails to meet the standards set in the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Genetically Engineered Food – Passage
Vote Passed (275-150, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would require the Agriculture Department to establish a voluntary national genetically engineered (GE) food certification program under which food producers could label their product as including or not including genetically modified ingredients. The program created under the bill would pre-empt related state and local laws and prohibits mandatory labeling of GE or non-GE food.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Sanctuary Cities – Passage
Vote Passed (241-179, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would withhold certain federal law enforcement grants to state and local governments that bar their officials from taking certain immigration-related actions, such as gathering or maintaining information on the immigration or citizenship status of individuals or sharing such information with federal immigration authorities. The withheld federal law enforcement grants include the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (which allows states to enter into a contractual arrangement with the federal government for compensation for the incarceration of undocumented criminal immigrants), the Community-Oriented Policing Services program (COPS, which helps support the hiring of police officers at the state and local level) and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG, which supports a range of programs, including prosecutions and courts).

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 7-26-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*No Child Left Behind Overhaul - Passage
Vote Passed (81-17, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the law that authorizes federal spending on kindergarten through high school. It would let states decide how to judge schools' success and wouldn't require any type of teacher evaluation. It would require states to continue testing students annually, but would leave it up to states to decide what weight those scores have when rating schools.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Veterans Loans - Passage
Vote Passed (410-1, 22 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill that would permanently waive the guarantee fee for veterans and their spouses applying for Small Business Administration (SBA) express loans, beginning Oct. 1, 2015. The bill defines eligibility for the waiver based on the veteran status of the loan applicant, rather than whether the business is considered a veteran-owned small business.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Transportation Funding and California Drought – Passage
Vote Passed (312-119, 2 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize federal-aid highway and transit programs through Dec. 18, 2015 and would transfer $8.1 billion in funding from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund to cover projected trust fund shortfalls over that time. The measure completely offsets the cost of the proposed funding transfer by extending for two years the current budgetary treatment of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) fees as mandatory savings and through several tax compliance provisions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*California Drought – Passage
Vote Passed (245-176, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would require that more water from Northern California be pumped south for agricultural uses in the Central Valley in times of drought, and would require the Interior and Commerce departments to approve any emergency projects or operations that would quickly provide additional water to those users. The bill would also implement a coordinated environmental review process to expedite the environmental review of certain water projects, such as dams and water storage facilities.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 7-19-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (81-15, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on a motion to insist upon the Senate amendment and agree to the request by the House for a conference on the measure that would authorize funding for defense programs in fiscal 2016. The motion also would authorize the presiding officer to appoint conferees.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Elementary and Second Education Act Overhaul – Passage
Vote Passed (218-213, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill, as amended, that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and would make fundamental changes to many of its programs through Fiscal 2019. The bill would allow Title I funding to follow individual students to other schools, and eliminates more than 65 elementary and secondary education programs and merges their funding. In addition, the new Title I block grant would give states greater flexibility in how funds are used.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*National Forest Management – Passage
Vote Passed (262-167, 4 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill, as amended, that modifies federal forest management practices to increase timber production on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands as a means of promoting greater forest health and reducing wildfires, and it seeks to end the "borrowing" of fire prevention funding for fire suppression efforts by providing funding to fight certain catastrophic wildfires from FEMA's disaster relief fund. The bill would also provide for expedited actions by federal agencies by expanding the types of forestry activities that can occur without environmental impact statements and by accelerating environmental reviews for salvage operations and reforestation activities after catastrophic events.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Medical Funding and Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (344-77, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would modify current federal processes involving medical research, developing drugs and other treatments, and testing and approving those drugs and treatments in an effort to accelerate the development and delivery of cures to diseases and medical conditions. It would also reauthorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for three years and includes numerous initiatives to promote medical research and attract young scientists, and it reauthorizes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) activities for five years and modifies elements of FDA's drug and medical device review and approval process to accelerate the approval and distribution of new drugs and medical devices for diseases and conditions that don't currently have treatments.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 7-5-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Public Safety Employee Withdrawals – Trade Promotion Authority – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (60-37, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on a motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill. The House amendment would grant Trade Promotion Authority, under which implementing legislation for trade agreements negotiated by the administration would be considered by Congress under expedited procedures and could not be amended.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*IPAB Repeal – Passage
Vote Passed (244-154, 35 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would repeal the provisions of the 2010 health care overhaul that created the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which is designed to recommend cost-cutting measures if Medicare spending exceeds a target growth rate. The cost of repealing IPAB would be offset by rescinding an estimated $8.8 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created under the 2010 health care overhaul.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*EPA Carbon Emission Rules - Passage
Vote Passed (247-180, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would postpone the dates by when states and existing fossil-fuel power plants must comply with current or future EPA rules to reduce carbon emissions until all judicial challenges are completed, and it allows state governors to opt out of developing an emissions reduction plan or complying with a federal plan for existing plants if he or she determines that the requirement would have an adverse effect on electricity ratepayers.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 6-28-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization - Passage
Vote Passed (71-25, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would authorize approximately $612 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2016, including $88.9 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. Excluding Overseas Contingency Operations funding, the bill would authorize, within the Senate Armed Services Committee's jurisdiction, approximately: $134.1 billion for operations and maintenance, roughly $112.2 billion for procurement,$ 135.5 billion for military personnel, $8.3 billion for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure, roughly $70.9 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation, and $32.2 billion for the Defense Health Program.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Appropriations – Cloture
Vote Rejected (50-45, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to the intended legislative vehicle for the bill that would provide nearly $576 billion in discretionary spending for defense programs in fiscal 2016, including $86.9 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations account.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*U.S. Citizens in Iran - Passage
Vote Passed (391-0, 42 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and pass a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran should immediately release U.S. citizens Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati and Saeed Abedini and provide all known information on the whereabouts of Robert Levinson.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2016 Intelligence Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (247-178, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would authorize classified amounts in FY 2016 for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. government, including the Office of the National Intelligence Director, the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA), as well as foreign intelligence activities of the Defense Department, FBI, State Department, Homeland Security Department and other agencies. The measure covers general intelligence operations, including signals intelligence, clandestine human intelligence programs and analysis, and covert action programs, as well as research and development and projects to improve information dissemination.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Iraq Troop Withdraw – Passage
Vote Failed (139-288, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

The House rejected a concurrent resolution that would direct the president to withdraw U.S. forces deployed to Iraq in support of operations against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, other than armed forces required to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel within 30 days of enactment.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 6-21-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization - Cloture
Vote Rejected (56-40, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on amendment no. 1569, as modified, to substitute amendment no. 1463 that would require several national security entities to develop and promulgate procedures to promote the timely sharing of classified and declassified cyber threat indicators between government and the private sector.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley did not vote on this issue.

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*CFTC Operations – Passage
Vote Passed (246-171, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize operations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) through fiscal 2019 and amend the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act to modify and clarify how the CFTC is to regulate derivatives and swaps. The bill would make numerous changes to CFTC operations.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue.

*Fiscal 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations
Vote Passed (216-210, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would appropriate $108.7 billion in fiscal 2016, including $55.3 billion in discretionary spending, for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue.

*Police Body Cameras – Passage
Vote Passed (421-6, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and adopt a resolution that would recognize the potential for the use of body-worn cameras by on-duty law enforcement officers to improve community relations, increase transparency and protect.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Meat Labeling – Passage
Vote Passed (300-131, 2 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would repeal U.S. country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork and chicken that is sold in the United States.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Defense Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (278-149, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would provide $578.6 billion in discretionary funding for the Defense department in fiscal 2016. The total would include $490.2 billion in base Defense department funds and $88.4 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations account, and would provide that $37.5 billion in OCO funding be used in support of base budget requirements.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 6-14-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Patriot Act Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (67-32, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would modify domestic surveillance authorities by prohibiting the National Security Agency's bulk collection and storage of telephone metadata and limiting collection of other bulk data. The measure would require the NSA to obtain approval from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to examine the calling records of individual target telephone numbers on a case-by-case basis, before the request for information is made to a phone company, and limit the associated calling records of a telephone number that may be examined to two "hops" from the suspect's number - essentially codifying proposals made by the president in 2014.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (225-152, 55 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act through fiscal year 2019. The measure would authorize $397 million annually through fiscal year 2019 for federal activities to carry out the law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - Passage
Vote Passed (242-183, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would provide $51.4 billion in discretionary funds in fiscal 2016 for the departments of Commerce and Justice and other agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation. It would provide roughly $8.2 billion for the Commerce Department and roughly $27.9 billion for the Justice Department, including $8.5 billion for the FBI, $7.2 billion for the federal prison system and roughly $2 billion for state and local enforcement and crime prevention grant programs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 6-7-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Patriot Act Reauthorization – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (77-17, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on a bill that would modify domestic surveillance authorities by prohibiting the National Security Agency's bulk collection and storage of telephone metadata and ability to collect other bulk data.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

posted 5-31-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Trade Promotion Authority – Passage
Vote Passed (62-37, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would set specific conditions on the president of the United States when negotiating foreign trade agreements and grant Congress final approval on any agreement reached by the participating parties without amendment in an up or down vote. The bill would also extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program through June 30, 2021 at a level of $450 million a year.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Patriot Act Reauthorization - Cloture
Vote Rejected (57-42, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on a bill that would modify domestic surveillance authorities by prohibiting the National Security Agency's bulk collection and storage of telephone metadata and ability to collect other bulk data.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Two-Month FISA Reauthorization – Cloture
Vote Rejected (45-54, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on bill that would amend the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to extend until July 31, 2015, expiring provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Anti-Human Trafficking Programs and Victims Fund – Passage
Vote Passed (420-3, 9 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill that would authorize a number of programs to combat sex trafficking, particularly sex trafficking of minors. The bill would include provisions that would establish a fund to support trafficking victims, create a new victim-centered grant program to provide assistance to states and local law enforcement to bolster the investigation and prosecution of sex trafficking, and to help victims of such crimes; and bolster the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute sex trafficking, including by targeting individuals who purchase sex from human trafficking victims.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2016 Legislative Branch Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (357-67, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would provide $3.3 billion for legislative branch operations, excluding Senate operations, in fiscal 2016. The total would include $1.2 billion for House operations, $591 million in net appropriations for the Library of Congress, $522 million for the Government Accountability Office, $492 million for the Architect of the Capitol and $369 million for the Capitol Police. As amended, the bill would provide no funding for the Open World Leadership Center.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Science Programs Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (217-205, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would authorize $32.9 billion over fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 for a number of agencies that support scientific research, industrial innovation and certain educational activities. Within that total, the bill would annually authorize for those two fiscal years: $7.6 billion for the National Science Foundation, roughly $7.9 billion for various Energy Department activities, $939 million for the National institute of Standards and Technology and $5 million for the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

POSTED 5-25-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Trade Promotion Authority - Cloture
Vote Rejected (52-45, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on a bill that would set specific conditions on the president of the United States when negotiating foreign trade agreements and grant Congress final approval on any agreement reached by the participating parties without amendment in an up or down vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Waters of the United States – Passage
Vote Passed (261-155, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would effectively block the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing or implementing a proposed rule regarding the definition of the "Waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The bill would require the agencies to withdraw the proposal and develop a new rule with consultation from state and local officials and stakeholders.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Twenty-Week Abortion Ban – Passage
Vote Passed (242-184, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman's life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape if, as amended, for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Iran Nuclear Agreement Congressional Review – Passage
Vote Passed (400-25, 7 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill that would require that Congress be given an opportunity to review any final international agreement on Iran's nuclear program before the president could waive or suspend any sanctions on Iran that were imposed by Congress. Under the bill, Congress would have an initial 30 days to review any final nuclear pact with Iran, during which time the president could waive executive branch sanctions against Tehran - but could not use his authority to grant national security waivers for sanctions enacted into law by Congress.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (269-151, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would authorize $604.2 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2016, including $89.2 billion for overseas contingency operations, of which $38.3 billion would be authorized for non-war base budget operations and maintenance. Excluding the war funding, the bill would authorize roughly: $136.6 billion for operations and maintenance, $109.7 billion for procurement, $136.4 billion for military personnel, $7.3 billion for military construction and family housing, $68.4 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation, and $31.7 billion for the Defense Health Program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 5-17-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Budget Resolution - Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (53-44, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to Wyoming Sen. Michael B. Enzi's motion to proceed to the conference report on the concurrent resolution that would reduce spending by $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years, including $2 trillion in reductions from repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Iran Nuclear Agreement - Passage
Vote Passed (98-1, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would give Congress the right to deny Iran relief from statutory sanctions if two-thirds majorities from both chambers oppose the terms of a final nuclear deal. The bill would also require detailed reports on Iran's support of global terrorism and fulfillment of commitments under any agreement.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

posted 5-3-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Human Trafficking Victims' Fund - Passage
Vote Passed (99-0, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would establish a Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, to which both new criminal penalties and, as amended, matching funds from already appropriated money for community health centers would be transferred. Amounts originating from criminal fines would be prohibited from being used for health care or medical services.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Lynch Nomination – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (66-34)

The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture, thus limiting debate, on President Obama's nomination of Loretta E. Lynch of New York to be Attorney General.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards – Passage
Vote Passed (235-183, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would formally establish three advisory boards with which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must consult on matters regarding small businesses, credit unions and community banks. The measure is offset by limiting funding for the CFPB in future years.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 4-27-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

Medicare Payments to Physicians - Passage
Vote Passed (92-8)

The Senate passed a bill that would repeal the sustainable growth rate formula and replace it with a system in which physicians could choose to participate in either a reimbursement method where their payments would be subject to adjustments based on performance or a method where they would move away from the fee-for-service structure. It would provide for a 10-year transition period under which Medicare reimbursement rates would gradually increase annually until 2020 and then remain stable for five years. The bill is cleared for the president.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Manufactured Housing High-Cost Mortgages - Passage
Vote Passed (263-162, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would modify federal rules regarding high-cost-mortgages as they apply to manufactured housing, specifically by changing the definitions of "high-cost mortgage" and "mortgage originator" under federal law to reduce associated regulatory requirements. The measure would change the definition of high-cost mortgage by increasing the maximum rates and fees that a lender may charge on loans for manufactured housing without that mortgage being considered a high-cost mortgage.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*State and Local Sales Tax Deductions - Passage
Vote Passed (272-152, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would make permanent the ability of taxpayers to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes, which expired at the end of 2014. The measure would be effective for tax years beginning with 2015. Since he has never seen a tax he didn't love;

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Estate Tax Repeal – Passage
Vote Passed (240-179, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would repeal the federal estate tax. The measure also would repeal the generation-skipping transfer tax and reduce the top marginal rate for the federal gift tax from 40 percent to 35 percent. Again, he has never seen a tax he didn't love.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 4-5-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2016 Budget Resolution - Adoption
Vote Agreed to (52-46, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed adopted the concurrent resolution that would set broad spending and revenue targets over the next 10 years. It would allow $523 billion for defense discretionary spending and $493.5 billion for non-defense spending in fiscal 2016, the statutory level set by the 2011 budget law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Ukraine Military Assistance – Passage
Vote Passed (348-48, 36 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution stating that the House of Representatives "strongly urges" the president to fully and immediately exercise authorities provided by Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons systems in order to enhance the ability of the Ukrainian people to defend their sovereign territory from the "unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation."

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Veterans Affairs Future Budget Planning – Passage
Vote Passed (420-0, 12 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would direct the Veterans Affairs Department to annually submit to Congress a future-years veterans program with its budget request. The program would reflect estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for that fiscal year and succeeding four fiscal years, and would include a five-year plan for the department to meet its commitment to veterans, including the resources needed to do so.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 3-29-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Human Trafficking Restitution Fund - Cloture
Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture, and thus limiting debate, on the bill that would use fines and penalties against sex-trafficking perpetrators for more restitution and assistance funds for victims.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Volunteer Firefighters' Healthcare – Passage
Vote Passed (415-0, 17 Not Voting)

The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would clarify that qualified services rendered as a bona fide volunteer to an eligible employer do not count as employee hours of service for the purposes of the employer mandate under the 2010 health care overhaul.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*EPA Rule-Making Guidelines – Passage
Vote Passed (241-175, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would prohibit the EPA from proposing, finalizing or disseminating a rule or other covered action unless all scientific and technical information used to decide upon the rule is made available to the public so the research can be independently analyzed and reproduced.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*NLRB Case Representation Procedures – Passage
Vote Passed (232-186, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed a joint resolution that would provide for congressional disapproval and nullification of the National Labor Relations Board rule relating to case representation procedures.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 3-15-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Veto
Vote Not Sustained (62-37, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate's vote to override President Obama's Feb. 24, 2015 veto of the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state failed.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations – Motion to Recede and Concur
Vote Passed (257-167, 9 Not Voting)

The House agreed to a motion made by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho., to recede from the House amendment and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (HR 240) that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The motion cleared the bill for the president.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Amtrak Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (316-101, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would reauthorize Amtrak through fiscal 2019, and restructure funding according to Amtrak's major lines of business. It would authorize funds for Amtrak operating expenses in the Northeast corridor at the following levels: $439 million for fiscal 2016, $464 million for fiscal 2017, $480 million for fiscal 2018 and $498 million for fiscal 2019; and for Amtrak operating expenses within the national network at the following levels: $973 million for fiscal 2016, $974 million for fiscal 2017, $985 million for fiscal 2018 and $997 million for fiscal 2019.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 3-8-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage
Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill would include $12.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection; $6 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, including fees; $10 billion for the Coast Guard; $1.7 billion for the Secret Service; and $10.8 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $6.4 billion for emergency disaster relief.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Fiscal 2015 Homeland Department Continuing Resolution – Passage
Vote Failed (203-224, 6 Not Voting)

The House rejected a joint resolution that would make further continuing appropriations for the Homeland Security Department for fiscal 2015. The measure would extend funding for the department for three weeks, through March 19, 2015.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Education Savings Plan Expansion – Passage
Vote Passed (401-20, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would permanently expand the use of "529" educational savings plans by allowing tax-free distributions for students to buy computers and software. It also would eliminate the requirement that multiple 529 accounts held by a beneficiary be treated as a single account and exempt from taxation any amounts that are refunded from colleges as long as the beneficiary re-contributes the funds back into a 529 account within 60 days.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 2-22-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Child Pornography Victims Restitution - Passage
Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would expand restitution for victims of child pornography. The bill would expand a victim's losses to include medical services, therapy, rehabilitation, transportation, child care and lost income. It also would allow defendants who have contributed to the same victim's losses to spread the cost of restitution among themselves and establish minimum award levels for certain offenses.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage
Vote Passed (270-152, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Small Business Tax Extenders – Passage
Vote Passed (272-142, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would that would make permanent increased expensing limitations in the tax code that allow small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 of their equipment costs for a maximum of $2 million worth of property. The bill would make permanent the reduced recognition period for S corporations under which they could be taxed for sales of certain assets. It would make permanent a tax break for the charitable contributions of S corporations and allow them to qualify for the same tax exemptions that apply to individuals for charitable contributions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 2-15-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Cloture
Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill also would bar the use of funds to implement the administration's immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies. Sixty votes were required.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Healthcare Overhaul Repeal – Passage
Vote Passed (239-186, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would repeal the 2010 health care overhaul. The bill would delay the repeal by 180 days after enactment and direct several House committees to submit alternative legislation with a number of provisions, including ones to increase economic growth by eliminating certain regulations; lower health care premiums through increased competition; overhaul the medical liability system; and provide states greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Small Business Regulatory Revisions – Passage
Vote Passed (260-163, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would give the Small Business Administration new authority to ensure that federal agencies comply with a 1980 law requiring that they be flexible in taking regulatory actions that affect small businesses, including by getting more directly involved with an agency's reviews of proposed rules and requiring SBA to convene panels of small entities to review rules proposals.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 2-8-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Passage
Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Liquefied Natural Gas Exports - Passage
Vote Passed (277-133, 23 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would require the Energy Department to make a decision on pending applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of the bill's enactment or at the end of the public comment period, whichever is later. Under the bill, applications would have to publicly disclose the countries that would receive the proposed exports.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill.

posted 2-1-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a Schatz, D-Hawaii, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the amendment to 60 votes.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
Vote Agreed to (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to table (kill) a Sanders, I-Vt., amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and caused by human activities. It also would urge the U.S. to overhaul its energy system away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Energy Efficiency Standards
Vote Agreed to (94-5, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate adopted a Portman, R-Ohio, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would would direct the General Services Administration to establish best practices regarding energy-efficiency in commercial real estate buildings, including those that house federal agencies. It would require the GSA to incorporate energy-efficiency standards into its building leasing program for federal agencies.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage
Vote Passed (253-169, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny a natural gas pipeline project within one year after receiving a completed application. Federal agencies responsible for issuing permits would have to issue a ruling within 90 days of when FERC issues its final environmental statement for the project.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage
Vote Passed (242-179, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds, facilities or staff to provide abortion coverage and services, except in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the woman. It also would prohibit individuals and small business from receiving federal subsidies and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase plans that cover abortions.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 1-26-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

Keystone XL Pipeline - Cloture
Vote Agreed to (63-32, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted Not Voting
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Rulemaking Process Overhaul – Passage
Vote Passed (250-175, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rulemaking process by requiring agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider new criteria, including potential costs and benefits of alternatives. The bill would create additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing major rules with annual costs of more than $100 million, or high-impact rules with annual costs of more than $1 billion, including an advanced-notice comment period to determine whether the rule-making process should proceed.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage
Vote Passed (236-191, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. As amended the bill would bar the use of funds to implement the administration's immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Financial Regulatory Revisions - Passage
Vote Passed (271-154, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would modify numerous requirements under the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul. It would delay until July 2019 a requirement under the Volcker rule that banks sell off collateralized loan obligations, the complex securitization vehicles that are backed predominantly by commercial loans and exempt non-financial companies from margin requirements under the law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 1-18-15

