HOW THEY VOTED This feature will appear in Koos News on a regular basis whenever votes take place in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. This is in keeping with our policy of holding our elected officials accountable for what they do rather than what they say. Posted 12-26-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Grasz Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed Leonard S. Grasz to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Don R. Willett to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed James C. Ho to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ------------------------------------------------------------------ McConnell, R-Ky., motion that the Senate recede from its amendment and concur in the bill with a further amendment. The bill would revise the federal income tax system by lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025; limiting state and local deductions to $10,000 through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate tax and gift tax through 2025, and would establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through 2025. ----------------------------------------------------------------- McConnell, R-Ky., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through Jan. 19, 2018. The bill, as amended, would authorize $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice Program, $2.9 billion in mandatory funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and $550 million in funding to Community Health Centers through Mar. 31. The bill would exempt funding provided to the Children's Health Insurance Fund and other health programs, as well as the tax overhaul package, from statutory pay-as-you-go requirements. It would provide $4.7 billion in emergency supplemental funds for missile defense and Navy ship repairs. It would also extend authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through Jan. 19, including FISA Section 702, which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to obtain data from electronic service providers or non-U.S. persons who reside outside the U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Mortgage Lender Escrow Requirement Exemption The House passed the bill that would exempt lenders with assets of $10 billion or less from the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul requirement that such lenders establish escrow accounts for the first five years of so-called "high-priced" mortgage loans, if the lenders hold the loan on its own balance sheet for three years after the loan is made. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted The House passed the bill that would require the Treasury Department to report to Congress on assets held in U.S. and foreign financial institutions that are under direct or indirect control certain high ranking Iranian officials, and how sanctions may be used to prevent the funds from being used to contribute to the continued development of ballistic missile technology by Iran. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted The House passed the bill that would exempt vehicle financial companies that have not changed their privacy policies, including companies that share or sell information on consumers to unaffiliated third parties, from the requirement that such companies provide annual written privacy notices to consumers. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted The House passed the bill that would require the Treasury secretary to report to Congress on any U.S. or foreign financial institutions that are involved in financing the purchase or export of aircraft on behalf of Iran, and to certify that such transactions pose no money-laundering or terrorism-financing risk. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted ------------------------------------------------------------------ Brady, R-Texas, motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the tax overhaul that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025; limiting state and local deductions to $10,000 through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate tax and gift tax through 2025, and would establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through 2025. It would effectively eliminate the penalty for not purchasing health insurance under the 2010 health care overhaul law in 2019. It would also open portions of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with a further House amendment that would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through Jan. 19, 2018. The bill, as amended, would authorize $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice Program, $2.9 billion in mandatory funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and $550 million in funding to Community Health Centers through Mar. 31. The bill would exempt funding provided to the Children's Health Insurance Fund and other health programs, as well as the tax overhaul package, from statutory pay-as-you-go requirements. It would provide $4.7 billion in emergency supplemental funds for missile defense and Navy ship repairs. It would also extend authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through Jan. 19, including FISA Section 702, which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to obtain data from electronic service providers or non-U.S. persons who reside outside the U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill that would make further supplemental appropriations for fiscal 2018 for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and wildfires that occurred in calendar year 2017. The bill would authorizes $81 billion in aid for ongoing response and recovery from 2017 hurricanes and wildfires, and would authorize Puerto Rico to use surplus toll credits to cover the local share of federal highway emergency relief. The bill would remove a cap on federal highway assistance to U.S. territories for fiscal 2018 and 2019. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 12-17-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Nielsen Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen to be secretary of Homeland Security. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Joseph Balash to be assistant secretary of the Interior. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the joint resolution that would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through Dec. 22, 2017, at an annualized rate of $1.23 trillion for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills. The bill also would allow state Children's Health and Insurance Programs to receive extra redistribution funds beyond what is currently allowed, supporting the program's operations through the end of December. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Tax Overhaul – Motion to Request Conference Brady, R-Texas