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization – Passage
Vote Passed (93-4, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would extend the Terrorism Insurance Act for six years, through 2020, and raise the threshold of insured losses at which federal assistance kicks in, reducing the share of losses that federal assistance will cover and increasing the amounts that the government recoups from the insurance industry. It also would clarify that certain entities, or so-called "end users", who trade in derivatives are not subject to margin requirements for those derivatives.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Healthcare Employer Mandate – Passage
Vote Passed (252-172, 5 Not Voting)

This bill would modify who is covered as a full-time employee under the employer mandate in the 2010 health care law by replacing the 30 hour-a-week threshold with 40 hours per week. It also would change how companies calculate how many of their employees can be counted under the employer mandates’ 50-employee threshold.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage
Vote Passed (266-153, 1 Present, 9 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 12-14-14

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Executive Action on Immigration - Passage
Vote Passed (219-197, 3 Present, 15 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a bill that would prohibit the executive branch from exempting or deferring from deportation any immigrants considered to be unlawfully present in the United States. It also would prohibit the administration from treating those immigrants as if they were lawfully present or had lawful immigration status. Since he does not believe in national sovereignty, more American jobs or the security of the Untied States:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization - Motion to Concur
Vote Passed (300-119, 15 Not Voting)

The House voted to concur in the Senate amendment with a House amendment and pass the bill that would authorize $495.9 billion for the Defense Department's base budget, $17.5 billion for national security programs within the Energy Department and $63.7 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations including $5.1 billion to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 11-30-14

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Passage
Vote Failed (59-41)

The Senate rejected a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for passage of the bill to 60 votes. Oregon's two senators don't want the 40,000 new jobs, lower energy prices or increased energy independence.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Surveillance Authorities - Cloture
Vote Rejected (58-42)

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to a bill that would prohibit the bulk collection of domestic telephone and Internet metadata by intelligence agencies. It would allow intelligence agencies to query data held by telephone companies if the government can demonstrate the search is needed to fight terrorism.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*EPA Research Standards – Passage
Vote Passed (237-190, 7 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a bill that would prohibit the EPA from proposing, finalizing or disseminating a rule or other regulatory impact analysis or guidance unless all scientific and technical information used to support the research results is made publicly available and can be independently analyzed and reproduced. It also would clarify that environmental research law does not require the disclosure of information that is prohibited by law. DeFazio believes that the government has no obligation for transparency or to adhere to scientific facts.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 11-23-14

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Child Care and Development Block Grant - Cloture
Vote Agreed to (96-1, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to invoke cloture on a motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would reauthorize, through fiscal 2019, the Child Care and Development Block Grant program and institute new educational, health and safety standards on child care providers that receive funds.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Keystone XL Pipeline - Passage
Vote Passed (252-161, 1 Present, 20 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Apparently, Peter Defazio doesn't care about 40,000 new jobs, energy independence or lower fuel prices.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 9-28-14

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Equal Pay - Cloture
Vote Rejected (52-40, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on a bill that would require employers to demonstrate that wage gaps between men and women with similar qualifications and in similar jobs have a business justification. It would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information and authorize the Labor secretary to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in a sex discrimination action.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Fiscal 2015 Continuing Resolution - Passage
Vote Passed (78-22)

The Senate voted to clear for the president's signature a joint resolution that would provide funding for federal government operations until Dec. 11, 2014, at an annualized rate of $1.012 trillion. It would provide $88 million for government efforts to fight the Ebola virus, provide U.S. border agencies with budget flexibility to maintain current border protection and enforcement activities and extend the Export-Import Bank's operating authority through June 30, 2015.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Fiscal 2015 Continuing Resolution - Passage
Vote Passed (319-108, 4 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a joint resolution that would provide funding for federal government operations until Dec. 11, 2014, at an annualized rate of $1.012 trillion. It would provide $88 million for government efforts to fight the Ebola virus, provide U.S. border agencies with budget flexibility to maintain current border protection and enforcement activities, and extend the Export-Import Bank's operating authority through June 30, 2015.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 9-21-14

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Campaign Finance Constitutional Amendment - Cloture
Vote Rejected (54-42, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow federal and state lawmakers to set limits on money raised and spent by candidates and others to influence elections. The amendment would give Congress and the states the power to distinguish between people and "corporations or other artificial entities created by law" and to block such entities from spending money on elections.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted - YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted - YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Water Regulation - Passage
Vote Passed (262-152, 17 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a bill that would prohibit the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing an expansion of the federal water pollution law. Since he always supports more government regulation:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - NO

*Health Plan Extensions - Passage
Vote Passed (247-167, 17 Not Voting)

The House voted to pass a bill that would allow health insurers to continue providing any group health plans offered in 2013 to existing or new enrollees, even if the plans do not comply with the coverage requirements under the 2010 health care law. The measure also would consider those plans as grandfathered and thus not subject to penalties for not complying with the law's individual mandate. Again, DeFazio supports more government intrusion into our lives.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted - NO

6-17-2010

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Motion to Invoke Cloture on Baucus Substitute Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010
Vote Rejected (56-40, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected the motion to end debate and vote on this $118 billion version of the bill to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits due to concerns about the federal deficit. Apparently Senators Wyden and Merkley aren't concerned about the increasing deficits and the taxpayers' ability to fund this additional spending. The Senate is likely to continue its work on the bill this week.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010
Vote Passed (241-182, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would establish a $30 billion lending fund administered by the Treasury Department to invest in financial institutions, like community banks, with the intention of expanding the availability of credit to small businesses. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-2-2010

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability,
and Divestment Act
Vote Passed (99-0, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate unanimously approved the conference report to this bill that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran. The House voted on the conference report later that day.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

7-21-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012
Vote Passed (97-2, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed its version of the military construction and Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year. The $144 billion bill differs slightly from the House version that passed on June 14. A conference committee will work out a final bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Table; Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011
Vote Agreed to (51-46, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to this motion to table the House-passed "Cut, Cap and Balance" debt ceiling and balanced-budget plan. This was the best bill so far presented that would have brought government spending under control while raising the debt ceiling to avert an economic meltdown. The move essentially kills the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES. He and Merkeley are more interested in playing partisan politics than they are in representing the best interests of the people of the United States.

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Cut, Cap, and Balance Act
Vote Passed (234-190, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would make a debt ceiling increase contingent on passage of a balanced-budget constitutional amendment. The White House indicated the president would veto it. The Senate rejected the bill later in the week.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO in keeping with his agenda that government is the answer to all problems and that all the people's money belongs to government.

*Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011
Vote Passed (241-173, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to alter the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a mortgage and credit card watchdog group created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law. The bill would raise the threshold by which the Financial Stability Oversight Council can overturn CFPB regulations and require Senate confirmation of a director before the CFPB can begin operating. The Senate is unlikely to pass the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. Again, DeFazio has shown that he believes that all power should reside in government bureaucrats rather than common sense.

*Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012
Vote Passed (252-159, 21 Not Voting)

This $3.3 billion bill would fund the legislative branch in the upcoming fiscal year. It marks a 6.4 percent reduction from the current funding level. It is not clear when the Senate will take up the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. Heaven forbid that DeFazio vote for some sort of cut to government spending.

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Invoke Cloture on Reid Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010
Vote Rejected (57-41, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected the motion to end debate on this latest version of a bill to extend several expired tax provisions and unemployment benefits due to concerns about the federal deficit. After failing to agree on how to pay for the bill, Senate Democratic leaders have decided to move on to other legislation, and the bill?s future is unclear.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act
Vote Passed (219-206, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill along party lines that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities. This has been reported upon in the media as the DISCLOSE ACT. It is the congress' way of circumventing the Supreme Court's ruling protecting the fight to free speech for EVERYONE. Apparently DeFazio believes that only certain special interest groups deserve the right to free speech. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability,
and Divestment Act
Vote Passed (408-8, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting)

The House approved the conference report to this legislation that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, sending it to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-9-2010

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation of Gen. David H. Petraeus to be General
Vote Confirmed (99-0)

The Senate unanimously confirmed Gen. Petraeus for reappointment to the grade of general and to be commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. This, after Democrats savaged Petraeus for creating the “Surge” that was so successful under President Bush. Is there some hypocrisy here?

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Invoke Cloture on Reid Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010
Vote Rejected (58-38, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate once again rejected the motion to end debate on this latest version of a bill to extend several expired tax provisions and unemployment benefits due to concerns about the federal deficit. The bill?'s future still remains unclear. Neither Wyden nor Merkley seem to be concerned about the blooming federal deficit. They'll be happy to vote for anything that spends more of your money!

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act
Vote Passed (409-5, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed this legislation to extend the required closing date for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, allowing individuals who have already entered a contract by April 30 to close on the purchase no later than September 30, 2010. The Senate passed the bill by a voice vote the next day, sending it to the president. The president signed it into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Vote Passed (237-192, 4 Not Voting)

The House passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation. This will effectively bring the banking industry under the same controls as the auto makers the government took over. How long will it be before the federal government owns and/or controls all means of production in this country? What kind of representative would support this nonsense? It now awaits Senate approval.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act

Vote Passed (270-153, 10 Not Voting)

The House approved this bill to further extend eligibility for extended federal unemployment insurance for laid-off workers through November 30. The bill, which would also make these changes retroactive to June 2. Like Wyden and Merkley, DeFazio doesn't seem to understand the country is out of money and that 62 cents of every dollar they want to spend is being borrowed from China. How will we ever pay it back? The bill now heads to the Senate, where its future is not clear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Vote Agreed to (60-39)

The Senate passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation. It imposes additional fees on banks which will be passed along to consumers. It also gives the government access to all individuals' accounts as well as increases taxes on certain kinds of investments. The president signed the bill into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Telework Improvements Act
Vote Passed (290-131, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would set standards for federal employees working remotely. It would require the head of each federal agency to establish and implement a policy that would allow employees to work remotely as much as possible without diminishing agency operations or performance. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act
Vote Passed (329-90, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed this legislation that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program through September 2015. The bill heads to the Senate next.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

8-20-2010

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010
Vote Agreed to (59-39, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill to extend unemployment benefits through November 30, making the extension retroactive to June 2 when the last extension expired. This bill adds another $36 billion to the public debt and ignored a similar bill introduced by Massachusetts Representative Scott Brown which would have been deficit neutral. Both Wyden and Merkley would rather increase the national debt rather than vote for a bill introduced by a Republican. Because it was amended by the Senate, it was sent back to the House for final approval.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010
Vote Rejected (46-51, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected the House?s amendment to this legislation funding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and providing for additional funding for foreign aid and disaster assistance. The amendment would have added $22.8 billion in additional domestic pork barrel spending. Of course, both Wyden and Merkley voted for the pork and the additional $22.8 billion added to the already $1.4 trillion deficit . The House is expected to approve the bill without the amendment.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010
Vote Passed (271-152, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to extend unemployment benefits through November 30, making the extension retroactive to June 2 when the last extension expired. The bill will add an additonal $36 billion to the already $1.4 trillion deficit. It was then sent to the president, who signed it the same day.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

9-10-2010 issue

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act
Vote Agreed to (61-39)

The Senate passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers? jobs. Most of that money went to pay teachers' salaries and as a bailout for the teachers' pension funds. Very little went towards the classrooms. The House must vote on the bill next.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act
Vote Rejected (57-41, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected ending debate on this campaign finance disclosure legislation. It is an effort by Democrats to limit the political voice of their opponents. The bill will likely not return to the Senate floor until September.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010
Vote Rejected (58-42)

The Senate rejected ending debate on this bill that aims to expand the availability of credit to small businesses. As with other bills purported to benefit specific groups, there are so many strings attached that few businesses would be likely to avail themselves of this program. The Senate may work more on the bill this week.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act
Vote Passed (247-161, 25 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs. Most of that money went to pay teachers' salaries and as a bailout for the teachers' pension funds. Very little went towards the classrooms. The bill was then sent to the president, who signed it into law on the same day.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010
Vote Passed (308-114, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed this $58.8 billion bill funding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and providing for additional funding for foreign aid and disaster assistance. The bill then went to the president, who signed it into law on Thursday.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011
Vote Passed (411-6, 15 Not Voting)

The House approved this $141.1 billion bill funding military construction projects and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011
Vote Passed (251-167, 14 Not Voting)

The House approved this $126.3 billion legislation funding the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

9-24-2010 issue

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation of Jane Branstetter Stranch, of Tennessee, to be US Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Vote Confirmed (71-21, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Jane Branstetter Stranch, a Nashville attorney, to the federal bench.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010
Vote Passed (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would provide for a variety of small-business tax provisions, including a revival of an expired bonus depreciation provision to allow companies to write off assets more quickly. The bill now returns to the House, which is expected to agree to Senate amendments and clear the bill for the President's signature.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Rural Energy Savings Program Act
Vote Passed (240-172, 20 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would authorize $5 billion over five years to create two energy efficiency loan programs. The intent is to create more and more “Clean and Green” energy programs that are not economically viable without taxpayer subsidies making us more and more dependent on foreign energy sources. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation of Jane Branstetter Stranch, of Tennessee, to be US Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Vote Confirmed (71-21, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Jane Branstetter Stranch, a Nashville attorney, to the federal bench.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010
Vote Passed (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Rural Energy Savings Program Act
Vote Passed (240-172, 20 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

4-8-2011

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination
Act of 2011
Vote Passed (87-12, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to this bill repealing a provision of the 2010 health care bill requiring businesses to report payments to vendors over $600 to the Internal Revenue Service. The House passed the bill last month. The president is expected to sign it into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*To ban EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions
Vote Rejected (50-50)

During work on the small business bill, the Senate fell short of the 60 votes required to pass this amendment that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases for the purpose of addressing climate change. The House passed a stand-alone bill later in the week, but its future is unclear at this time.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011
Vote Passed (255-172, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases for the purpose of addressing climate change. A similar measure failed in the Senate earlier in the week.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Net Neutrality Disapproval
Vote Passed (240-179, 13 Not Voting)

This resolution would nullify a Federal Communications Commission rule prohibiting broadband Internet service providers from blocking content or traffic. Supporters of the resolution say the FCC does not have the authority to regulate the Internet, while opponents contend the regulations are necessary to provide unfettered access to the Internet. A companion resolution has been introduced in the Senate but its future is unclear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011
Vote Passed (348-70, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this one-week appropriations measure, giving negotiators time to draft the full-year appropriations measure. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent and the president signed the measure into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

4-25-2011 issue

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2011 Health Care Overhaul Funding
Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate rejected this enrollment correction resolution that would have blocked funding for the implementation of the health care law in the 2011 fiscal year spending bill since the country is out of money. The House adopted the resolution. Both chambers had to pass the resolution for it to be included in the final spending bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2011 Planned Parenthood Funding
Vote Rejected (42-58)

The Senate rejected this enrollment correction resolution that would have blocked funding for Planned Parenthood in the 2011 fiscal year spending bill. Funding abortion is more important to the Democrat controlled Senate than living within our budget. The House adopted the resolution. Both chambers had to pass the resolution for it to be included in the final spending bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Fiscal 2011 Spending Agreement
Vote Passed (81-19)

The Senate gave final approval to this bill funding the government through the end of the current fiscal year since Oprsident Obama and the Democrat controlled congress did not pass a budget in the last session. Based on the agreement negotiated to prevent a government shutdown, the bill provides $1.055 trillion in federal spending. The president signed the bill into law on Friday, April 15.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund
Vote Passed (236-183, 13 Not Voting)

This House bill would eliminate funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was established by the health care law. Supporters of the bill say there is no accountability to determine where the money is spent. Opponents of the bill say it would defund important prevention programs. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2011 Spending Agreement
Vote Passed (260-167, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year since President Obama and the Democrat controlled congress did not pass a budget in the last session. Based on the agreement negotiated to prevent a government shutdown, the bill provides $1.055 trillion in federal spending. The Senate passed the bill later in the day, clearing it for the president.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2011 Health Care Overhaul Funding
Vote Passed (240-185, 7 Not Voting)

Following passage of the 2011 spending bill, the House adopted this enrollment correction resolution that would have blocked funding for the implementation of the health care law since the country is out of money. The Senate rejected the resolution so it will not be part of the final spending bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2011 Planned Parenthood Funding
Vote Passed (241-185, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

Following passage of the 2011 spending bill, the House adopted this enrollment correction resolution that would have blocked funding for Planned Parenthood. Funding abortion is more important to DeFazio than living within our budget. The Senate rejected the resolution so it will not be part of the final spending bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Fiscal 2012 House Budget Resolution
Vote Passed (235-193, 4 Not Voting)

The House passed a budget resolution that calls for $1.019 trillion in discretionary spending in the 2012 fiscal year. The budget resolution would allow for $2.859 trillion in overall spending. The resolution is non-binding but is used as a guideline for appropriators. The Senate is expected to work on its budget after the recess.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

5-17-2011 issue

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation John J. McConnell, Jr. of Rhode Island, to be U.S. District Judge
Vote Confirmed (50-44, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed attorney John J. McConnell to be a district court judge in Rhode Island.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*To repeal mandatory funding provided to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges
Vote Passed (238-183, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to eliminate federal grants to states to set up health insurance exchanges. The grants are part of the 2010 health care bill which requires each state to establish an exchange by 2014. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*To repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction
Vote Passed (235-191, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would repeal a section in the 2010 health care bill providing funding for the construction of school-based health centers. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
Vote Passed (251-175, 6 Not Voting)

This bill would prohibit federal funds from being used for abortions, except in the cases of rape, incest or danger to the woman's life. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate, but it is unlikely to gain any traction.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act
Vote Passed (266-149, 17 Not Voting)

This House bill would require the Interior Department to sell oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia. The bill's future in the Senate is uncertain.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Ed. Note: Apparently Rep. Peter DeFazio is still in favor of Obama Care even though he didn't read it before he voted for it. He also favors federal taxpayer money for abortions but opposes drilling for oil to reduce American dependence on foreign oil and reduce gasoline prices.

5-23-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cloture Motion; James M. Cole to be Deputy Attorney General
Vote Rejected (50-40, 10 Not Voting)

The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate and move to a final vote on the nomination of James M. Cole to be deputy attorney general. Cole was given a recess appointment in December 2010.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act
Vote Passed (263-163, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would expedite the permitting process for lessees seeking to drill for oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico. The Interior Department would be required to review applications within 30 days, with the option of extending the review period to 60 days. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. Peter DeFazio doesn't believe we should have people working.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act
Vote Passed (243-179, 9 Not Voting)

This House bill would require the Interior Department to open certain unused areas of the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and natural gas drilling. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. Peter DeFazio likes high gas prices and doesn't believe people should go back to work.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
Vote Passed (392-15, 24 Not Voting)

The House approved this bill authorizing intelligence-related programs for the current fiscal year. Funding levels authorized for the 16 intelligence gathering agencies are classified, but it is estimated to be around $80 billion. The Senate version of the bill is currently at a standstill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

5-31-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*FY2012 House Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (40-57, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to proceed to consideration of the House-passed 2012 fiscal year budget resolution. Since Democrats wouldn't pass a budget in the two years they had control of congress and the presidency, they are still trying to prevent any type of reasonable spending restrictions.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Motion to Proceed; Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act
Vote Rejected (52-48)

The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed to consideration of this bill that would end certain tax breaks for large oil companies. The bill may resurface as part of the upcoming budget negotiations. Of course, our Senators from Oregon voted to increase gas prices.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011
Vote Rejected (42-57, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to take up this bill intended to increase offshore oil production. The bill is similar to the offshore oil bills passed in the House earlier this month. Again, our Senators from Oregon are in favor of keeping us dependent on foreign oil and keeping gas prices high.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Cloture Motion; Nomination of Goodwin Liu to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit
Vote Rejected (52-43, 1 Present, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected this cloture motion on the nomination of Goodwin Liu to be a federal appeals court judge. A cloture motion requires 60 votes to end debate and move on to a final vote. Liu has a track record of legislating from the bench and he believes the Constitution should be reinterpreted to allow the federal government more power.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

6-13-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Debt Limit Increase
Vote Failed (97-318, 7 Present, 9 Not Voting)

The House rejected this bill to raise the public debt limit by $2.4 trillion. The government is expected to hit the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2, 2011. Negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders are ongoing.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2012
Vote Passed (231-188, 13 Not Voting)

This bill would provide the Department of Homeland Security with $42.3 billion in funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The total is 2.6% less than the current fiscal year. The bill includes $1 billion in emergency spending for disaster aid. Senate appropriators have not drafted their version of the bill yet.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Use of Ground Forces in Libya
Vote Passed (268-145, 1 Present, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed this resolution stating the chamber’s opposition to deploying ground forces in Libya and requiring President Obama to report the strategy for U.S. involvement in combat operations in Libya to Congress within 14 days. The resolution is non-binding.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Libya Troop Withdrawal
Vote Failed (148-265, 19 Not Voting)

The House failed to pass this resolution that would have forced the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Libya within 15 days.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-1-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Ethanol subsidies amendment
Vote Agreed to (73-27)

During work on the Economic Development Administration bill, the Senate adopted this amendment to eliminate a tax credit refiners receive for adding ethanol to gasoline and a tariff on imported ethanol.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations, FY2012
Vote Passed (411-5, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this $143.9 billion bill that would fund the Veterans Affairs Department and the Defense Department’s construction activities for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill marks a two percent increase over the current year’s level. The Senate has not yet begun work on its version of the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Agriculture Appropriations, FY2012
Vote Passed (217-203, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would provide $125.5 billion in the upcoming fiscal year for the Agriculture Department. The bill would cut discretionary spending by thirteen percent over the current amount and increase mandatory spending by three percent. The Senate has not yet begun work on its version of the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

7-6-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation of Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense
Vote Confirmed (100-0)

Current CIA Director Leon E. Panetta was confirmed to be the next Secretary of Defense. Panetta succeeds Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of June.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011
Vote Passed (253-166, 12 Not Voting)

This House bill would require the EPA to complete action within six months on air pollution permit applications for offshore oil and gas drilling. A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate but its future is unclear. The administration opposes the bill. In keeping with past positions on energy issues, Peter DeFazio still has no interest in making America self-sufficient.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*America Invents Act
Vote Passed (304-117, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would make changes to the patent system. In essence, it would screw inventors and benefit big banks. The Senate passed its version of the bill in March 2011. Negotiators will likely meet this summer to work out a compromise bill. The administration has expressed support for the House bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya
Vote Failed (123-295, 13 Not Voting)

The House rejected a resolution that would have authorized the use of U.S. military force in Libya for one year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*To limit the use of funds to support NATO Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya
Vote Failed (180-238, 13 Not Voting)

The House rejected this bill that would have defunded U.S. military involvement in NATO activities in Libya. U.S. participation would have been restricted to support operations such as intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-15-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011
Vote Passed (79-20, 1 Not Voting)

This bill is an attempt for the Senate to abrogate its responsibilities as elected representatives of the people. It would reduce the number of executive branch appointees requiring Senate approval. Its future in the House is unclear.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Confirmation of David H. Petraeus to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Vote Confirmed (94-0, 6 Not Voting)

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus was confirmed to be the new CIA director. Petraeus, currently the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is expected to begin work in September.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

7-22-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Better Use of Light Bulbs Act
Vote Failed (233-193, 1 Present, 4 Not Voting)

The House rejected this bill that would have repealed energy efficiency standards that are expected to lead to a phase out of the traditional incandescent light bulb. A two-thirds vote was necessary to pass the bill under suspension of the rules. The bill is likely to come up again under a rule or as part of another bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. He apparently believes that Americans should pay more for light bulbs and endanger themselves and their families with the new mercuroy containing bulbs.

*Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011
Vote Passed (239-184, 8 Not Voting)

This House bill would limit the EPA’s authority to override a state’s water pollution standards in favor of stricter standards. It is unclear if the Senate will take up the bill. The White House has issued a veto threat.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. Defazio believes the federal government should usurp state's rights and have control of EVERYTHING!

*Energy-Water Appropriations, FY2012
Vote Passed (219-196, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this 2012 fiscal year spending bill that would provide $30.6 billion to the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers and various water projects. The Senate has not written its version of the bill yet.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

8-21-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Confirmation of Robert S. Mueller III to be Director of the FBI
Vote Confirmed (100-0)

The Senate agreed to extend the term of Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert S. Mueller III through September 4, 2013. The FBI director is limited to one 10-year term and Mueller’s term began in August 2001. The president signed legislation earlier in the week to allow Mueller to serve an additional two years.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Budget Control Act of 2011
Vote Agreed to (74-26)

The Senate gave final approval to this bill to raise the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion with no real cuts to spending, only a small reduction in the rate of government growth. President Obama signed the bill into law a short time later.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*North American-Made Energy Security Act
Vote Passed (279-147, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

This House bill would require the White House to decide by November 1 whether to allow construction of a 1,700 mile oil pipeline running from Canada to U.S. refineries in the Midwest and Gulf Coast. The application to build the pipeline was made nearly three years ago. The White House said the State Department is committed to completing its review by the end of the year and called the bill "unnecessary."

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. As usual, DeFazio any type of carbon based energy independence for America.

*Budget Control Act of 2011
Vote Passed (269-161, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that raises the debt limit, slows the rate of growth in discretionary spending for ten years, establishes a bipartisan committee to identify additional spending cuts, and requires a vote on a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. The Senate gave final approval to the bill the next day, clearing it for the president.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

9-15-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
Vote Passed (89-9, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to this bill that would change the way patents are awarded from “first to invent” to “first to file.” The overhaul is intended to speed up the process of awarding patents. The House passed the bill in June. President Obama has signed it into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Debt limit disapproval
Vote Rejected (45-52, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected this motion to take up a resolution that would have disapproved a $500 billion debt limit increase. Under the budget law enacted on August 2, the debt limit was increased by $400 billion. A second increase of $500 billion will automatically take effect unless Congress passes a disapproval measure. The Senate's failure to disapprove this half billion dollar increase in the debt limit is another nail in the coffin of our already stressed national economy and another failure by our elitist senators to get rampant government spending under control.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Intelligence Authorization Act, FY 2012
Vote Passed (384-14, 33 Not Voting)

This House bill would authorize spending for the 16 intelligence agencies in the upcoming fiscal year. The cost of the bill is classified. The Senate is expected to take up the bill later this year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

9-24-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Emergency Supplemental Disaster Relief Appropriations Resolution, 2011
Vote Agreed to (62-37, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to add supplemental disaster relief funding to legislation extending the trade sanctions on Myanmar, still commonly known as Burma. The bill, later passed by unanimous consent, would provide $6.9 billion in immediate aid. The vote came after the Senate rejected two proposals to offset the cost of the funding.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011
Vote Passed (92-6, 2 Not Voting)

On Thursday, the Senate approved this bill to extend FAA programs through January 2012 and surface transportation authorization through March 2012. The House had passed the bill by voice vote earlier in the week. Aviation programs were scheduled to expire on September 16, and highway programs would have expired this week. The president signed the bill last Friday.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act
Vote Passed (365-54, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to expand successful charter school programs, the first part of an effort to overhaul and reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act. The Senate is likely to consider charter school legislation as part of a broader reauthorization of No Child Left Behind rather than as a stand-alone bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act
Vote Passed (238-186, 9 Not Voting)

The House approved this legislation to limit the authority of the National Labor Relations Board. The bill prohibits the board from ordering an employer to restore, shut down or relocate operations. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, as expected, voted NO. He would rather back this power play by union leadership through NLRB than see new American jobs created.

10-10-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011
Vote Passed (70-27, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would provide additional assistance to workers affected by foreign trade agreements. It would also revive the Generalized System of Preferences program that is intended to help developing countries expand their trade. Speaker John Boehner said the House will consider the bill if the president submits trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Short-Term Continuing Appropriations
Vote Passed (219-203, 11 Not Voting)

This bill would fund the government through the first seven weeks of the 2012 fiscal year, which starts on October 1. The bill offsets an increase in federal disaster aid by reducing funding for two Energy Department loan programs. The Senate subsequently rejected the bill and scheduled a vote on an alternate version this week.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Cumulative Regulatory Analysis
Vote Passed (249-169, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would delay the EPA’s implementation of two air pollution regulations. The bill also requires the president to establish a commission to report on the cost of certain EPA regulations. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. As usual, DeFazio's vote indicates he supports rampant government over regulation without accountability regarding cost.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

10-18-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Vote Passed (352-66, 15 Not Voting)

The House gave final approval to this measure that funds the government through November 18 at the level agreed to in the August debt limit law. The new fiscal year began on October 1 with none of the annual spending bills completed. President Obama signed the bill into law the next day.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011
Vote Passed (262-161, 10 Not Voting)

The House voted to delay the EPA’s implementation of air pollution rules for cement plants by 15 months. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. The White House has also threatened to veto the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

10-30-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011
Vote Passed (63-35, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill last week that would allow economic sanctions to be placed on China for keeping its currency value artificially low. The House is unlikely to vote on the measure.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*American Jobs Act of 2011
Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate did not reach the necessary 60 votes to end debate on the president’s comprehensive $447 billion jobs bill, which is essentially a jobs bill for public employees unions, effectively tabling the legislation. Parts of the bill will likely be considered in multiple smaller bills.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (83-15, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to implement a trade pact with South Korea. The House approved the bill earlier in the day and the president is expected to sign the bill into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (77-22, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate approved a trade pact with Panama. The House passed the bill earlier the same day and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (66-33, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill to implement a trade agreement with Colombia. The House approved the bill earlier in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*Confirmation of John Edgar Bryson to be Secretary of Commerce
Vote Confirmed (74-26)

The Senate confirmed John Bryson as Secretary of Commerce. Bryson succeeds Gary Locke, who is now the ambassador to China.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act of 2011
Vote Rejected (50-50)

Last week the Senate rejected consideration of this bill that would allocate $30 billion in grants to state and local governments to pay to hire or retain teachers and $5 billion in grants to governments and other groups to pay for law enforcement officers and emergency personnel. This was one component of the president’s broader jobs bill that was rejected earlier in the month.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
Vote Agreed to (82-16, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate reached the necessary 60 votes to end debate on a legislative package that combines the fiscal 2012 Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science (S 1572) and Transportation-HUD (S 1596) appropriations bills. When they return from a weeklong recess, senators will resume consideration of the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (262-167, 4 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to implement a trade pact with Colombia. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (300-129, 4 Not Voting)

The House approved this bill to implement a trade pact with Panama. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Vote Passed (278-151, 4 Not Voting)

The House passed this trade agreement with South Korea. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, being an ideologue incapable of rational thought, voted NO

*EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011
Vote Passed (275-142, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would delay EPA emissions rules for boilers, solid-waste incinerators and process heaters, requiring the EPA to re-propose the rules and finalize them exactly 15 months after the bill’s enactment. The Senate is unlikely to vote on the legislation.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

11-13-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
Vote Passed (69-30, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this “minibus” bill making appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. The bill provides the five departments with $128 billion in discretionary funds for the 2012 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2011. House and Senate conferees have begun meeting to work out a compromise bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Rebuild America Jobs Act
Vote Rejected (51-49)

The Senate fell short of the 60 vote threshold needed to move forward on this part of the president’s jobs bill that would have provided $60 billion for transportation projects and created a national infrastructure bank as well as requiring that union labor be used at these projects.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011
Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate also fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the Republican alternative that would have reauthorized highway programs for two years and overhauled certain regulations.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act
Vote Passed (235-186, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to transfer a parcel of federal land near Superior, AZ to Resolution Copper Mining. The Senate is unlikely to approve the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Modify Income Calculation for Eligibility for Certain Health Programs
Vote Passed (262-157, 14 Not Voting)

This House bill would take into account a person’s Social Security benefits when determining eligibility for government health care programs. The 2010 health care law excludes Social Security when calculating eligibility. The bill is intended to pay for revenue lost due to H.R.674. The White House supports this measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Government Contractor Withholding Repeal Act
Vote Passed (405-16, 12 Not Voting)

The House voted to repeal a requirement that government agencies withhold 3 percent of payments to government contractors. The bill will be paired with H.R.2576 and sent to the Senate. The White House has also expressed support for the withholding measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

11-30-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Motion to Proceed; Net Neutrality disapproval
Vote Rejected (46-52, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a move to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission’s "net neutrality" rule from taking effect on November 20. The rule will prohibit broadband service providers from blocking content or applications and allow government to dictate what constitutes “acceptable” content.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Motion to Proceed; Cross-border air pollution rule disapproval
Vote Rejected (41-56, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected this move to nullify an Environmental Protection Agency rule on cross-state air pollution targeting emissions from power plants.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Government Contractor Withholding Repeal Act
Vote Passed (95-0, 1 Present, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to repeal a requirement that government agencies withhold 3 percent of payments to government contractors. The chamber amended the bill to give tax credits to companies that hire unemployed veterans. The House is expected to take up the amended bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

12-8-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
Vote Agreed to (70-30)

The Senate gave final approval to this "minibus" spending bill that combines the 2012 fiscal year Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills. The bill also contains a continuing resolution to keep the rest of the government funded through December 16. The president signed the bill into law the next day. The nine remaining annual appropriations bills may be combined into one bill after the Thanksgiving recess.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011
Vote Passed (272-154, 7 Not Voting)

This House bill would allow citizens with a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun across state lines. The bill's future in the Senate is unclear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
Vote Passed (298-121, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed the conference report for this "minibus" spending bill that combines the 2012 fiscal year Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills. The bill also contains a continuing resolution to keep the rest of the government funded through December 16. The Senate passed the bill later in the day, clearing it for the president. The nine remaining annual appropriations bills may be combined into one bill after the Thanksgiving recess.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States
Vote Failed (261-165, 8 Not Voting)

The House fell 23 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass this balanced-budget constitutional amendment. Under the terms of the August debt limit law, both chambers are required to consider a balanced-budget amendment by the end of 2011. The Senate is expected to consider the proposal in December.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

12-17-11

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*National Defense Authorization Act, FY2012
Vote Passed (93-7)

The Senate passed this bill authorizing $662 billion in defense spending for the current fiscal year. The bill contains provisions requiring suspected terrorists to be held in military custody and places sanctions on Iran. The House passed its version of the bill in May. A conference committee will meet to work out a compromise bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act
Vote Passed (235-188, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would build in a waiting period between the time workers file petitions to unionize and the time the vote occurs. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

In keeping with his policy of supporting union thugs, Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*To reduce Federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions and by terminating the Election Assistance Commission
Vote Passed (235-190, 8 Not Voting)

This House bill would terminate taxpayer funding of presidential campaigns and conventions. Public funding began in 1976. The bill would also eliminate the Election Assistance Commission, which was established in 2002 to help states to update their voting machines. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011
Vote Passed (263-159, 11 Not Voting)

This bill would allow the Small Business Administration to intervene in the regulatory process when small businesses are affected. The Senate is unlikely to act on the measure, which is also opposed by the White House.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES
*Regulatory Accountability Act
Vote Passed (253-167, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would require federal agencies to choose the "least costly" option when writing new federal regulations. Agencies would also be required to provide indirect cost estimates and predictions of job gains or losses. The White House opposes the bill.

Since he opposes reining in governmental power and abuse, Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

1-31-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cloture on the Nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

Vote Rejected (53-45, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to reach the sixty votes needed to move forward on the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul, is responsible for overseeing financial products like home loans and credit cards.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011

Vote Rejected (50-48, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Democratic proposal to reduce the employee share of the payroll tax from 4.2 to 3.1 percent for 2012. The employer share would stay at 6.2 percent. The payroll tax funds the Social Security trust fund. A law passed in December 2010 is set to expire at the end of 2011 that reduced the employee share from 6.2 to 4.2 percent.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Proceed; Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act

Vote Rejected (22-76, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Republican proposal to freeze the employee share of the payroll tax at 4.2 percent. The proposal offsets the cost by freezing federal pay and reducing the federal workforce by attrition.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Balanced Budget Amendment

Vote Rejected (21-79)

The Senate rejected the Democratic balanced-budget amendment that would have taken Social Security off the books and prohibited Congress from cutting taxes for millionaires if the cut increased the deficit. A two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers to send constitutional amendments to the states for ratification.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO. True to form, Merkley is in favor of ramopant congressional spending without limits.

*Balanced Budget Amendment

Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate rejected the Republican balanced-budget amendment proposal that would have required a two-thirds majority in both chambers to increase taxes and limited federal spending to 18 percent of the country’s economic output. The August debt limit law required both chambers to consider balanced-budget amendments before the end of the year.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Defense Authorization, FY2012

Vote Agreed to (86-13, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this $662 billion measure for the president that authorizes defense policies for the current fiscal year. The House passed the bill the previous day. This is the bill that will allow the president to define who and what constitutes terrorism and detain United States Citizens without legal recourse on American soil.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Reid-McConnell Amdt.; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Vote Agreed to (89-10, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate approved this amendment to H.R.3630 that replaces the House bill with the Senate’s compromise bill. The amended bill would extend by 2 months the Social Security payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed. The deal also includes a provision directing the White House to expedite the decision on the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The bill subsequently passed by unanimous consent. It is unclear as of press time if the House will pass the Senate bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

Vote Passed (72-27, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this bill to provide $8.6 billion in disaster relief and to combat Social Security fraud, sending it to the president for his signature. The House passed this bill the previous day.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012

Vote Agreed to (67-32, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to the conference report for this $915 billion "megabus" spending bill that provides funds for the rest of the fiscal year for the remaining nine annual appropriations bills. The nine bills are the Military Construction-VA, Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The House passed the bill the previous day. The president is expected to sign the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011

Vote Passed (241-184, 8 Not Voting)

This bill would require congressional approval of federal regulations that are expected to cost the economy $100 million or more or have a significant effect on consumer prices. Currently, regulations take effect unless both Congress and the president approve a resolution disapproving of them. The White House opposes the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. DeFazio believes that unelected and unaccountable federal agencies should be able to pursue agendas to implement rules without congressional oversight.

*Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011

Vote Passed (268-150, 15 Not Voting)

This House-passed bill would prevent the EPA from revising air standards concerning dust from farm operations for one year. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. The White House has also issued a veto threat.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO. Again, DeFazio is in favor of federal agencies implementing rules without oversight.

*Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Vote Passed (234-193, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this Republican version of the payroll tax extension bill. The bill would extend the Social Security payroll tax cut for one year, prevent Medicare payments to doctors from being cut more than 27 percent, and overhaul the unemployment benefits program. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called the bill "dead on arrival" in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Iran Sanctions

Vote Passed (410-11, 12 Not Voting)

The House voted to strengthen sanctions against Iran that are intended to deny the regime resources to develop nuclear weapons. The Senate is unlikely to pass the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Defense Authorization, FY2012

Vote Passed (283-136, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this $662 billion measure that authorizes defense policies for the current fiscal year. The Senate cleared the measure for the president the next day.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Intelligence Authorization, FY2012

Vote Passed (396-23, 14 Not Voting)

The House gave final approval to this bill authorizing funds for 16 intelligence agencies for the current fiscal year. The amount is classified, but it is estimated to be around $78.6 billion. The Senate passed the bill on December 14 by unanimous consent. The president is expected to sign it.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012

Vote Passed (296-121, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed the conference report for this $915 billion "megabus" spending bill that provides funds for the rest of the fiscal year for the remaining nine annual appropriations bills. The nine bills are the Military Construction-VA, Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The Senate gave final approval to the bill the next day. The president is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

Vote Passed (351-67, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed this $8.6 billion bill to provide additional disaster relief funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers and to combat Social Security waste. The Senate passed the bill the next day, sending it to the President.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Motion to go to conference; Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011

Vote Passed (229-193, 11 Not Voting)

With this vote, the House rejected the Senate's two-month extension of the Social Security payroll tax reduction and requested a conference to consider a yearlong extension. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated he would not call the Senate back into session. The standoff ended later in the week when the House agreed to pass the two-month bill and the Senate agreed to name conferees to work out a yearlong extension.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

2-10-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Debt limit disapproval
Vote Rejected (44-52, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected this House resolution to block a $1.2 trillion increase in the $15.2 trillion debt ceiling. The increase automatically took effect on January 27, 2012. And we wonder why the United States is $15.5 trillion in debt?

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*STOCK Act
Vote Passed (96-3, 1 Not Voting)

This Senate bill would strengthen rules prohibiting lawmakers, Capitol Hill staff and some executive branch officials from using confidential information to buy or sell stocks.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act
Vote Passed (408-0, 25 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to change the definition of “ultralight” aircraft in the anti-smuggling statute in order to increase penalties for using them to smuggle drugs. The Senate cleared the measure for the president the next day by unanimous consent. It was the last bill sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords before her resignation from Congress.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this issue

*Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act
Vote Passed (267-159, 6 Not Voting)

The House voted to repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program, a provision in the 2010 health care law that was intended to provide long-term care but was suspended after the Department of Health and Human Services determined it could not be solvent for 75 years as required by the law. The bill's future in the Senate is unclear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011
Vote Passed (242-179, 11 Not Voting)

This House measure would require the CBO to assess a bill's impact on long-term economic growth. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Baseline Reform Act of 2011
Vote Passed (235-177, 20 Not Voting)

This House bill would stop the Congressional Budget Office from incorporating inflation increases into its spending projections. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*FAA Modernization and Reform Act
Vote Passed (248-169, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed this conference report authorizing $15.9 billion per year through 2015 for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

2-19-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act
Vote Agreed to (75-20, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to this conference report authorizing $15.9 billion per year through the 2015 fiscal year for the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA has been operating under a series of short-term extensions since the 2008 fiscal year. The president is expected to sign the measure.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Budget and Accounting Transparency Act
Vote Passed (245-180, 8 Not Voting)

This House bill would incorporate the costs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into the federal budget, change how the government accounts for loan programs, and require federal agencies to post their budget information on their websites. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011
Vote Passed (254-173, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to give the president a line-item veto and rescission authority over discretionary spending bills. The bill would give Congress three days to vote to accept or reject the president's rescissions. The White House supports the bill, but the Senate is not expected to take it up.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*STOCK Act
Vote Passed (417-2, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed an amended version of this Senate bill that would strengthen rules prohibiting lawmakers, Capitol Hill staff and some executive branch officials from using confidential information to buy or sell stocks. The Senate now will either accept the modified bill or request a conference committee.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

3-1-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
Vote Agreed to (60-36, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to the agreement to extend the Social Security payroll tax rate cut, which was reduced from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent last year, through the end of 2012. This further erodes the Social Security fund which is already nearing bankruptcy. Another of Obama's “feel good” programs that will devastate retirees in the future. The bill also extends certain unemployment benefits and Medicare physician payment rates through the end of the year. The president is expected to sign the bill into law.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security Act
Vote Passed (237-187, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed the first part of the surface transportation authorization bill, which has been divided into three parts. This part deals with energy and would use oil and gas revenue to fund transportation projects.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
Vote Passed (293-132, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed this agreement to extend the Social Security payroll tax rate cut, which was reduced from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent last year, through the end of 2012. This further erodes the Social Security fund which is already nearing bankruptcy. Another of Obama's “feel good” programs that will devastate retirees in the future. The bill also extends certain unemployment benefits and Medicare physician payment rates through the end of the year. The Senate passed the bill a short time later, clearing it for the president's signature.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

3-9-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Motion to Table Blunt Amendment
Vote Agreed to (51-48, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected an amendment to the surface transportation bill that would have allowed employers to exclude certain health services from its insurance plans based on religious grounds. This motion virtually kills the bill from consideration. Apparently the two senators from Oregon don't really believe in religious freedom.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act
Vote Passed (303-114, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would overturn an Education Department regulation defining credit hours and rules education institutions must adhere to in order to operate in a state. The bill is intended to ease regulations on the for-profit education industry.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act
Vote Passed (246-175, 1 Present, 11 Not Voting)

This House bill is intended to increase access to water for agricultural and municipal uses in the San Joaquin Valley in California. With the defeat of this bill, many farmers will have to curtail operations due to the lack of water, thereby driving up the price of fruits and vegetables on the consumer market. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

3-24-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
(MAP-21) Act
Vote Passed (74-22, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this $109 billion bill that would fund transportation programs and projects for the next two years. It is unclear at this time whether the House will pass a two or five year bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Keystone XL Pipeline
Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

During the debate over the transportation bill, the Senate rejected this amendment that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed without presidential approval. This would have created an estimated 20,000 desperately needed jobs as well as reduce our dependency on oil from countries who have proven unfriendly to the United States. Sixty votes were needed to adopt the amendment.

In true partisan fashion without consideration for the welfare of America and Americans:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011
Vote Passed (265-154, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would encourage the development of small-scale hydropower facilities on federal lands. This will provide for more and cheaper energy as well as provide much needed jobs. The bill's future in the Senate is unclear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act
Vote Passed (390-23, 19 Not Voting)

This House bill would ease reporting and regulatory requirements for small businesses trying to raise capital in order to take the company public. The White House supports the bill, but its path in the Senate is unclear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

4-3-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act
Vote Passed (73-26, 1 Not Voting)

This bill would ease reporting and regulatory requirements for small businesses trying to raise capital in order to take the company public. The House passed the bill on March 8, 2012. The Senate adopted an amendment to the bill which will require the House to vote again. It is expected the House will pass the bill this week and send the bill to the president.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley, who always seems to be anti-business, voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act
of 2011
Vote Passed (223-181, 4 Present, 23 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) and cap damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. IPAB, also known as a “Death Panel”, was created by the 2010 health care law and is charged with finding savings in Medicare spending. It has no members yet. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Judicial Confirmation

Vote Confirmed (91-3, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed the nomination of Jacqueline H. Nguyen of California to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Cloture Motion: Student Loan Interest Rates

Vote Rejected (52-45, 1 Present, 2 Not Voting)

This bill would extend the current 3.4 percent interest rate on federally-subsidized Stafford loans to undergraduate students for one year. This extension would be paid for by eliminating a tax preference for certain shareholders of S-Corporations. The Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to invoke cloture, and thereby end debate, on the motion to proceed to the bill. It is possible the Senate will hold another cloture vote on this bill. The House passed a competing version (H.R.4628) on April 27.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES

Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Suspension Vote: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization

Vote Passed (330-93, 8 Not Voting)

This bill would extend the charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States through FY 2014. It would allow the bank's lending limit to rise incrementally to $140 billion (from $100 billion currently). HR 2072 passed under suspension of the rules, meaning the support of at least two thirds of all Members voting (in this case 282) is required for passage.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Suspension Vote: U.S.-Israel Cooperation

Vote Passed (411-2, 9 Present, 9 Not Voting)

This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to deepen cooperation with Israel in a wide variety of areas, particularly regarding Israel’s "qualitative military edge" over regional rivals; to veto anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations; and to assist Israel in ongoing negotiations on a two-state solution. The bill also extends U.S.-government-backed loan guarantees to Israel through FY 2015. HR 4133 passed under suspension of the rules, meaning the support of at least two thirds of all Members voting (in this case 276) is required for passage.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Sequester Replacement

Vote Passed (218-199, 1 Present, 13 Not Voting)

This bill cancels the automatic discretionary spending cuts instituted by last year's debt-ceiling agreement and replaces those cuts with a different set of reductions to a variety of mandatory spending programs, as well as a reduction on the overall spending limit for all FY 2013 appropriations bills. The bill separately eliminates the cap on defense spending instituted by the debt-limit agreement to accommodate a higher level of spending in that area. The Senate is unlikely to take up this bill. The President has issued a veto threat.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations, FY 2013

Vote Passed (247-163, 21 Not Voting)

This appropriations bill provides $51.1 billion dollars in funding in FY 2013 for the departments of Commerce and Justice and other agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation. This funding level would be $1.8 billion less than in FY 2012 and $731 million less than the president requested for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the bill on April 19, but floor time has not been scheduled. The President has threatened a veto on the House version.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012
Vote Passed (62-37, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed its U.S. Postal Service overhaul bill. The bill seeks to trim the workforce by about 100,000 employees through attrition and delays efforts to eliminate Saturday delivery and close some post offices. The House has yet to pass its version of the bill. The postmaster estimates the agency needs to trim $22 billion in operating costs to remain in business.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011
Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act for another five years. The 1994 law gives federal law enforcement agencies tools to combat crime against women. The reauthorization adds provisions relating to Native American and immigrant women, and sexual orientation. The House is likely to pass a bill similar to the current authorization.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act
Vote Passed (248-168, 15 Not Voting)

This House bill directs the Director of National Intelligence to develop procedures to share cyber-threat information on a voluntary basis between the government's intelligence community and the private sector. The White House has threatened to veto the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Interest Rate Reduction Act
Vote Passed (215-195, 22 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would keep the interest rate for government-subsidized student loans at 3.4 percent. The rate is scheduled to rise to 6.8 percent on July 1, 2012. To offset the estimated $6 billion cost of maintaining the current interest rate, the bill would repeal the $12 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund which was created by the 2010 health care reform bill. The White House supports keeping the current interest rate, but has threatened to veto this bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cloture Motion; Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012
Vote Rejected (51-45, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to reach the sixty vote threshold needed to move forward on this bill to raise tax rates on taxpayers earning more than $1 million. This is another of this administration's efforts to propagate class warfare and penalize the productive.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012
Vote Passed (274-146, 11 Not Voting)

This bill would codify the use of public lands for recreational hunting, shooting and fishing unless the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service determines it is necessary to prohibit those activities. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II
Vote Passed (293-127, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed this three-month highway and transportation program bill that will serve as the vehicle to negotiate a long-term bill with the Senate. The Senate passed a two-year, $109 billion bill in March. House Republicans would like a five year bill. The current extension runs out June 30, 2012.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Small Business Tax Cut Act

Vote Passed (235-173, 1 Present, 22 Not Voting)

This House bill would give businesses with fewer than 500 employees a 20 percent tax deduction for the 2012 tax year. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*21st Century Postal Service Act of 2011
Vote Rejected (51-46, 3 Not Voting)

This postal overhaul bill did not receive the necessary 60 votes to proceed to debate. The bill would allow the Postal Service to recoup around $11 billion in overpayments to a retirement account and use that money to provide financial incentives to about 100,000 employees to retire, as well as delay the plan to end Saturday delivery for two years.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley who will always side with unions rather than the people voted NO

*Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act
Vote Rejected (51-47, 2 Not Voting)

This legislation would repeal some tax breaks for large oil and gas companies and use the revenue generated by these tax repeals to pay for an extension of renewable-energy tax credits and incentives. It would also have increased the price of fuels and nearly every consumer product on the market. The bill did not receive the necessary 60 votes to end debate and is unlikely to be considered again.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2011
Vote Passed (247-174, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would overhaul Federal Communications Commission regulatory procedures and curb the agency’s ability to set conditions on transactions related to corporate mergers and acquisitions. The bill’s future is uncertain.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, always against business, voted NO

*Surface Transportation Extension Act
Vote Passed (266-158, 7 Not Voting)

On Thursday the House passed this bill to extend authorization for surface transportation programs through June 30. The Senate cleared the bill by voice vote later the same day, sending the bill to the president. President Obama signed it the next day. This extension gives the House and Senate more time to negotiate a long-term transportation bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Democratic Alternative Budget
Vote Failed (163-262, 6 Not Voting)

The Democrats offered a substitute budget amendment that would provide $1.05 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2013, including $546 billion for defense spending. The amendment includes a permanent extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for the middle class, but would end nearly $1 trillion in tax cuts for millionaires and close a variety of corporate tax loopholes. The amendment was rejected.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Added 6-12-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*FDA User Fee Reauthorization
Vote Passed (96-1, 3 Not Voting)

After extensive wrangling between the parties about which amendments would be allowed a floor vote, the Senate last week passed a bill to reauthorize Food and Drug Administration user fees for five years. The FDA relies on the fees, levied primarily on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, to fund reviews of those same industries’ products. Two new user fee programs, for generic and generic biologic drugs, would be created under the bill. The bill would also permanently reauthorize programs to encourage the development of drugs for pediatric patients. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., was the lone “no” vote. He felt the bill did not do enough to lower the cost of prescription drugs (An amendment introduced by John McCain, R-Ariz., to allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada, failed 43-54, Senate Roll Call #108). The House will debate its version of the reauthorization this week. President Obama has endorsed the Senate bill. The current authorization expires September 30, and leaders of both parties have prioritized getting this item to the president well ahead of time.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Student Loan Interest Rates – Republican Substitute
Vote Rejected (34-62, 1 Present, 3 Not Voting)

Part of the deal for bringing the FDA user fee bill to the floor was allowing a vote on the GOP version of legislation to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling. Republicans offered a substitute amendment to a bill that Majority Leader Harry Reid had brought to the floor earlier this month. Closely mirroring bills already passed in the House and introduced previously by the Senate GOP (H.R.4628, S.2366), the substitute would pay for maintaining current interest rates by eliminating a preventive health fund created by the 2010 health care overhaul. An agreement between Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell required 60 votes for passage.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Student Loan Interest Rates – Democratic Version
Vote Rejected (51-43, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)

Immediately after rejecting the Republican substitute, the Senate moved on to rejecting the Democrats’ version. The Democrats would pay for their bill by eliminating a tax preference for certain shareholders of S Corporations. Of course, the Democrats want to increase taxes during a recession that they seem unable or unwilling to address. This is the second time S.2343 was voted on but the first time the bill itself was considered; on May 8 the Republicans successfully filibustered a motion to proceed (Senate Roll Call Number 89). With the House having passed its version, it is up to the Senate to pass a bill that could at least be the basis of some sort of compromise. Rates are set to go up on July 1.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

6-19-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*FDA User Fee Reauthorization
Vote Passed (387-5, 39 Not Voting)

Fresh on the heels of Senate passage, the House last week passed its version of FDA user fee legislation with a show of overwhelming support. The bill would reauthorize the FDA to impose user fees on drug and device manufacturers for five years. Unlike the Senate bill, there was little controversy surrounding the reauthorization in the House, as evidenced by the final vote tally. The bill was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. At this point the House and Senate will move to conference to iron out a few minor differences. Both chambers have reportedly set a goal of July 4 for getting a final product to the president's desk.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Sex-Selective Abortion Ban
Vote Failed (246-168, 17 Not Voting)

Occasioning considerably more controversy than the FDA bill, the House also considered legislation to criminalize the administering or facilitating of abortions based on the sex of the fetus. The practice, known as sex-selective abortion, has long been associated with countries such as China and India, where social and economic pressures can lead to families to abort females at much higher rates than males. Republicans contend that this practice has reached the United States; Democrats say there is insufficient evidence and that a blanket ban would be unenforceable in any case. Despite garnering majority support, the measure failed because it was considered under suspension of the rules.

Always in favor of taxpayer funded abortions of any kind, Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Intelligence Authorization
Vote Passed (386-28, 17 Not Voting)

The House passed legislation to authorize funding for the 16 intelligence agencies last week. Although total funding levels are classified, the bill would fund agencies such as the CIA and National Security Agency at a level above President Obama's request of $71.8 billion, according to Intelligence committee chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich. and ranking member C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md. A handful of amendments were adopted during debate, including one offered by Michigan Democrat John Conyers, Jr. to require a report from the director of national intelligence on the consequences of a military strike against Iran. The Senate has not yet moved on its authorization bill, but action is expected at the committee level sometime this summer.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Vote Passed (407-12, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed its second FY13 appropriations bill last week, providing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and for military construction and housing. The bill would provide $71.7 billion in discretionary funds, including $60.6 billion for the VA and $10.6 billion for base construction and military family housing. A provision forbidding agencies from using project labor agreements (PLA) for construction projects was removed from the bill by an amendment from Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y. (Roll Call #302). The PLA language was controversial among most Democrats and a handful of Republicans; its removal sped passage of what is usually a strongly bipartisan bill. President Obama threatened to veto the bill because the House GOP has set total FY13 appropriations levels below what had been agreed to in last year's debt-ceiling standoff. Because the House kept funding levels in this bill constant with last year, deeper cuts will be necessary in other appropriations bills, which the administration views as unacceptable.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Paul Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (16-83, 1 Not Voting)

This budget resolution from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., would set new FY 2013 budget authority at $3.084 trillion. According to the Senator, his resolution would balance the budget in five years and cut the national deficit by $2 trillion over ten years. It introduces means-testing requirements to Social Security and raises the retirement age to 70 by 2032. It would also means-test Medicare and raise the age of eligibility to 70 over a 20-year window. Senior citizens would be permitted to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan used by congressional Members and staff. The resolution would set a flat tax rate of 17 percent for all individuals and businesses and eliminate all credits and deductions except the child credit and mortgage interest deduction.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Lee Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (17-82, 1 Not Voting)

The budget resolution from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, would set new FY 2013 budget authority at $3.269 trillion. It purports to balance the budget by 2017 through myriad changes to entitlements and the tax code as well as reducing spending to 17.8 percent of GDP over ten years. It would establish a single 25% tax rate for individuals and businesses while eliminating the payroll, estate, and any investment taxes. Social Security would be means-tested and the retirement age would rise to 68. Medicare participants would be able to enroll in a “premium-support” or voucher program. Total Medicare spending would be capped at the level of the Consumer Price Index plus one percent. Medicaid would become a block grant program.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

**Ed. Note: Have you noticed how Wyden and Merkley are opposed to anything that might balance the budget and curtail the growth of entitlements?

*Agency Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (70-24, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Jeremy C. Stein of Massachusetts to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted Not Voting

*Agency Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (74-21, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Jerome H. Powell of Maryland to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
Vote Passed (78-20, 2 Not Voting)

This bill would extend the charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States through FY 2014. It would allow the bank’s lending limit to rise incrementally to $140 billion (from $100 billion currently). Following House passage last week, the Senate cleared this bill for the president’s signature, narrowly avoiding the May 31 expiration of the bank’s charter. Passage followed several failed amendment votes, among them a vote to terminate the bank within one year.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*“Obama” Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (0-99, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate unanimously rejected this budget resolution, which was the GOP’s interpretation of President Obama’s FY 13 budget proposal. It would set new FY 2013 budget authority at $2.982 trillion. This marks the second time Senate Republicans have introduced what they call the president’s budget for a floor vote, and the second time the proposal has failed to garner a single “yea” vote. This was the first of five budget resolutions the Senate voted on last week, each one a “messaging” vote since both chambers have already set spending levels for their respective FY 13 appropriations bills.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Ryan Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (41-58, 1 Not Voting)

In another reprisal of last year’s budget theater, the House-passed budget drafted by Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., failed in a party-line Senate vote. The resolution would set new FY 2013 budget authority at $2.794 trillion. As happened last year, all Democrats voted “nay” along with Independents Bernard Sanders (Vt.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.). All Republicans voted “yea” with the exceptions of Sens. Scott P. Brown (Mass.), Susan Collins (Maine), Dean Heller (Nev.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Olympia J. Snowe (Maine).

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Toomey Budget Resolution
Vote Rejected (42-57, 1 Not Voting)

This budget resolution introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. would set new FY 2013 budget authority at $2.843 trillion. It purports to create a balanced budget within eight years, in part by reducing spending to about 18.3 percent of GDP. It would also create a two-thirds supermajority requirement for votes to exceed discretionary spending levels set forth in the resolution and a three-fifths supermajority to make any advance appropriation unless the latter are for a handful of accounts at the Veterans Affairs Administration.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
Vote Passed (222-205, 4 Not Voting)

The House last week passed its version of a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Originally passed in 1994, the bill had been reauthorized twice without controversy until this year. The Senate version (S 1925), passed April 26, created several new provisions to which the House objected, such as expanding protections to include LGBT victims. President Obama has threatened to veto the House bill. While it looked like the two bills were headed to a conference committee following House passage, it was discovered late last week that the Senate bill contained a revenue-raising provision, causing the House to raise constitutional objections. The path forward at this point is not clear.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Suspension Vote: Iran Sanctions Resolution
Vote Passed (401-11, 9 Present, 10 Not Voting)

In a shot across the bow of world leaders gathered last weekend for the G8 Summit, the House loudly expressed its position on Iran. While reiterating that it is a “vital national interest” of the United States to prevent Iran from acquiring a “nuclear capability,” the resolution also comes down firmly against any proposed “containment” policy. Debate has raged about what U.S. “red lines” are with regard to Iran’s uranium enrichment program, and there is some question as to what exactly a “nuclear capability” would mean. If it means having a certain amount of enriched uranium, for example, that is a much different standard than having the ability to arm a missile with a nuclear warhead. Perhaps with that in mind, the resolution also demands that Iran end its ballistic missile program.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted Present. In other words, he is gutless on national security.

*Flood Insurance Extension
Vote Passed (402-18, 11 Not Voting)

Hoping to avoid a May 31 expiration date, the House passed a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. The bill would extend the program’s authorization through June 30, allowing homeowners living in flood zones to purchase private insurance. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., attempted to pass a different extension last week by unanimous consent, but Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., objected. Republicans in both chambers want a complete overhaul of the program in exchange for a multi-year extension.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*National Defense Authorization, FY 2013
Vote Passed (299-120, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed its version of the annual defense policy bill last week following two days of debate and dozens of amendments. The bill would provide $643 billion for FY 13, including $88.5 billion for the war in Afghanistan. The topline figure exceeds agreed-upon spending levels from last year’s Budget Control Act (PL 112-25) by $8 billion. Amendment debate ranged widely, from the sale of fighter jets to Taiwan to the detention of terrorism suspects arrested on U.S. soil. President Obama has issued a veto threat on this bill. The Senate Armed Services Committee is slated to mark up its version this week.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO to further prove he is gutless on national security.

6-29-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Wage Discrimination
Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to invoke cloture last week on a motion to proceed to a bill that would provide additional legal recourse to individuals who experience gender-based wage discrimination. Among other provisions, the bill would have allowed employees to sue for punitive damages (as opposed to just back pay) and would increase penalties against employers who engage in wage discrimination based on gender. The measure would also make it illegal for employers to retaliate against workers for talking about their wages with each others. Republicans decried the bill as unnecessary and a boon to trial lawyers, while Democrats continued to hammer their election-year theme of the GOP being out of touch with women. The President expressed strong support for the bill.

To further their efforts to penalize businesses and job creation:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Farm Bill
Vote Agreed to (90-8, 2 Not Voting)

After much talk about a revolt among Southern senators, the Senate easily invoked cloture on a motion to proceed to its version of the multi-year reauthorization of farm and nutrition programs. Battle lines have been drawn between the Agriculture committee’s top two members, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. and Ranking Member Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and about a dozen Southern senators. Stabenow and Roberts have drawn up a bill that eliminates about $5 billion in annual direct payments to farmers and replaces it with a "shallow loss" program that would replace revenue losses of 11 to 21 percent below a five-year average. Southern senators object that this program would be of little help to their farmers, whose rice, peanut and cotton crops are less subject to natural disaster than wheat and corn but more subject to price fluctuation. Southerners are demanding some form of guaranteed price protection. Another battle will center around funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Both the Senate and House Agriculture committees have proposed SNAP cuts, with much larger cuts expected to come out of the House. Democrats in both houses are opposed to these cuts. The House has yet to mark up its version of the bill, and there is some question over whether it will happen later in the summer or not at all. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., Ranking Democratic on House Ag, has expressed confidence the measure will come to the floor, but a "summer agenda" memo distributed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. made no mention of it. President Obama has backed the Senate bill.

One must ask, why is government using taxpayer dollars to subsidize ANY type of business?

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Motion to Table; Farm Bill – Sugar Price Supports Repeal
Vote Agreed to (50-46, 4 Not Voting)

Last week saw the Senate struggling to come to agreement on which amendments it would consider to the five-year reauthorization of agriculture and nutrition programs. The first such amendment - offered by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on behalf of Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. – would phase out the federal price support program for sugar producers by 2015. Detractors of the program argue that it artificially inflates prices for consumers and end-users, such as confectioners. The program’s backers argue that it actually shields both of these groups from violent swings in market prices by providing a supportive environment for domestic sugar production. The actual vote taken, however, was not on the amendment itself but on a motion to table. The motion passed, thus killing the amendment.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Motion to Table; Farm Bill Â– Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Elimination
Vote Agreed to (65-33, 2 Not Voting)

The second amendment brought up for consideration concerned federal nutrition assistance, known by its acronym SNAP. Republicans have raised the alarm that spending under this program has ballooned in recent years and have sought to cut benefits. Democrats have countered that the program is actually functioning as it was designed to do, with more people coming on the rolls because of a weak economy. A “sequester-replacement” bill (H.R. 5652) passed last month in the House mostly along party lines would cut $34 billion from SNAP in the next 10 years as part of an effort to avoid Pentagon cuts. This Senate amendment, again offered by Reid (this time on behalf of Rand Paul, R-Ky.), would do House Republicans one better by ending SNAP as it currently exists and in its place creating a block grant program that would send a fixed amount of money to the states each year for the overall purpose of nutrition assistance, but with far fewer strings attached than there are currently. The actual vote was once again on a motion to table rather than the amendment itself.

Again, both our senators are all in favor of spending money we don't have.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Energy-Water Appropriations
Vote Passed (255-165, 11 Not Voting)

The House passed three FY 2013 appropriations bills last week, the first of which covered funding for the Department of Energy (DOE), Army Corps of Engineers and water development projects under the Interior Department, as well as various independent agencies including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This is typically a non-controversial measure, but that did not stop Members from forcing nearly three dozen amendment votes on the floor. Most of these involved either shifting funds from one program area to another or barring funding for an activity disliked by a particular Member. Very few amendments passed. The underlying bill would increase funding for DOE’s nuclear weapons programs by $298 million and cut the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) account within the Energy Department by $428 million. Several Democratic amendments attempted to restore EERE funding, but each was turned aside. The bill would also prohibit the closure of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste depository, a priority of President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The President has issued a veto threat on the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Medical Device Tax Repeal
Vote Passed (270-146, 15 Not Voting)

House Republicans, with the help of 37 Democrats, passed a bill last week repealing the 2.3-percent tax on medical devices that was included as a pay-for in the 2010 health care overhaul. Bundled into the device tax repeal bill was a separate measure ending the overhaul’s restriction on using certain tax-preferred accounts to buy over-the-counter drugs, and a third provision allowing individuals to recoup up to $500 remaining in their FSAs at the end of a plan year. The measure would be paid for by lifting caps on liability for over-payments of subsidized coverage under the overhaul. President Obama has threatened to veto the measure. Senator Scott P. Brown, R-Mass. and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah have introduced device tax repeal bills in the upper chamber, neither of which has attracted Democratic cosponsors.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Homeland Security Appropriations
Vote Passed (234-182, 15 Not Voting)

Second on the appropriations docket last week was funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Several provisions in the House measure have caused consternation among House Democrats and the Administration. These include a new limitation on the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to provide abortions for detainees and cuts to a program that provides alternatives (such as electronic monitoring) to detention for individuals who are in deportation proceedings. Sure to cause additional heartburn for Democrats is an amendment offered by Steve King, R-Iowa to bar funding for the Administration’s "prosecutorial discretion" policy in targeting certain illegal immigrants for deportation. The policy, dating to June 2011, instructs ICE personnel to focus their resources on individuals with criminal records and to “consider relevant factors” before targeting certain others, including members of the armed forces, those who came to the United States as children, and high school and college graduates. Republicans have called this policy "administrative amnesty." King’s amendment passed, mostly along party lines (Roll Call #363). The president has threatened to veto the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO since he is in favor of the taxpayers paying for abortions and other benefits to illegals.

*Legislative Branch Appropriations
Vote Passed (307-102, 22 Not Voting)

Last but not least (at least not for lawmakers), the House passed its measure funding FY 13 spending on legislative branch operations. The measure provides funding for Member and committee offices and operations of agencies such as the Library of Congress, Capitol Police, Congressional Research Service (CRS), and Government Accountability Office (GAO). The House bill would cut funding for House operations by one percent, hold CRS flat and give bumps of six, two, and one percent to the Capitol Police, GAO and the Congressional Budget Office respectively. A 10 percent cut to the Architect of the Capitol means that ongoing restoration of the Capitol dome would be placed on hold. Funding for Senate operations will be taken up by the Senate Appropriations committee.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-6-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Motion to Proceed; Disapproval Resolution – EPA Regulations
Vote Rejected (46-53, 1 Not Voting)

The latest battle in the EPA’s "war on coal" came with an attempt to halt rules intended to further limit emissions of mercury and other toxins by coal and oil-fired utilities, among other sources. Led by James Inhofe, R-Okla., most Republicans argue that the EPA has overstepped its authority and is endangering both the livelihood of coal-dependent regions and even the reliability of the electricity grid. Five Democrats and five Republicans each voted with the other side. The president had threatened a veto of this measure. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, and Mark Pryor, D-Ark. are reportedly working on a bill that would lengthen the compliance time line of the new rules rather than stopping them outright.

Wyden and Merkley, as usual, are not concerned with the cost of energy to consumers.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Farm Bill – Final Passage
Vote Passed (64-35, 1 Not Voting)

Following a binge of amendment votes (41 in all) over three days of debate, the Senate passed its version of a five-year agriculture and nutrition policy bill. After coming to agreement on which amendments would be given floor time, the “vote-a-rama” began in earnest, culminating in final passage (the same agreement required 60 votes for the bill to pass). At the heart of the sprawling, $969 billion bill is an overhaul of the farm safety net. Direct and counter-cyclical payments are out, their critics having successfully argued that they manipulated markets and were unnecessary at a time of sky-high commodity prices. Bill sponsors Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., opted for a lighter touch, creating two new crop insurance policies and a subsidy program meant to backstop traditional insurance. These changes have sparked regional disagreements, with Midwest and Great Plains senators supporting the changes and those from the South vehemently opposed. Southerners have been insisting that a program maintaining target prices is necessary to protect their rice and peanut growers, who are less subject to yield volatility and so less dependent on traditional insurance. It is expected that the House bill will have the types of provisions the Southerners are asking for. Two amendments would make changes long sought after by crop insurance critics. The first, from Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. would force policyholders to abide by the same conservation requirements that are currently tied to crop subsidies. The other, offered by Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and Tom Coburn, R-Okla. would raise subsidized premiums for farmers with AGI above $750,000/year, pending a USDA study. Another major plank of the underlying bill is a roughly $4.5 billion reduction in food stamps. The program has come under fire from Republicans for its rapid expansion in recent years and the bill has specific provisions banning lottery winners from eligibility and stopping automatic enrollment of persons receiving heating assistance. The ball is now in the House's court, and a markup is scheduled for July 11. President Obama has previously backed the Senate bill, though he called for more cuts than the upper chamber could stomach. One must question WHY are the taxpayers subsidizing ANY private business.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Cloture – Flood Insurance Reauthorization
Vote Agreed to (96-2, 2 Not Voting)

This was a successful cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a multi-year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The program has been in the red since having to make huge payouts for Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Wilma and negotiations have been going on for months on a path forward that would bring NFIP to a position of long-term fiscal health. At this point there appears to be a tentative agreement, but at least one outstanding bone of contention concerns whether properties protected by levees and other flood-control structures should be required to buy insurance. (The House's long-term bill, HR 5740, does not have this requirement.) The current extension expires July 31. If coverage is allowed to lapse, homeowners in flood-prone areas will be unable to buy insurance or renew policies.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Land and Water Projects
Vote Passed (232-188, 12 Not Voting)

The House passed two smorgasbord bills that combined a number of disparate provisions under one legislative roof. The first bill concerned regulations on federal lands. Among other things, it would allow the usage of recreational vehicles in Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina’s Outer Banks; grant tracts of land in the Tongass National Forest to the Native Alaskan-run Sealaska Corporation, partially for logging purposes; and permit the "taking" of California sea lions, which have been preying on lucrative and fragile salmon populations in the Columbia River. The most contentious provision would waive 16 environmental and conservation laws on federal land within 100 miles of the Mexican and Canadian borders. Under the bill, these laws would not apply to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in their anti-terror and immigration enforcement missions. CBP would be allowed to build roads, fences and surveillance equipment without regard to such laws as the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act. President Obama opposes this bill.

Of course, since this bill involved relaxation of environmental laws for national security purposes,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Domestic Energy Policy
Vote Passed (248-163, 21 Not Voting)

The second catch-all measure combined several provisions aimed at boosting domestic energy production. Drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would be coupled with an equivalent percentage of federal land being made available for oil and gas production. Various EPA rules would be suspended while a new task force studies their effect on gas prices. A process similar to the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review would be created to examine America's long-term energy needs. Permitting for energy projects would be streamlined, including the creation of a $5,000 fee for filing protests against drilling permits. The bill would also allow live auctions conducted over the Internet for Bureau of Land Management leases and would mandate oil and gas leasing in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve. Democrats offered a motion to recommit that would have prohibited the biggest oil companies from receiving new leases under the bill unless they waived certain tax benefits. Not surprisingly that idea didn't have legs with Republicans. Conversely, the bill itself will go nowhere with the Democratic Senate. If it does somehow pass both houses, the president has issued a veto threat.

Again, since environmental protection is more important than anything else, including energy costs to consumers,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Motion to Instruct Conferees – Highway Bill
Vote Passed (260-138, 34 Not Voting)

Late last week it appeared that there was momentum toward agreement on passage of a two-year surface transportation reauthorization measure. Supposedly Senate negotiators have made concessions to House demands on issues such as environmental permitting and transportation enhancements funding. Another point of contention has been the potential regulation by EPA of coal ash, a byproduct of coal combustion that road builders in some states use when making asphalt. House negotiators have insisted on pre-empting EPA and allowing states to regulate coal ash as they see fit. This House vote would insist on a measure to that effect being included in any final highway bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

NOTE: On the recent vote in the House of Representatives to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress for refusing to provide documents regarding the illegal sale of firearms and allowing them to be transported to Mexico by drug cartels, DeFazio voted against the contempt charge. To DeFazio, partisanship is much more important than the rule of law.

7-14-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*FDA User Fees – Final Passage
Vote Agreed to (92-4, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate last week cleared a compromise version of FDA user fee legislation, paving the way for President Obama’s signature. The five-year reauthorization measure allows the FDA to charge the industries it oversees a fee to finance the approval process for medical devices and prescription drugs. The bill will also create new fee programs for generic drugs and generic biologic drugs. Final passage in the Senate followed about a month of negotiations after each chamber passed slightly differing bills in late May. As with everything coming through the Senate these days, a cloture vote was needed before voting on the underlying bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Highway/Flood Insurance/Student Loan Package – Adoption of Conference Report
Vote Agreed to (74-19, 1 Present, 6 Not Voting)

After months of speculation about whether any of the highway, flood insurance, or student loan bills would become law this year, all three cleared the Senate as a single package last week. The final agreement combined a 27-month reauthorization of highway, transit and transportation safety programs; a one-year extension of lowered interest rates on federally-subsidized Stafford loans; and a five-year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The surface transportation component featured by far the most drama of the three provisions, as the fight surrounding it lasted far longer, dating back to last year. More importantly (at least outside the Beltway) infrastructure spending will provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the construction industry and hopefully the broader economy. The bill makes several major changes to existing transportation law, including streamlining project approval, drastically reducing the number of federal programs through consolidation, and giving states more spending flexibility on certain types of projects.

The NFIP measure is designed to bring the program back into solvency following years of indebtedness. Payouts resulting from the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005-6 had left the program roughly $18 billion in debt. The new law will raise premiums overall and cover more homeowners.

The combined measures would be paid for largely by two changes to pension law. The first would change the formula by which employers contribute to their employees’ defined benefit plans. The second would increase employer premiums on insurance provided by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal entity that insures private sector defined benefit pension plans. A third offset would shorten the amount of time students are eligible for an in-school interest subsidy on their loans.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Contempt Resolution
Vote Passed (255-67, 1 Present, 109 Not Voting)

Last week the House voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, the first time in American history either house has held a Cabinet member in contempt. An accompanying measure was also passed, authorizing the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to intervene in judicial proceedings in order to enforce its subpoenas. The vote was the culmination of well over a year’s worth of congressional investigation and stonewalling, regarding a failed “gun-walking” operation overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The operation allowed firearms to “walk” into the hands of Mexican drug cartels, with the intent of tracking the guns and locating the cartels, whose movements are difficult to trace. It was also revealed through e-mails obtained through the investigation that this was an effort by the Obama Administration to use these illegal firearms transactions to implement more restrictive firearms laws against American citizens. Weapons bought through the operations were later used in the murder of a Border Patrol agent, Brian Terry. The subject of the contempt vote, however, has specifically to do with a very narrow set of documents demanded by House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. from the Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ has already announced they will not prosecute Holder, so House Republicans are expected to try their hand in civil court.

Since he is more interested in protecting this administration and partisan politics,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*FY13 Transportation-HUD Appropriations – Final Passage
Vote Passed (261-163, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed its annual transportation spending measure in addition to a transportation policy measure last week. The bill, which also provides funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), would provide $51.6 billion in discretionary spending for FY2013 ($103.6 billion when including spending from the transportation trust funds. In direct contradiction to the highway bill, which passed the House just minutes after the appropriations measure, an amendment from GOP freshman Rep. Jeff Landry, R-La. was included in the final bill text that would prohibit the Transportation Department from requiring that commercial trucks install on-board electronic recording devices to track hours of use. The highway bill, by contrast, mandates the installation of such devices. The bill also provides no funding for Obama’s favored TIGER grants and high-speed rail initiatives. On the housing side, the bill would increase funding for Community Development Block Grants but cut funding for rental assistance. The Senate Appropriations committee passed its bill in April, but no spending measure has made it to the Senate floor this year. The president has threatened to veto the House bill, objecting primarily to its overall funding level, but also to a few particulars such as those mentioned above.

Once again, partisanship is the primary agenda so

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Highway/Flood Insurance/Student Loan Package Â– Adoption of Conference Report
Vote Passed (373-52, 7 Not Voting)

The House passed the conference report for the Highway/Flood Insurance/Student Loan Package shortly before the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

7-27-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Campaign Financial Disclosures – Cloture
Vote Rejected (51-44, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate took up legislation that would require greater disclosure of donations. The measure would require groups to disclose all expenditures of $10,000 or more on election-related communications, as well as the names of contributors that give $10,000 or more to fund such efforts. An exemption would be provided for segregated accounts set up by groups that contribute to operations besides election-related independent campaigns, thereby excluding public employee unions and other unions, organizations such as NAACP, Planned Parenthood, etc. On July 16, the Senate rejected the initial cloture motion, 51-44. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., subsequently filed a motion to reconsider that vote, which allowed the Senate to vote again.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Campaign Financial Disclosures – Cloture
Vote Rejected (53-45, 2 Not Voting)

The next attempt at closure came a day later. The resulting 53-45 vote again fell strictly along party lines. Sixty votes were required for cloture on proceeding to the measure, which is known as the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections, or DISCLOSE, Act.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Outsourcing Tax Credits – Cloture
Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)

Current tax law allows for the cost of moving jobs overseas to be deducted as a business expense. S. 3664, sponsored by Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., would end that tax break while continuing to allow a deduction for jobs returned to this country or moved within the United States. The bill would provide an additional tax credit for 20 percent of the cost of moving jobs back to the United States. On July 19, the Senate rejected, 56-42, a motion to take up the bill. The motion fell four votes short of the 60 needed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed made by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Four Republican Senators, Scott P. Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, and Dean Heller of Nevada voted with all participating Democrats to take up the legislation. No further action is scheduled on the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Foreign Relations Authorization - Passage
Vote Passed (333-61, 37 Not Voting)

The House last week passed a fiscal 2013 foreign relations authorization measure that would maintain basic funding and is silent on controversial issues that have held up previous authorizations. Most accounts in the new bill would be authorized at the same level as the fiscal 2012 law (PL 112-74). And most of the bill’s provisions do not involve the authorization of bilateral or development assistance, such as specific aid levels for Israel, Egypt and other nations. The bill was designed to win over enough backers to advance further than last year’s contentious proposal, which never moved beyond Foreign Affairs Committee approval. In last week’s floor vote, 60 Republicans and one Democrat voted no. The bill passed under suspension of the rules, meaning that a two-thirds majority was required for passage.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill

*Sequestration Report - Passage
Vote Passed (414-2, 15 Not Voting)

By an overwhelming vote of 414-12 on July 18, the House backed a measure that would pressure the Obama administration to detail how agencies would implement the cuts, known as a sequester, that are scheduled to hit on January 2, 2013. The sequester was mandated by the August 2011 debt limit deal (PL 112-25). The bill would require the White House to produce a report within 30 days with a detailed account of how the cuts would affect both domestic and defense programs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Defense Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (326-90, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed a $606 billion Defense spending bill last week that would fund the Pentagon and national security programs in fiscal 2013. The total includes $87.7 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas operations. Although the House rejected numerous attempts to cut the defense budget, lawmakers did agree to freeze Pentagon spending at last year’s level. Before passing the bill, the House adopted, 247-167, an amendment by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., that would retain the fiscal 2012 defense spending level, a reduction of over $1 billion from the amount originally proposed in the bill. Overall, the appropriations bill, as amended, would provide $518.1 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget, the same as the fiscal 2012 level and $2 billion more than President Obama’s request. It would provide a 1.7 percent pay increase for military personnel, matching Obama’s request. The House rejected, 171-243, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., that would have reduced the bill’s funding by $7.6 billion, dropping it to the amount authorized under the 2011 debt limit law (PL 112-25). The Obama administration has threatened to veto the bill primarily over the funding levels, saying that directing more money than planned under last year’s law to the Pentagon would "necessitate significant and harmful cuts" to domestic programs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

8-3-2012

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Tax Cut Extension – Republican Substitute
Vote Rejected (45-54, 1 Not Voting)

Following President Obama's call January 9 to let the Bush tax cuts lapse on personal income above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples, the Senate put itself on record last week by voting on the president's proposal and a Republican alternative. The Republican substitute amendment, offered by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would have extended current rates for all income levels for one year. It also would have allowed a business property tax deduction up to $500,000, extended current estate tax levels for one year and a created "patch" for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) covering both 2012 and 2013.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Tax Cut Extension – Passage
Vote Passed (51-48, 1 Not Voting)

Following defeat of the substitute amendment, the Senate passed the president's preferred version of the bill. In addition to the income tax provisions, the bill would allow rates on capital gains and dividends to rise from 15 to 20 percent; allow business property deductions up to $250,000; extend the college tuition tax credit and child tax credit; and patch the AMT for 2012. The roll calls for both tax bills were noteworthy in that they took place under simple majority rules, an increasingly rare occurrence in the Senate. The House is scheduled to consider a bill (HR 8) more along the lines of the Senate Republican alternative, though Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, stated that he would allow a vote on the president's proposal as well.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Cybersecurity – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (84-11, 5 Not Voting)

After agreement was reached on allowing amendments, the Senate voted last week to invoke cloture on a compromise cybersecurity bill. One of the amendments is by Sen. Charles Schumer D-NY which would re-establish the so-called assault weapons ban similar to the one passed during the Clinton administration. Democrats' preferred bill (S. 2105), introduced in February by Homeland Security Committee chair Joe Lieberman, I-Ct., would have established a definition for "critical infrastructure" and mandated that private entities who own or oversee such infrastructure establish minimum security standards. This provision drew intense opposition from business interests, leading Republicans to introduce an alternative proposal, which has since been revamped (S. 3342). The bill under consideration would forego mandating action and instead create incentives for businesses to meet security standards. S. 3342 is still expected to be offered on the floor as a substitute amendment, and the underlying bill’s prospects for passage remain uncertain. The House passed a bill (H.R. 3523) in April that did not address the critical infrastructure issue in a substantial way, instead focusing on information-sharing between government and industry. The Senate bills address the latter issue as well, though each bill takes a different approach. President Obama has endorsed the Senate compromise and threatened to veto the House-passed bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Tribal Land Leases – Suspension
Vote Failed (222-160, 49 Not Voting)

Last week the House failed to suspend the rules and adopt a bill that would have allowed up to six Native American tribes or tribal consortia to participate in a demonstration project that would have allowed for the leasing of tribal land to private entities from Turkey and other WTO countries without prior approval from the Interior Department. In order to suspend the rules, a two-thirds majority must support passage of a bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Levee Construction – Suspension
Vote Failed (126-254, 51 Not Voting)

Another suspension bill that failed to gain the necessary two-thirds was this Senate-passed measure. The bill would have allowed certain communities in North Dakota to construct levees on land otherwise set aside as flood plains.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Oil and Gas Drilling – Passage
Vote Passed (253-170, 8 Not Voting)

House Republicans, along with some crossover support from pro-drilling Democrats, passed a bill last week that would replace the Obama administrations 2012-2017 Outer Continental Shelf drilling plan with a more expansive proposal. The House alternative would nearly double the number of drilling leases, from 15 to 29 and it would include drilling off the coasts of California, Virginia, and South Carolina. In an effort to expedite leasing, the bill would also instruct the Interior Department to prepare a single environmental impact statement for all of the covered leases, rather than separate statements for each lease. President Obama has threatened to veto the proposal.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Federal Reserve Audit – Suspension
Vote Passed (327-98, 6 Not Voting)

This bill to audit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and the federal reserve banks easily cleared the two-thirds hurdle. The measure, long championed by Texas Republican Ron Paul, instructs the Comptroller General of the United States to complete the audit before year’s end and report his findings to Congress. The bill is unlikely to be taken up in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Regulatory Overhaul
Vote Passed (245-172, 14 Not Voting)

Republicans passed a bill containing a suite of changes to current regulatory rules. The biggest change would place a moratorium on so-called "significant regulatory actions" - defined as rules that would cost the economy more than $50 million – until the national unemployment rate is six percent or lower. The bill would also ban the promulgation of "midnight rules" introduced by outgoing administrations after electoral defeat. The agency practice of settling with litigants in order to reach a compromise rule – labeled "sue-settle" by detractors – would be limited. Environmental permitting would be streamlined. Nearly two dozen amendments were offered, mostly by Democrats seeking to carve out exemptions for certain types of rules concerning matters such as workplace safety or drinking water standards. The bill is unlikely to be taken up in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

11-2012

*Veterans Job Training – Motion to Waive
Vote Rejected (58-40, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate spent much of last week working on this bill that would have created a so-called jobs corps to assist Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in finding post-service employment. After invoking cloture on a motion to proceed to the bill, a substitute amendment by Veterans Affairs Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., was introduced. Among other things, the amendment would have required states to issue certain licenses, such as for plumbing or truck driving, to veterans without the normal requirements if eligible applicants had at least 10 years experience in related military activities. Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised a point of order against the amendment that its costs exceeded the amount of funding allowed under current budgetary limitations. Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., then moved to waive the point of order, which would have allowed the amendment to be debated. 60 votes are required to waive budgetary points of order, however, and proponents of the bill fell two votes shy. Sustaining the point of order effectively killed the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Foreign Aid Suspension
Vote Rejected (10-81, 9 Not Voting)

Despite only having one must-pass item to clear before recessing – namely a continuing resolution to keep the government running, the Senate was in session into the wee hours of Saturday morning. This was initially due to the insistence of Rand Paul, R-Ky., on getting a vote for his bill to suspend foreign aid to Pakistan, Libya, and Egypt. Eventually an agreement was reached to hold a vote on the bill, which was soundly defeated due to bipartisan opposition. It seems that a majority of Senators, including Wyden and Merkley believe we should continue sending taxpayer dollars to barbarians who seek the overthrow of America and the de4ath of American citizens.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Iran Nuclear Threat
Vote Agreed to (90-1, 9 Not Voting)

This resolution from Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would reaffirm U.S. opposition to the Iranian nuclear program and states that the current regime of diplomacy and sanctions must continue until Iran meets certain benchmarks. These benchmarks include suspension of uranium enrichment, compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog. The resolution pointedly states that none of its language constitutes an authorization for the use of force. Rand Paul was the lone “nay” vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Continuing Resolution
Vote Agreed to (62-30, 8 Not Voting)

After rejecting the Paul foreign aid measure and passing the Graham Iran resolution, the Senate was able to take up the continuing resolution that would fund government operations for the next six months at more or less flat levels (funding would increase by 0.6 percent for most programs.) This resolution is necessary since the U.S. Senate, under Democrat control, has for three years refused to pass an annual budget as required by the U.S. Constitution.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Minnesota Land Exchange
Vote Passed (225-189, 15 Not Voting)

This bill would facilitate a land exchange between the federal government and the state of Minnesota. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness in northern Minnesota is currently segmented by state-owned lands; the bill would instruct the secretary of Agriculture to exchange unspecified federal land elsewhere within the state for about 86,000 acres of state-held land in the wilderness. The bill is controversial among House Democrats because it bypasses normal processes for environmental review and land value appraisal and would grandfather in certain activities such as hunting and fishing on the land being converted from state to federal. (Hunting and fishing are normally prohibited in federal wilderness areas.) A handful of Democratic amendments to reverse these changes were defeated. The bill's prospects in the Senate are unclear.

Since he is in the pocket of environmentalists and can't stand the people having free access to THEIR land:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Government Surveillance Authorities
Vote Passed (301-118, 10 Not Voting)

This bill reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through 2017. FISA permits the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to authorize warrantless surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects who are based overseas. The law sets the rules of the road, broadly speaking, for intelligence agencies engaged in these spying activities. The bill prohibits the spying power from being used to target persons in the United States, and the program is subject to oversight by the congressional Judiciary and Intelligence committees and a special court. Almost all Republicans voting backed passage, while a majority of Democrats (111) voted against the bill. Senate Intelligence committee chair Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has been pushing for reauthorization in the other chamber, but has met resistance from fellow committee member Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Wyden wants to know how many American citizens have been targeted by the spy program and has placed a hold on the Senate's reauthorization measure until he has an answer. The White House strongly backs the bill.

Because he doesn't support on our ability to defend ourselves from terrorists:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Sequestration Replacement
Vote Passed (223-196, 10 Not Voting)

There is increasing concern in Congress over the looming "sequester," or automatic spending cuts, slated to begin on January 2, 2013. These cuts were triggered after the so-called "supercommittee" created by last year's debt-ceiling deal failed to find $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction. Republicans have expressed particular concern over the cuts to defense spending, which would amount to roughly $500 billion over 10 years without changes to current law. H.R. 6365, the National Security and Job Protection Act, represents the second attempt by the House to replace the sequester. (The first sequester replacement bill, H.R. 5652, Roll Call 247, was passed in May.) The bill instructs President Obama to submit to Congress by October 15 a plan to replace all discretionary and mandatory defense spending cuts (but not domestic mandatory cuts to programs such as Medicare) scheduled to occur next year. Such a plan could not include any revenue increases. Upon enactment of the replacement cuts, the overall level of authorized spending for FY 2013 would be reduced by $19 billion, which would bring the total amount in line with the House Republican budget resolution passed in April. Finally, the bill would eliminate the separate caps on defense and non-defense spending for subsequent years of the sequester, potentially allowing increases in defense spending even as the rest of the budget is reduced. The president has threatened to veto the bill, though it will likely not be brought up in the Senate anyway.

Since he doesn't believe America should remain strong and able to defend itself,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Continuing Resolution
Vote Passed (329-91, 9 Not Voting)

The only "must-pass" bill on the congressional ledger before election season fully takes over is a measure to fund the government beyond September 30. Prior to the August recess, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. announced an agreement in principle to fund the government for six months. The House did its part last week, passing six-month CR with an overwhelming majority. The resolution sets FY 13 annualized spending at $1.047 trillion, roughly in line with the level set by last year's debt ceiling agreement. Democrats claimed a tactical victory as the House Republican budget passed earlier this year had set a lower spending level. The perceived tradeoff for Republicans is that, if they win control of the Senate next year and retain the House majority, they will have a freer hand in writing spending bills. While most programs receive a nominal increase in funding from the CR, a handful, including wildfire suppression, cybersecurity, and veterans' benefits, would receive more substantial boosts. There is also about $88.5 billion in war funding and $6.4 billion in disaster relief, neither of which count against the overall cap. The resolution is likely to pass quickly in the Senate and has the White House's backing; however, one potential snag is a decrease in surface transportation funding from the level in the reauthorization passed in July. Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chaired the conference committee on that bill, has already expressed concern on that front.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Energy Department Loan Guarantees
Vote Passed (245-161, 23 Not Voting)

The last piece of business for the House last week was a bill to effectively end the Energy Department's (DOE) loan guarantee program for renewable and "innovative" energy projects. Dubbed the "No More Solyndras Act," the bill is a response to the bankruptcy of the solar panel manufacturer of the same name, which resulted in a $535 million loss to taxpayers. It would forbid DOE from considering applications that had been submitted after December 31, 2011, and would put in place a new set of procedures for applications submitted prior to that date, including placement of all such applications under review by the Treasury Department. Passage of the bill was mostly along party lines, though 22 Democrats, mostly hailing from more conservative districts, did support the measure. The bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Student Loan Exemption for Deceased Veterans – Suspension
Vote Passed (400-0, 29 Not Voting)

This bill, passed under suspension of the rules and therefore requiring a two-thirds majority for passage, would exempt student loan debt from gross taxable income for veterans who die as the result of a service-related disability. Loan forgiveness would be back-dated to October 7, 2001, and families/survivors of the deceased would have up to one year after enactment of the bill to file for refunds. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Public Funding for Political Conventions Â– Suspension
Vote Passed (310-95, 24 Not Voting)

Another suspension bill would prohibit the use of monies in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for financing presidential nomination conventions, e.g. the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Under current law each major party is entitled to $4 million to stage their conventions and minor parties are entitled to an amount proportionate to their popular vote percentage in the previous election. An earlier House bill passed last December (Roll Call 873) would have eliminated the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and thus the public financing of elections entirely. Unlike that measure, which was unanimously opposed by Democrats, the more modest bill passed last week attracted about half of all Democrats voting as well as all Republicans. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has introduced a companion measure with bipartisan support in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Welfare Work Requirements – Disapproval Resolution
Vote Passed (250-164, 15 Not Voting)

The issue of welfare was a persistent theme in the presidential campaign for months – with the Republican nominee Mitt Romney accusing President Obama of removing work requirements from the program and allowing people to collect money with no strings attached. At issue was a July 12 memorandum issued by the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), which oversees the welfare program, whose technical name is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The memo laid out a proposed waiver program for states that meet certain requirements for boosting TANF employment goals. Republicans claim that HHS does not have the waiver authority it claims in the memo, and that the proposal should have been formally submitted to Congress since it amounts to an agency rule making. The latter assertion was supported by a Government Accountability Office report. Partisans on both sides have either decried or supported the waiver proposal, including the two chief architects of 1990s welfare reform, former President Clinton and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The action taken by the House last week would repeal the move by HHS. In order for the repeal to become law, however, a similar resolution would have to pass the Senate and be signed by the president, both highly unlikely.

Of course, since he supports giving taxpayer money to those who refuse to work,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*STEM Visa Program - Suspension2
Vote Failed (257-158, 14 Not Voting)

Immigration has always been a partisan battleground, but one area the parties seemed to have formed agreement in the 112th Congress was on the need to boost immigration by high-skill workers, particularly those in the so-called STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, R.-Tex., had been working with Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for months on just such a proposal. As with so many bipartisan efforts in the last two years, however, talks foundered. Both chairmen support creating roughly 50,000 visas for graduates of U.S. institutions with advanced degrees in STEM fields. The detail that derailed talks is that Smith wanted those visas to come at the expense of an existing program, the diversity visa lottery, which sets aside slots for people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. Schumer and other Democrats wanted to simply create new slots for the STEM graduates while holding the diversity lottery harmless. Last week Smith and House leadership decided to try their luck on the floor with a suspension vote for Smith’s proposal; it ended up falling 20 votes shy of the two-thirds needed for passage. Given the bipartisan support for the overall idea, it is possible talks could resume in the lame duck session, though the crowded agenda makes any decisive action unlikely before next year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Manhattan Project National Park – Suspension
Vote Failed (237-180, 12 Not Voting)

Another failed suspension vote came on this bill to set aside federal land in New Mexico, Washington state, and Tennessee for a national park commemorating the Manhattan Project that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. Most suspensions are non-controversial, and Democrats in particular are usually in favor of creating parkland, but opponents of the measure said it would send the wrong message to allies such as Japan, which suffered mass casualties as a result of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. The bill fell 41 votes short.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Energy Regulatory Rollback Â– Passage
Vote Passed (233-175, 21 Not Voting)

The final bill passed by the House before the November elections was a summation of sorts regarding one of Republicans’ core electoral and policy arguments – namely that regulations, particularly those concerning energy production – are hurting the economy. H.R. 3409 is a smorgasbord containing the texts of five different bills, four of which had previously passed the House (Roll Calls 249, 573, 741 and 800, all in 2011). The original bill would prevent the Interior Secretary from issuing any regulations before 2014 that would result in damage to the coal industry, e.g., reductions in coal mining jobs, the amount of coal available for consumption or export, etc. The other proposals would: prevent EPA from regulating greenhouse gases as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act, as well as effectively repeal automobile efficiency standards that would increase gas mileage to 54.5 mpg by 2025; create a cross-agency council for analyzing EPA regulations and their effect on the economy, as well as pre-empting a handful of EPA rules from being finalized and nullifying others already finalized; prevent EPA from regulating coal ash - a byproduct of coal combustion that some states use to make asphalt – instead allowing the states to regulate it as they see fit; and limiting EPA authority over water-quality standards. The Senate will not take up the bill when it returns, and the president has issued a veto threat.

Since he is jalway in favor of more environmental regulations, regardless of how many jobs may be lost,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Minnesota Land Exchange
Vote Passed (225-189, 15 Not Voting)

Since he is in the pocket of environmentalists and can't stand the people having free access to THEIR land:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Government Surveillance Authorities
Vote Passed (301-118, 10 Not Voting)

Because he doesn't support on our ability to defend ourselves from terrorists:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Sequestration Replacement
Vote Passed (223-196, 10 Not Voting)

Since he doesn't believe America should remain strong and able to defend itself,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Continuing Resolution
Vote Passed (329-91, 9 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Energy Department Loan Guarantees
Vote Passed (245-161, 23 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

12-16-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Disability Treaty – Ratification
Vote Rejected (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

Despite a last-minute appearance by former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas in support of the treaty, Senate Republicans mustered enough opposition to defeat the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Supporters, including Dole and Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., described the treaty as essentially enshrining the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336) as an international standard. Kerry highlighted the treaty's support among veterans groups. The treaty's detractors, including Republican presidential candidate and former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, raised the possibility of "international bureaucrats" making child-care decisions in place of parents, including potentially restricting home schooling. All international treaties require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, so supporters fell five votes short. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada vowed another vote in the next Congress.

Since both Wyden and Merkley believe we should cede our sovereignty to the United nations:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Defense Authorization – Final Passage
Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

Following a Monday cloture vote, last week the Senate gave unanimous support to its FY 2013 defense authorization bill. The measure provides funding for all branches of the armed services (excluding the Coast Guard), nuclear security operations at the Department of Energy, and "overseas contingency operations," i.e., funding for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas conflicts. Fiscal 2013 funding in the bill would come to roughly $631 billion, $88 billion of which covers war costs. Major amendments adopted during debate would further toughen sanctions against Iran; clarify that U.S. citizens and permanent residents may not be detained without charge or trial if apprehended on American soil; prohibit transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to a U.S. facility; and ensure that the Pentagon is able to purchase alternative fuels. The provision on alternative fuels is likely to be a sticking point in conference negotiations with the House, whose bill prohibits purchase of such fuels if they are more expensive than traditional options such as petroleum. Despite President Obama's veto message, both chambers' bills contain restrictions on Guantanamo detainee transfers, retirement of Air National Guard planes, and TRICARE enrollment fees. Though conferees have not been named for either side (that is likely to happen this week), staff discussions have already begun.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage
Vote Passed (92-4, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared the way for more open trade with the Russian Federation and the tiny Eastern European republic of Moldova last week with passage of a House measure that lifts 1970s-vintage restrictions on both countries. The move was necessitated by Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization over the summer; had trade restrictions not been rescinded, the U.S. would have been vulnerable to retaliatory actions by the Russians. Moldova has been a WTO member since 2001 and appears simply to have hitched a ride on a moving legislative vehicle. Despite cheers from the business community for the free trade measure, the Russian government is deeply unhappy with accompanying language chiding its poor human rights record and sanctioning individuals associated with the imprisonment and death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The bill is currently before the president and will likely be signed into law shortly.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Energy Efficiency – Suspension
Vote Passed (398-2, 1 Present, 30 Not Voting)

In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on an energy measure, the House came together to pass a bill clarifying federal efficiency standards for a variety of heavy appliances, including air conditioners and commercial refrigerators (excluding walk-in refrigerators). Though the measure appears uncontroversial, its prospects are not clear in the Senate given the crowded calendar.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Global Internet Governance – Adoption
Vote Passed (397-0, 34 Not Voting)

The House unanimously agreed to Senate language expressing the sense of Congress that the Internet should remain "free from government control." The concurrent resolution was adopted amid the backdrop of a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations body broadly responsible for fostering cooperation among governments and the private sector on international telecommunications governance. Technology companies such as Google have voiced concern that the ITU conference could lead to adoption of restrictive regulations making it easier for national governments to censor content.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension
Vote Passed (398-1, 32 Not Voting)

In its final action of the week, the House cleared a Senate bill that would remove the pejorative "lunatic" from the United States Code. The lone House dissenter was Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, who insisted that lunatic should be retained, pointing to his fellow Members of Congress as living, breathing examples of the term. The bill awaits the president's signature.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

12-9-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Sportsmen's Access to Federal Land – Motion to Waive
Vote Rejected (50-44, 6 Not Voting)

Sen. Jon Tester's bill to increase sportsmen's access to federal lands hit a snag over budgetary rules. Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised a point of order that a provision of the bill to raise duck stamp fees violated budgetary caps agreed to in last year's debt ceiling deal. Democrats attempted to waive the budget rules but failed to muster the necessary 60 votes. "Duck stamp" is the nickname for a federal license to hunt migratory birds whose proceeds are directed toward wetlands conservation. Congress had enacted all previous fee increases, but the bill would move that authority to the Interior Department, which was also a sore point among Republicans on top of the budget issue. Tester's wide-ranging bill, which had garnered support from a large coalition of outside groups including the National Rifle Association and Nature Conservancy, had looked like a safe bet for easy passage, as it had cleared several earlier procedural hurdles with no less than 84 votes. The prospects for the bill are uncertain at this point: Democrats could attempt to attach it to another bill, such as the defense authorization or whatever agreement (if any) emerges from fiscal cliff talks.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Disability Treaty – Motion to Proceed
Vote Agreed to (61-36, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate agreed to proceed to consideration of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations treaty meant to outline the rights of disabled individuals and create a framework for implementing plans to protect those rights. The treaty contains language outlining the "general obligations" of signatory nations vis a vis their disabled citizens as well as sections on issues ranging from independent living to human dignity.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Defense Authorization – Amendment
Vote Agreed to (94-0, 6 Not Voting)

After months of delay, the Senate began working through amendments to the annual defense authorization bill in earnest last week. A number of notable amendments passed on the floor, including this one from Sens. Menendez, D-N.J., Kirk, R-Ill., and Lieberman, I-Ct., which further tightens sanctions on Iran. Others include those offered by Sens. Feinstein, D-Calif. (clarifying that American citizens and permanent residents apprehended on U.S. soil may not be detained indefinitely or without trial – Roll Call 213); Ayotte, R-N.H. (prohibiting transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay – RC 212); and Udall, D-Colo. (striking language forbidding the defense department from taking part in a pilot biofuels program - RC 206). Dozens of other amendments were considered, with most agreed to by unanimous consent. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed cloture on the bill, lining up a cloture vote. Though the bill looks to be on a path toward passage, its prospects have been complicated by a veto threat from President Obama. The Administration presented a long list of grievances in its policy statement, including objections to the bill's language on detainees, Air National Guard force structure, and costs relating to TRICARE, the military's health care program. The President has also issued a veto threat against the House version of the bill (H.R. 4310).

Sen. Ron Wyden did not vote on this bill.
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*STEM Visa Program – Final Passage
Vote Passed (245-139, 48 Not Voting)

The House took another bite of the apple last week in attempting to create a visa program intended to allow foreign students who obtain advanced degrees in STEM fields from American universities to remain in the country. A previous attempt to pass the bill under suspension of the rules failed to garner the necessary two thirds for passage (Roll Call 590). This time the leadership opted to go through regular order, which meant only a simple majority was needed. Only a handful of Democrats voted for the measure, as the bulk of the caucus objected to the bill's elimination of the diversity visa program, which employs a lottery to distribute up to 55,000 visas every year to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The bill would move the diversity visa slots into the new STEM visa program. The Senate will not take up the measure this year; it is seen instead as the House Republican majority laying down a marker for the type of immigration reform measure that could pass muster with their caucus.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

11-25-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cybersecurity – Cloture
Vote Rejected (51-47, 2 Not Voting)

In contrast to the brisk movement toward passage of the Sportsmen's Act, cybersecurity legislation once again ran aground in the Senate after a failure to invoke cloture. Despite the entreaties of the bill's sponsors, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Ct. and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Me., Republicans (as well as five Democrats) refused to end debate on the bill. Concerns in the business community remain a major stumbling block. The Chamber of Commerce and its congressional allies are wary that security standards established by the bill could morph from voluntary to mandatory once they become law. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. declared that "cybersecurity is dead for this Congress." The House passed a much less ambitious bill earlier this year that focused on information sharing between the government and private sector entities. President Obama threatened to veto that measure, citing privacy concerns, while endorsing the Senate bill. With the Senate deadlocked, any action in the remainder of the year is likely to come from the White House, which has reportedly drafted an executive order to protect vital computer networks from attack.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Sportsmen's Access to Federal Land – Cloture
Vote Agreed to (84-12, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate moved one step closer last week to passing a bill with a smorgasbord of provisions designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, voting affirmatively on both a motion to proceed (Roll Call 201) and later invoking cloture on the bill. Sponsored by Democrat Jon Tester, D-Mont., the Sportsmen's Act of 2012 would exempt ammunition and fishing equipment from EPA regulation; ease a ban on importation of polar bear trophies from Canada; and allow the issuance of permits for individuals carrying bows and crossbows to cross national park land. The bill would reauthorize a number of wildlife conservation measures, as well as a law to facilitate the sale or exchange of federal land with non-federal landowners whose holdings lie within the boundaries of federal tracts. Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. raised a point of order last week regarding spending on duck stamps authorized in the bill. The point of order is expected to be overridden, with final passage coming after the Thanksgiving recess. President Obama supports the bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES
RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Russia Trade Relations, Human Rights Oversight – Passage
Vote Passed (365-43, 25 Not Voting)

In its first week of legislative action since the November 6 elections, the House moved on a measure to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the Russian Federation. By an overwhelming and bipartisan majority, the lower chamber endorsed a measure to essentially repeal 1970s-era restrictions on trade with Russia and Moldova that were originally implemented because the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc nations denied freedom of emigration to their Jewish citizens. The legislation was necessitated by Russia's recent accession to the World Trade Organization, which was finalized in late August. If U.S. trade restrictions are not lifted, American goods could become subject to retaliatory tariffs, closing off a potentially lucrative new market. The Russia trade title includes several requirements for oversight from the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure Russia is living up to its new WTO obligations. Legislators more skeptical of closer ties with Russia fought for the inclusion of human rights provisions in the legislation. These include a sense of Congress statement the U.S. should support democracy and human rights activists in Russia. The teeth of the provisions, however, center on the ordeal of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian attorney who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in 2009. The president will be required to compile a list of names of those responsible for Magnitsky's abuse and death. Those individuals will be denied entry to the U.S. and their assets will be frozen. The White House is officially supportive of the combined measure, though the Magnitsky provisions are already causing headaches with Moscow. The bill now moves to the Senate, where the Finance and Foreign Relations panels have already passed similar measures.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

12-20-12

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Disability Treaty – Ratification
Vote Rejected (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

Since both Wyden and Merkley believe we should cede our sovereignty to the United nations:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Defense Authorization – Final Passage
Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage
Vote Passed (92-4, 4 Not Voting)

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*TAG Extension – Motion to Waive
Vote Rejected (50-42, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate began and stopped the process of considering legislation to extend the FDIC's Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program. The program, initiated in 2008 as a way of shoring up the banking system, provides unlimited government backing for non-interest bearing transaction accounts, such as those used for business expenses. (The normal threshold for government guarantees on such accounts is $250,000.) The Senate invoked cloture on the legislation earlier in the week by a healthy 76-20 margin (Roll Call 225). But the bill foundered on a budgetary point of order raised by Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey. Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D. moved to waive Toomey's point of order, but he fell ten votes shy of the 60 needed for such a maneuver. Like so much unfinished business, an extension may well get lost in the year-end rush to avert the fiscal cliff. Even if a bill does get through the Senate, however, House Republicans have signaled they would prefer to let TAG expire, which it is scheduled to do on December 31.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Energy Efficiency – Suspension
Vote Passed (398-2, 1 Present, 30 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Global Internet Governance – Adoption
Vote Passed (397-0, 34 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension
Vote Passed (398-1, 32 Not Voting)

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Suspension Authority
Vote Passed (226-178, 27 Not Voting)

In a sign of things to come, House leaders brought a rule to the floor allowing bills to be considered under suspension of the rules through Friday, December 28. That would allow for expedited consideration of any deal to avert the fiscal cliff, as suspending the rules prevents any amendments from being offered and limits debate to one hour. It also raises the threshold for passage to a two-thirds majority, which could prove difficult, depending on the exact parameters of any agreement between President Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio.

Not wanting to support any legislation that may prevent the government from going over the fiscal cliff,

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Epinephrine Inhalers – Suspension
Vote Failed (229-182, 20 Not Voting)

The House failed to muster a two-thirds majority for a bill that would have granted a seven-month grace period for the distribution and sale of over-the-counter asthma inhalers that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as a propellant. The inhalers have been banned since December 1, 2011 per the Montreal Protocol, an international convention, which bans ozone-depleting substances (including CFCs). The bill under question, introduced by Texas Republican Rep. Michael C. Burgess, would have lifted the ban until August 1, 2013. Because it was considered under suspension of the rules, the bill would have needed 274 votes to pass. The bill appears to have enough support to pass under regular order, but leadership would need to clear enough floor time for a full debate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Defense Authorization – Motion to Instruct
Vote Passed (399-4, 28 Not Voting)

The House and Senate named conferees last week to negotiations over the final version of the national defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2013. Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-Calif. moved to instruct House negotiators to agree to a provision in the Senate bill (S. 3254) that would mandate a report to Congress on how the U.S. will promote the security of Afghan women and girls as allied forces transition out of the country. The House also agreed to a motion from Armed Services chairman Buck McKeon, R-Calif. to close portions of the negotiations to the public, presumably those dealing with intelligence and other particularly sensitive matters.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

1-27-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Substitute Amendment
Vote Agreed to (327-91, 14 Not Voting)

After agreeing unanimously to the FEMA reforms, the House dove into the much thornier issue of providing actual money for Sandy victims. Conservatives on the GOP side have been arguing for months that any new spending for disaster aid should be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget. This fact at least partly explains Speaker John Boehner's decision to cancel anticipated action before the end of the 112th Congress. The several weeks' delay allowed Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers of Kentucky and fellow appropriator Rodney Frelinghuysen of Sandy-affected New Jersey to come up with legislative language and procedure that could win enough support for passage. Their proposal divided the aid into two tranches, one covering only the most immediate needs, to be offered as a substitute amendment by Rogers, and the second to take care of longer-term needs for coastal New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Conservative Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina was allowed to offer an amendment to the Rogers language that would have offset its costs – about $17 billion – with a 1.6 percent cut across the rest of the federal budget. Mulvaney's amendment was rejected – though over two thirds of Republicans voting supported it – and Rogers's $17 billion language then passed with strong bipartisan support.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Long-term Recovery Aid
Vote Agreed to (228-192, 12 Not Voting)

The Frelinghuysen amendment in support of long-term recovery efforts proved much more controversial and more difficult to pass. It provided an additional $33 billion on top of the $17 billion in the Rogers amendment. In addition to the question of spending offsets, many Republicans questioned whether the type of mitigation efforts supported by the Frelinghuysen language belonged in a disaster aid bill. That type of spending, they argue, ought to be debated as part of the regular budgetary and appropriations process. Several amendments to Frelinghuysen were adopted, among them a rescission of funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Roll Call 16) and a restriction on the use of funds in the bill to acquire new federal land (Roll Call 21). Ultimately the Frelinghuysen language was adopted, but with the support of only 38 Republicans, mostly those from the affected states and other regions that have relied on federal support for disaster recovery in the past, such as the Gulf Coast.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Final Passage
Vote Passed (241-180, 11 Not Voting)

The final package voted on the by House consisted of the Rogers and Frelinghuysen amendments and the disaster aid reforms. Ultimately the bill provides around $50.5 billion to the areas affected by the storm. Almost all of that total is designated "emergency spending," meaning it falls outside of budgetary caps established for this fiscal year by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement. The final bill did pick up a few more Republican votes, but it would not have come close to passage without near-unanimous Democratic support. The issue of whether to offset disaster aid appears certain to resurface again. Rep. Mulvaney, while lamenting defeat of his amendment, said he was nonetheless "encouraged" to receive 162 votes.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Disaster Aid Reform
Vote Passed (403-0, 26 Not Voting)

The House engaged in a multiple-step process last week in order to finally pass the bulk of an assistance package for victims of Hurricane Sandy (after passing a bill two weeks ago increasing the National Flood Insurance Program's borrowing authority). The first step was passing this bill designed to introduce efficiencies to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster recovery procedures. Among other things, the bill would streamline environmental reviews, reduce debris removal costs, and allow FEMA to make limited repairs to housing structures if that would be less costly than providing trailers. It would also direct FEMA to provide Congress with recommendations for reducing future recovery costs.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill

1-20-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Establishing the Rules of the House
Vote Passed (228-196, 5 Not Voting)

After electing the Speaker, the next order of business in organizing the House is traditionally establishing the rules for that Congress. This is typically a prosaic piece of business, but there were several controversial items in the rules package this year. The resolution reauthorizes the House's Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to continue litigation defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the court system. It also authorizes the Oversight Committee to continue its civil action against Attorney General Eric Holder over documents related to the Fast and Furious gun walking scandal. The last controversial provision concerns the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a panel created by the 2010 health care overhaul to look for ways to lower health care costs. As envisioned in the health care bill, Congress would automatically vote on the panel's recommendations; under the rules of the House in the new Congress, it will not be possible to consider those recommendations. The House passed a bill last March to repeal IPAB outright (Roll Call Number 126). It is worth noting that President Obama has not made any nominations to the panel, so it currently has no members and therefore no ability to make recommendations. Democrats attempted to revise the package twice, first with inclusion of a study regarding the voting rights of delegates from the U.S. territories and Puerto Rico, and later with legislative language to create national early voting. Both efforts were voted down.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Hurricane Sandy Relief – Suspension
Vote Passed (354-67, 8 Not Voting)

Speaker Boehner caused no small amount of indignation when he adjourned the House at the end of the last Congress without taking up a relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The delay caused the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to approach its borrowing limit, necessitating this suspension bill to raise the program's borrowing authority by $9.7 billion. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote later in the day. Boehner has pledged that the remainder of the roughly $60 billion in aid would be considered in the House January 15.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

2-17-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Gender-based Violence Prevention - Substitute Amendment
Vote Rejected (34-65, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate began action on its renewed effort to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a panoply of initiatives designed to combat such crimes as domestic violence and sexual assault and to provide assistance to state and local law enforcement. Both chambers of Congress passed reauthorization bills last year, but were never able to resolve various differences. One major hurdle, the creation of new visas for immigrant victims of domestic violence, has been stripped from this year's version of the Senate bill. The other large sticking point, however, remains - Senate language that would give Indian tribes expanded police and judicial jurisdiction over non-Indian sex offenders who commit crimes on tribal land. Senate proponents contend the provision is a practical response to the reality that the nearest law enforcement authorities are often located hours away from tribal lands, making it very difficult to adequately police non-Indian offenders. Opponents are wary of potential constitutional issues raised by the provision. Regardless, the bill looks to be sailing toward passage in the Senate. The motion to proceed was agreed to by an overwhelming 85-8 margin (Roll Call Number 12) on February 4. Several days later, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, offered a substitute bill supported by his conference. The Grassley substitute made several changes, including to the Indian language. Its margin of defeat - 34 to 65, with ten Republicans joining all Democrats and independents - indicates the strength of the bill's support. The president has not taken a position on the current bill, though he supported last year's Senate bill. The House has not yet taken action to move a reauthorization.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Budget Submission Requirement - Final Passage
Vote Passed (253-167, 11 Not Voting)

House Republican leadership has vowed to complete a budget document this year that achieves balance within a decade. Last week the House passed a bill that would hold the President to the same requirement. The Require a PLAN Act would mandate that, if President Obama's FY2014 budget - which, the bill's findings section notes, is expected to be (and indeed was) late - does not achieve balance at any point within its ten-year window, a new budget that does project balance must be submitted by April 1. The bill is not expected to be taken up by the Senate, but - along with the No Budget, No Pay Act that was recently signed into law - it does allow House Republicans to position themselves as the group in Washington most concerned with taming the deficit.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

2-9-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Temporary Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
Vote Passed (64-34, 2 Not Voting)

The federal debt limit will have no force or effect until May 19, thanks to Senate action last week to clear a House-passed measure for President Obama's signature. In addition to suspending the debt limit, the bill commits the Senate (and the House) to passing a budget resolution for the first time in four years, under pain of its members having their paychecks withheld. Before the bill could pass, Democrats had to table several Republican amendments from Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Rand Paul of Kentucky and David Vitter of Louisiana (Roll Call Votes 6-10). Portman offered two amendments: the first would have require that any bill to raise the debt limit include non-interest spending cuts of an equal or greater amount; the second would have cut discretionary spending by one percent every three or four months if Congress does not agree to a budget resolution by October 1, 2013. Toomey's amendment would have prioritized certain accounts for receipt of payment in the event Congress did not raise the debt limit, placing debt interest, Social Security and military personnel at the front of the line. The Paul amendment would have banned the transfer of certain weapons systems such F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. The Vitter amendment would have introduced spending cuts to the bill. All but the Paul amendment, which had very little support, split the Senate exactly along party lines. Democrats rejected each amendment unanimously except the second Portman amendment, which attracted the support of Kay Hagan (N.C.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Jon Tester (Mont.).

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Disaster Relief – Final Passage
Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting)

Relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy cleared Congress last week, almost exactly three months after the storm devastated coastal communities in New York and New Jersey. After defeating an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would have offset the bill's cost with a 0.49 percent across-the-board spending cut (Roll Call Number 3), the upper chamber just managed to clear the 60-vote threshold leadership had agreed to set for passage of the bill. All told, the package contains $50.5 billion, to be disbursed through programs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Health and Human Services, and Army Corps of Engineers, among others. All but $5.4 billion of this amount is designated as emergency spending, meaning it does not apply to discretionary budgetary caps set by the 2011 debt ceiling agreement.
Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Secretary of State Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (94-3, 1 Present, 2 Not Voting)

The senior Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat John Kerry, was confirmed as the 68th Secretary of State last week. Kerry received near-unanimous support from his colleagues, the only dissenters being Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. Kerry officially took over from Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday, February 1.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

2-3-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Temporary Rules Changes
Vote Agreed to (78-16, 6 Not Voting)

The only action in the Senate last week focused on the upper chamber's internal rules. There has been much bitter recrimination between majority Democrats and minority Republicans in recent years over a general lack of productivity, which the majority blames on obstruction - mostly in the form of a geometric increase in usage of the filibuster - and the minority blames on stonewalling, mostly in the form of Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "filling the amendment tree" on bills brought to the floor, thereby preventing Republicans (or anyone else, for that matter) from offering amendments. A group of Democrats led by Tom Udall of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon had been pushing a return to the "talking" filibuster of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington fame, which they claimed could be pushed through with a simple majority of 51 votes at the beginning of the 113th Congress. Udall and Merkley (and most other Democrats) deemed this the "constitutional" option, since nowhere in the Constitution does it state that the Senate should operate under anything but majority rule except in rare circumstances such impeachment of a president and approving treaties. Republicans dubbed the Merkley/Udall proposal the "nuclear" option, claiming it would completely destroy what was left of the body's traditional comity and leave the minority little choice but to engage in parliamentary guerrilla war to have a voice in the chamber. In the event, the nuclear button was not pushed, and what changes occurred last week will mostly tinker around the edges. Senators cast two votes, the first on a temporary rules change applicable only in the 113th Congress. The biggest effect of the change would be to limit the ability to filibuster the motion to proceed, which is a procedural hurdle that must be leapt in order to consider a bill on the floor. If the two leaders agree on a set of four amendments, two each from the minority and majority, debate on the motion to proceed would be limited to four hours. The other change would limit post-cloture debate time on lower-level judges and executive branch nominees.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Permanent Rules Changes
Vote Agreed to (86-9, 5 Not Voting)

The second vote instituted a permanent change to the Senate's rules; it also chiefly concerns the motion to proceed. Currently when the majority leader files a cloture petition in order to end debate, two days of session must pass before a cloture vote can be held and, if cloture is invoked, 30 additional hours must pass before voting on the actual matter at hand (in this case, the motion to proceed to the bill). The rules change would allow a cloture vote to be held the day after a petition is filed, if the cloture petition is signed by both the Majority and Minority Leaders and seven members each from the majority and minority. If cloture on the motion to proceed is then invoked, senators would immediately vote on the motion instead of waiting 30 hours. The other permanent rules change would condense the process for motions to go to conference with the House, reducing the number of motions needed – and thus the number of opportunities to filibuster – from three to one.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
Vote Passed (285-144, 3 Not Voting)

The House temporarily defused a looming crisis over the debt limit last week by passing a bill that, rather than raising the limit – that is, setting a new cap on the federal government's borrowing authority – actually suspends it – meaning there technically is no limit – until May 19, at which point the limit would be reset at a new, higher level, to reflect government borrowing activity in the interim period. In addition, the bill would institute an enforcement mechanism for each house of Congress to pass a FY 2014 budget resolution. Beginning April 15, if a chamber has not passed a budget, that chamber's members would not receive their paychecks. This would carry on until the earlier of passage of a budget or the last day of the 113th Congress. Though House Democrats mostly decried the bill as a gimmick, President Obama has stated he will sign the bill if it reaches him.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 3-16-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Committee Funding Resolution – Amendment Vote
Vote Rejected (44-53, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a resolution authorizing funding levels for its standing committees through the remainder of fiscal year 2013. This is normally a non-controversial measure but Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to including funding for a body known as the National Security Working Group, essentially a forum for senators to discuss foreign policy and national security. Paul insisted on a vote for his amendment to strip funding from the Working Group. After the amendment was rejected, the resolution was agreed to by voice vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*CIA Director Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (63-34, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed President Obama's counterterrorism advisor John Brennan to be the next director of the CIA last week. Brennan looked to be on a glide path to confirmation until Kentucky Republican Rand Paul staged an unexpected "talking" filibuster that stretched over 13 hours. Paul stated that he was holding up Brennan's nomination because he had not received adequate assurances from the administration that the president did not have authority to target American citizens on American soil with drone strikes if they were not an "imminent threat." During the course of the filibuster Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. released a brief letter to Paul stating that the president does not have the authority "to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil." This appeared to satisfy Paul, who yielded the floor after midnight on March 7. Following a successful cloture motion later that afternoon (Roll Call 31), Brennan was confirmed with a solid bipartisan majority.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Disaster Response and Preparedness – Suspension
Vote Passed (370-28, 33 Not Voting)

The House cleared a bill under suspension last week reauthorizing various measures meant to strengthen preparation and response to pandemics and similar biological disasters. The House originally passed the bill in January (Roll Call 24). It was later amended in the Senate, extending the authorization through 2018, and sent back to the House. This latest vote moves the bill to the president's desk.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*FY 2013 Continuing Appropriations
Vote Passed (267-151, 13 Not Voting)

With a March 27 deadline to avert government shutdown looming, the House moved last week to pass a bill making appropriation for the rest of the fiscal year. The package contained full appropriations bills for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, (though it did not increase their funding levels) and essentially continues FY12 funding for all other accounts. The bill's overall funding level is in line with the $1.043 trillion cap agreed to under the 2011 debt ceiling agreement, but because of the sequester, net new budget authority would instead reach $984 billion.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 3-10-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Hagel Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (58-41, 1 Not Voting)

After months of being hammered by conservative media outlets and activist groups and a wobbly performance in his confirmation hearing, Chuck Hagel was confirmed last week to become the 24th Secretary of Defense. The 58-41 vote fell mostly along party lines, with Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Richard Shelby of Alabama and Hagel's fellow Nebraskan Mike Johanns the only Republicans joining all Democrats and independents in voting to confirm him. The confirmation vote followed a successful, and much more lopsided, cloture vote (Roll Call 23) – itself an unusual hurdle to clear on a Cabinet nomination (though not, strictly speaking "unprecedented," as some commentators and Democratic officials have stated).

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Lew Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (71-26, 3 Not Voting)

Receiving much less attention – and generating much less controversy – was the nomination of Jacob J. Lew to be the next Treasury Secretary. Though Lew did receive some criticism for compensation packages he received from former employers New York University and Citigroup, as well as for his Cayman Islands investments, his nomination sailed through committee and received healthy bipartisan support on the Senate floor.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Republican Sequester Alternative – Cloture
Vote Rejected (38-62)

The last day of February saw both parties in the Senate make a show of attempting to avert the budget sequester that went into effect the next day. The Republican proposal would order the President to submit a sequester replacement plan by March 15, which would cut roughly the same amount of funds in the same 50-50, defense-non-defense proportion as the sequester, but would allow the White House discretion in allocating the cuts within each budget function. Separately, the bill would allow the Defense Secretary to transfer previously-appropriated funds between departmental accounts. President Obama threatened to veto the bill, and it saw more Republican defections (nine) than Democratic recruits (two). Heaven forbid this president actually have to exercise some discretion and take credit for his actions!

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Democratic Sequester Alternative – Cloture
Vote Rejected (51-49)

The Democratic sequester replacement plan – and it should be noted that both this bill and the Republican bill only deal with year one of what is scheduled to be a decade-long budget squeeze – would fully repeal the $85 billion in cuts and replace them with several policy alternatives. These include ending direct payments to farmers, a proposal the Senate approved overwhelmingly last year in its version of the farm bill that never became law. The bill would also enact a 30% minimum tax rate on individual incomes over $5 million and would change the tax law definition of crude oil to include tar sands. Though the bill had no chance of garnering 60 votes, its chances were further damaged when the Congressional Budget Office reported that it would have increased the deficit by $7 billion. Not to be deterred by class warfare or concern for increasing budget deficits:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage
Vote Passed (286-138, 7 Not Voting)

Appearing to decide that the issue simply was not worth fighting over any longer, House leadership allowed the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) to come to the floor and pass with majority-Democratic support. Both chambers passed reauthorization measures in the 112th Congress, but no extension became law due to a variety of disagreements between the Senate and House leadership. These mostly centered on Senate efforts to expand the law's reach, for example by granting Indian tribal courts authority to prosecute non-Indian offenders and by extending protections to victims of gender identity and sexual orientation-based violence. Democrats made much hay of the GOP's resistance, labeling it part of a broader "war on women" that also included attacks on contraceptive coverage in Obamacare. Senate Democratic leaders made it a priority to re-pass VAWA quickly at the beginning of the 113th Congress, thus placing the onus back on House Republicans. Republicans offered an alternative bill as a replacement amendment, but it failed when 60 GOP members joined nearly all Democrats in voting no (Roll Call 54). The bill also extends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a law aimed at thwarting human trafficking. VAWA is now cleared for the president's signature.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 2-24-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage
Vote Passed (78-22)

The Senate passed a comprehensive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including a controversial provision that grants expanded authority to tribal courts over non-American Indian offenders. The bill would also expand protections for LGBT victims. VAWA consists of a variety of grant programs to state and local law enforcement agencies and service organizations that specialize in treating victims of such crimes as rape, domestic violence, and stalking. S. 47 extends VAWA for five years. The Senate debated several amendments to the bill, notably defeating a proposal from Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn to remove the expanded tribal court authority (Roll Call 14 ). Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy of Vermont successfully attached a four-year extension of anti-human trafficking measures to the overall bill (Roll Call 15). House leaders have been vague about their plans regarding the legislation, which expired last year amid disagreement between the two chambers. President Obama supports the Senate bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture
Vote Rejected (58-40, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)

One of the more contentious nomination fights in recent memory was dragged into the President's Day recess when the Senate failed to invoke cloture on Chuck Hagel's bid to become Defense Secretary. The former Republican senator from Nebraska endured a withering confirmation hearing on January 31, during which he was grilled for hours on a narrow range of issues, particularly Israel and Iran. The nomination passed out of the Armed Services Committee February 12 on a straight party-line vote, and Reid attempted to end debate two days later. Several Republican senators, including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander stated that they would not vote for cloture that day but would following the recess (though they would ultimately oppose the nomination). After extended back and forth, the cloture vote failed. Four Republicans – Susan Collins, Thad Cochran, Mike Johanns and Lisa Murkowski – joined all Democrats and independents Angus King and Bernie Sanders in supporting the motion. Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah voted "present," which in this instance had the same effect as a "no" vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension
Vote Passed (354-72, 5 Not Voting)

This bill would expand the definition of "private non-profit facilities" eligible for federal disaster funding to include houses of worship such as churches and synagogues. Many such buildings were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, which brought the issue to lawmakers' attention.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Hydropower Regulation – Suspension
Vote Passed (422-0, 9 Not Voting)

The House unanimously supported this measure to streamline permitting and regulation of hydropower facilities.

Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill

*Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage
Vote Passed (261-154, 16 Not Voting)

Acting to head off a scheduled cost-of-living-adjustment for federal civilian employees, the House extended the freeze on their pay through the end of the calendar year. Military pay is not affected by the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*North Korea Nuclear Test
Vote Passed (412-2, 17 Not Voting)

Responding to a nuclear test conducted by the secretive Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea, the House passed a resolution condemning the act and calling for a new round of sanctions. Libertarian Republicans Justin Amash of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the only "no" votes. The North Koreans are probably shaking in their shoes over this toothless resolution!

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

Posted 6-16-2013

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Student Loan Rates Bill – Cloture
Vote Rejected (40-57, 2 Not Voting)

After a protracted battle, Congress last year passed a compromise extension of the current rate–3.4 percent– until July 1, 2013. After this date, interest rates on these loans will double. With that deadline looming, both parties are yet again wide apart on a method for setting interest rates permanently. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., authored this alternative to House Republicans’ bill for setting some federal student loan rates. The House plan (H.R. 1911) pegs Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans to the rate of 10-year Treasury notes plus 2.5% and plus 4.5% for Direct PLUS loans. Coburn’s bill more or less split the difference, pegging Stafford and Direct PLUS loans to the 10-year Treasury rate plus 3.0% at the time of loan origination. With current Treasury bill rates at 1.75 percent, Coburn argued that college students enrolling this fall would lock in a rate of 4.75 percent for the life of the loan. Senate Democrats continue to reject any approach to setting student loans permanently that ties interest rates to financial markets. Only Democrat Thomas R. Carper of Delaware crossed the aisle to vote for the bill, while five Republicans voted against the measure.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Student Loan Rates Bill Â– Cloture
Vote Rejected (51-46, 2 Not Voting)

In May, Senate Democrats introduced their alternative to a House Republican plan for setting Federal Direct Stafford Loan interest rates. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., would have extended the 3.4 percent rates on Stafford Loans for another two years. It would have paid for the estimated $8.3 billion cost of this extension by closing tax loopholes on some pensions and corporate accounts and by applying an excise tax on oil produced from tar sands. The vote to invoke cloture failed almost entirely along partisan lines, with only Democrat Joe Manchin III of West Virginia breaking ranks to vote no with all Senate Republicans. Although it failed, the bill is a line in the sand for the Senate majority, which strongly opposes the market-based House plan that would tie interest rates to the market interest rate of 10-year Treasury bills and allow rates to rise up to 10.5 percent for some loans. Congress now has two weeks to find a compromise solution before rates double on July 1.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*FY2014 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (421-4, 8 Not Voting)

After approving one amendment from Mark Amodei, R-Nev., specifying $44 million in funds dedicated to reducing disability claims backlogs in Veterans Benefits Administration offices, the House passed its first fiscal 2014 spending bill to fund military construction and Department of Veterans Affairs programs with $157.8 billion. It provides $73.3 billion in discretionary funds, including $55 billion for veterans health services, and $84.5 billion in mandatory spending covering veterans service compensation, benefits and pensions. Adding in another $10 billion for military construction, such as $1.5 billion for military family housing, the House-approved legislation is $1.4 billion less than President Barack Obama requested and $2.4 billion more than the fiscal 2013 level that included cuts due to sequestration. It also provides $55.6 billion in advance appropriations for select VA medical care accounts for the 2015 fiscal year. The legislation now goes to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; however, a markup still has not been scheduled for the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*FY2014 Homeland Security Appropriations – Amendment Vote
Vote Agreed to (224-201, 9 Not Voting)

After clearing their first spending bill, two days later the House moved onto their second, funding the Homeland Security Department. The House passed, on a mostly party-line vote, Iowa Republican Steve King’s amendment that would bar the use of funds to implement or enforce six internal Homeland Security Department policies, including one from June 12, 2012 that granted temporary legal status to the so-called Dream Act immigrants – people younger than 31 who are in school and arrived in the United States prior to turning 16, have graduated or have served in the military, and do not have a criminal record. King said in House floor debate on June 5, “The president does not have the authority to waive immigration law, nor does he have the authority to create it out of thin air.”

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*FY2014 Homeland Security Appropriations – Passage
Vote Passed (245-182, 7 Not Voting)

After the House completed votes on amendments, they passed Homeland Security appropriations legislation for the 2014 fiscal year, funding the department and related activities with $46.1 billion ($38.9 billion in discretionary funds and $5.6 billion in emergency disaster aid). The funds include $10.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $5.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration and $9.9 billion each for the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. An issue that may cause problems with Senate approval is an approved provision to prohibit federal funding for ICE to provide abortions for detainees, except in extreme circumstances including rape, incest or endangerment of the life of the woman. Like the Military Construction-VA legislation, the future for the Homeland Security appropriations bill is uncertain and is not on the Senate schedule, as of yet.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

------------

Posted 6-2-2013

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

Farm Bill – Amendment Vote
Vote Agreed to (59-33, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate began working its way through amendments last week to a five-year reauthorization of food and nutrition programs, with a view toward passing the bill after the Memorial Day recess. This year’s farm bill is very similar to last year’s version, with some exceptions including greater support for Southern crops such as rice, cotton and peanuts. The bill would reduce spending on food stamps by about $4 billion and would reduce the deficit by $17.9 billion over ten years. The last amendment vote of the week changed the bill to reduce by 15 percent the amount of crop insurance subsidies for farmers with adjusted gross incomes above $750,000 a year. The amendment includes a clause stating that the new limitation would not take effect if the Agriculture secretary determines that it would result in a decline in overall crop insurance coverage or increase the total cost of the program. Other amendment votes last week included: a Gillibrand, D-N.Y. amendment to block the food stamp cuts (defeated, RC 131); an Inhofe, R-Okla. amendment to turn the food stamp program into a block grant to the states (defeated, RC 132); and a Sanders, I-Vt. amendment to permit states to require labeling of genetically-modified foods (defeated, RC 135). President Obama supports the Senate bill. The House is working on its own farm bill (H.R. 1947), which passed out of committee on May 15. The House measure would reduce the deficit by almost twice as much as the Senate bill, including more than $20 billion in cuts to nutrition programs.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Keystone Pipeline Approval – Final Passage
Vote Passed (241-175, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting)

Returning to an issue from last Congress, the House passed a bill last week to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport diluted bitumen (or “tar sands”) from Canada through the American heartland to refining facilities on the Gulf Coast. Approval of pipelines do not normally spark so much controversy, but Keystone requires presidential approval because it crossed an international boundary, thus placing President Obama in the middle of a fight that places labor unions and environmentalists, two of his key constituencies, on opposing sides. H.R. 3 would seek to remove Obama from the approval process by declaring a presidential permit was not a necessity. It would deem various documents and reports that have been issued by federal and state entities over the last two years as satisfying the various regulatory thresholds to begin construction of the pipeline. It would essentially cut the Environmental Protection Agency out of the oversight process, and would force the Army Corps of Engineers to issue construction permits within 90 days of an application being filed. The president has threatened to veto the bill, though the Senate is unlikely to take it up in any case.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Student Loan Interest Rate Reform – Final Passage
Vote Passed (221-198, 15 Not Voting)

In its last action before the recess, the House passed a bill to overhaul student loan interest rates. Interest rates are currently set to rise from 3.4 to 6.8 percent this summer. H.R. 1911 would set rates for Stafford loans at the level of the 10-year Treasury Note plus 2.5 percent (capped at 8.5 percent), while PLUS loans would be set at 10-year Treasuries plus 4.5 percent (capped at 10.5 percent). Though Republicans stated that the bill was modeled on reforms from President Obama’s FY 2014 budget, the president has threatened to veto the bill . It is not clear what the Senate intends to do about interest rates at this time.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 5-19-2013

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Internet Sales Tax – Final Passage
Vote Passed (69-27, 4 Not Voting)

Last week the Senate completed action on bipartisan but controversial Internet sales tax legislation. More than two-thirds of senators (all but five Democrats and about half of Republicans) agreed that states should be allowed to require online firms to collect the same sales taxes as their domiciled brick-and-mortar businesses. States would be required to provide free tax-calculation software to affected businesses. Firms with gross annual receipts of $1 million or less would be exempted from the new requirements. Prior to final passage the Senate adopted an amendment from Wyoming Republican Mike Enzi, one of the measure’s co-sponsors, which would extend the implementation timeline from three to six months and specify that requirements for filing returns and making tax payments must be the same for online and offline firms. President Obama supports S. 743, but House Speaker John Boehner and Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., have both expressed skepticism toward the legislation.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

*Water Infrastructure Projects – Amendment Vote
Vote Rejected (56-43, 1 Not Voting)

After passing the Internet sales tax bill, the Senate moved on to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a catch-all piece of legislation usually passed every five years dealing with everything from dams and levees to port dredging. Traditionally one of the biggest magnets for pork barrel projects, this version of WRDA is the first since both chambers of Congress adopted earmark moratoria. Similar to last year’s highway bill, WRDA makes various changes to existing law in order to speed up project approval, including the imposition of financial penalties on tardy agencies. The bill also attempts to capture a larger share of the revenue that accrues to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund each year for actual harbor maintenance – a seemingly novel concept, yet one that Senate appropriators initially objected to, as they have grown accustomed to diverting much of the trust fund’s receipts to unrelated accounts. Several amendments were voted on last week, including this one from Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn that would enable individuals to bring guns on to Army Corps of Engineers-administered water projects. The amendment failed due to a 60-vote requirement. At week’s end the legislation had stalled over Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu’s insistence on a vote for her amendment that would prevent a rise in flood insurance premiums. The White House leveled several criticisms of the bill in its policy statement, though a manager’s amendment from Barbara Boxer and David Vitter, the chair and ranking Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, may have addressed some of these issues.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Private Sector Comp Time – Final Passage
Vote Passed (223-204, 5 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure last week to allow private sector employers to provide comp time to their workers in lieu of overtime pay. Under current law, such an arrangement exists for most workers in the public sector and a few in the private sector. Republicans classified the measure as providing flexibility to both employers and employees, while Democrats and their allies in the labor movement suspect an attempt to weaken workers’ rights. In particular, they claim that there is no guarantee an individual will receive time off when he desires it and that employers could put pressure on workers to accept comp time instead of overtime. The White House seems to agree with these critiques, as it has threatened to veto the bill.

Always a shill for unions:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Debt Payment Prioritization Â– Final Passage
Vote Passed (221-207, 4 Not Voting)

In its final action of the week, the House took another foray into debt limit politics. The "Full Faith and Credit Act" would mandate that in the event of the government hitting the debt limit, the Treasury Secretary would prioritize payment to holders of government debt and to Social Security recipients above all other obligations. These payments would in fact be exempt from the debt limit, such that the government could theoretically continue functioning, if only in order to issue Social Security checks and service the debt. No Democrats backed the measure, and the administration has threatened a veto.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

Posted 5-12-2013

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*OMB Director – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (96-0, 4 Not Voting)

Last week, the Senate unanimously confirmed Sylvia Matthews Burwell to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The office oversees development of the president’s annual budget proposals and oversees the performance of federal agencies.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Internet Sales Tax – Cloture Motion
Vote Agreed to (63-30, 7 Not Voting)

Before leaving for a week-long recess, the Senate also approved a motion to invoke cloture on S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. S. 743 would allow states to require online retailers to collect sales and use taxes on purchases made by their residents. President Obama supports the measure, saying it would "level the playing field" for brick-and-mortar retailers. The bill is expected to pass when the Senate returns; House action is uncertain.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted NO

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*High-Risk Insurance Pools – Rule Vote
Vote Passed (225-189, 18 Not Voting)

The House was expected to pass a bill to transfer funds from one Obamacare-created program to another last week, but after agreeing to a framework for debating the measure with this vote, Republican leaders concluded they did not have enough votes and pulled it from the floor. H.R. 1549 would transfer approximately $3.6 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was created to fund various eponymous initiatives, to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which was created to provide health insurance coverage to individuals who could not obtain such insurance until 2014, when another Obamacare program, the health insurance exchanges, are scheduled to begin operation. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill if and when it does come up again.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*FAA Furloughs – Suspension Vote
Vote Passed (361-41, 30 Not Voting)

Responding to rising anger with flight delays around the country, Congress acted with rare celerity to avert further furloughs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA had been forced to reduce the hours of its air traffic controllers as a result of the sequester. After several days of thousands of passengers experiencing delays (and presumably well aware that they would hear about it from constituents during the recess), the Senate passed a bill (S. 853) by unanimous consent allowing FAA to transfer up to $253 million to “prevent reduced operations and staffing.” Because the bill could be seen as a spending measure (though it spends no new funds), Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. secured unanimous consent that a House-passed bill with identical text to S. 853 would automatically pass the Senate as well. The House passed such a bill; it cleared the Senate in pro forma session on Tuesday, April 30. The White House stated last week that the President will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

*Federal Helium Sales – Suspension Vote
Vote Passed (394-1, 37 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill creating a framework for winding down operation of the Federal Helium Reserve. Under current law, the Reserve is mandated to cease commercial helium sales once it pays off its debt, which is expected to occur by October 2013. According to the House Natural Resources committee, the scheduled closure would cut domestic helium supplies in half. H.R. 527 would keep the reserve open with new operating instructions until its capacity is 3 billion cubic feet (down from 10 billion cubic feet at present), at which time commercial sales will no longer be authorized and remaining supplies will only be available for national security and scientific needs. Neither the administration nor Senate leaders have staked out positions on the measure.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES

posted 7-28-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Cordray Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (66-34)

After an intense debate over a potential rules change to ban filibusters on executive branch nominations, the Senate proceeded to confirm several nominees offered by President Barack Obama. Richard Cordray of Ohio was confirmed as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ending a two year confirmation process that included an illegal recess appointment in the beginning of last year. Twelve Republicans and the entire Democratic caucus voted in support of the nomination.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Perez Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (54-46)

On Thursday, President Obama's nomination for Secretary of Labor, Thomas E. Perez, was confirmed by the Senate in a strictly party-line vote. Perez previously served as an Assistant Attorney General leading the Justice Department's civil rights division.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*McCarthy Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (59-40, 1 Not Voting)

After confirming Perez, the Senate quickly moved to confirm Gina McCarthy as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. McCarthy had served as the head of the EPA's air and radiation office since 2009. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the only dissenting Democrat vote, and six Republicans voted in favor of the nomination.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Employer Health Insurance Mandate Delay – Passage
Vote Passed (264-161, 8 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would delay a requirement from the 2010 health care overhaul for one year until the start of 2015. The requirement would mandate businesses with at least 50 full-time employees provide health insurance to their workers or pay a penalty. Morgan Griffith of Virginia was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Individual Health Insurance Mandate Delay – Passage
Vote Passed (251-174, 8 Not Voting)

After postponing the employer insurance mandate, the House moved a bill to postpone the same requirement of most individuals to maintain health insurance coverage or pay a penalty until the beginning of 2015. Once again, Griffith of Virginia was the only Republican to vote against the bill. Both the employer and individual mandate delays are unlikely to receive a vote in the Senate.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

*Education Law Overhaul – Passage
Vote Passed (221-207, 6 Not Voting)

In the last vote of the week, the House passed its updated version of federal education policy despite a veto threat from President Obama and unified Democratic opposition to the legislation. The bill would extend for an additional five years the elementary and secondary education law that was last reauthorized in 2001 as part of President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind initiative. The bill would reduce the federal government's role in education and give state and local officials more authority to develop their own standards and accountability assessments. The House adopted by voice vote an amendment from Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana that would eliminate a requirement that states develop teacher evaluation systems. The Senate will most likely take up the legislation after the August recess.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

--------------------------

posted 7-9-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Pritzker Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (97-1, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed President Obama's nomination of Penny Pritzker to be Secretary of Commerce. Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., was the only vote against the Chicago real estate and investment executive's confirmation. She had served on the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Secretary Pritzker was sworn in one day after her confirmation, June 26.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Foxx Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (100-0)

In their second Cabinet level vote of the week, the Senate unanimously confirmed current mayor of Charlotte, N.C. Anthony Foxx to be Secretary of Transportation. Mr. Foxx should be sworn in later this week after his planned resignation in Charlotte on July 1.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*Immigration Bill – Passage
Vote Passed (68-32)

After months of negotiations led by a bipartisan group of eight lawmakers, the Senate passed a sweeping overhaul of immigration policy by a vote of 68-32. Fourteen Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill, which gained traction after a compromise amendment providing $42.5 billion for border security initiatives passed the day before. The measure would expand the number of both permanent resident and temporary visas available annually to highly-skilled professionals and entrepreneurs. The bill also would create a program to allocate green cards, up to 250,000 each year, on a merit-based system that would consider family ties in the United States along with the country's economic needs. It mandates use of the E-Verify electronic employment verification system and requires the Department of Homeland Security to begin removal proceedings for at least 90 percent of people who stay beyond the duration of their visas. Perhaps most importantly, it offers an incremental 13-year path to citizenship for most of the 20 million immigrants living in the United States illegally, with expedited processes for some agricultural workers and young immigrants. Conservative House members have expressed opposition to this portion of the bill. The bill is also loaded with pork and according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) it will neither stem the flow of illegal aliens over the border nor will it reduce the costs to American taxpayers by curtailing government funded benefits to those here illegally.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Offshore Drilling Bill – Passage
Vote Passed (235-186, 13 Not Voting)

Before leaving for the July 4th recess, the House passed a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to implement a five-year oil and gas leasing program off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including areas off of California, South Carolina and Virginia. The vote largely broke along party lines, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the bill and 6 Republicans voting no. Five of the six GOP no votes came from the New Jersey delegation. The bill would make at least half of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for exploration and would create a nationwide revenue sharing system for all coastal states. Before passing the bill, the chamber narrowly defeated (209-210) a Democratic amendment by Alan Grayson of Florida that would prevent the bill from affecting states' authority to restrict leasing and natural-resource development beneath states' navigable waters. Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore. And Lois Capps, D-Calif. also offered amendments to protect sensitive coastline in Alaska and California. Both were defeated. The House adopted (217-202) a Paul Broun, R-Ga., amendment that would place a 60-day limit on judicial review of claims arising from projects in the leasing program. It would place restrictions on appeals and institute a "loser pays" requirement on individuals or entities filing suit, except in specified circumstances.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

posted 6-30-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Froman Nomination – Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (93-4, 1 Present, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate took a short break from the immigration bill to confirm President Barack Obama’s nomination of Michael Froman to be United States Trade Representative. He replaces Ron Kirk, who resigned in March. Froman was previously Obama’s deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. He is now tasked with the Cabinet-level position handling international trade agreements and investment issues on behalf of the administration.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

*U.S. Immigration Policy – Motion to Table Cornyn Amendment
Vote Agreed to (54-43, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate’s last vote of the week on Thursday was the approval of Majority Leader Harry Reid’s motion to table (kill) Texas Republican John Cornyn’s amendment that would require the Homeland Security Department to verify certain standards, including a 90 percent apprehension rate of illegal border crossers and a biometric screening system at all seaports and airports, are met before illegal immigrants could be granted permanent legal status. The largely partisan vote included only two Democrats, Manchin (W.Va.) and Pryor (Ark.) voting no; four Republicans voted yes: Flake and McCain (Ariz.), Graham (S.C.) and Paul (Ky.). Since our senators are in favor of open borders regardless ow economic and sovereignty consequences:

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*Abortion Ban – Passage
Vote Passed (228-196, 10 Not Voting)

The House detoured briefly from debating the farm bill to pass a measure that forbids abortions performed at 20 weeks after fertilization or later. The bill makes an exception for cases where the woman’s life is in danger or where rape or incest has been reported to authorities. Under the measure, physicians who violate the ban would face a maximum five-year prison sentence, fines or both. Six Republicans voted against the legislation, while six Democrats voted in favor. The justification for the 20-week limit was the belief that an unborn fetus can feel pain by 20 weeks of pregnancy. Although the medical veracity of this theory is debated, a handful of states have passed laws with the same benchmark. The White House issued a veto threat on the bill, and Democrats who control the Senate are expected to ignore the measure. Since our representative is in favor of killing babies at any stage of development:

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted
NO

*Farm Bill – Passage
Vote Failed (195-234, 6 Not Voting)

After working through more than 100 amendments, the House nevertheless rejected a five-year, $939 billion reauthorization of agricultural and nutrition programs. Sixty-two Republicans rebelled against their leaders and voted against the bill. All but two dozen Democrats voted no as well. Nutritional aid to the poor was the major point of conflict for the bill’s passage for both sides of the aisle. Although the bill cuts $33 billion from current law, the chamber’s most conservative Republican members argued spending reductions did not go far enough. Democrats, however, claimed that the bill’s $20.5 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) – made mainly by changing eligibility requirements – would disproportionately harm low-income families. Democrats also objected to a provision that mandated work requirements for SNAP recipients. Like the Senate bill, the measure would have ended direct payments to farmers, replacing them with revenue protections that would assist farmers when county revenue levels fall 15 percent to 25 percent below a five-year benchmark. It also consolidated several rural conservation programs. With the bill’s defeat, the House now will have to draft a new bill, adopt the one the Senate passed earlier this month, or pass another one-year extension like Congress had to do last year.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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posted 6-21-13

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE:

*Farm Bill – Passage
Vote Passed (66-27, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate gave overwhelming approval to the five-year reauthorization of farm, conservation, and nutrition programs, setting up a legislative showdown with the House. The final vote, which cleared the measure 66-27, came after two weeks of debate and more than 200 amendments offered on the Senate floor. Seven senators missed the vote because of travel delays. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill would cost $18 billion less than the 2008 farm policy law (PL 112-240), which expires Sept. 30. Senators trimmed $4 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to the poor, by requiring that recipients receive a minimum payment of $10 from a heating assistance program to be eligible for SNAP. Nutrition assistance will be a major sticking point with the House version, which cuts SNAP by $20.5 billion. The Senate bill ends $5 billion a year in direct payments made to farmers and landowners, channeling off those funds to create a hybrid of insurance-like plans and other price controls to help farmers protect against steep market drops. It would reduce support for farmers earning more than $750,000 annually, following a study on the effects of implementation. Unlike the House measure, the bill requires subsidized insurance program participants to meet soil and water conservation requirements. It also replaces dairy price support programs with new insurance and a supply management plan to reduce price-depressing supply surpluses. Before passing the bill, the chamber adopted, 48-38, an amendment from Vermont Democrat Patrick J. Leahy that would provide for ultra-high-speed broadband service in a rural Internet pilot program. The bill was so loaded with pork that it had something for virtually every senator to take back to their constituents at taxpayer expense.

Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES
Sen. Jeff Merkley voted YES

RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

*FY 2014 Defense Authorization – Passage
Vote Passed (315-108, 11 Not Voting)

After voting on a series of amendments, including rejecting one from Adam Smith, D-Wash. to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by the end of 2014, the House passed this bill authorizing spending on the Defense Department and national security programs for fiscal year 2014. Ignoring the White House administration’s threat to veto the bill, they passed a $638.4 billion measure that includes $85.8 billion for war costs, requirements for the Defense secretary to detail military intervention options in Syria, and new guidelines and harsher penalties for sexual assault in the armed services. Sexual assault amendments from Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio, making it an offense to abuse one’s authority in the chain of command and establishing mandatory minimum sentences of discharge, dismissal and confinement for certain offenses, respectively, were adopted.

Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO

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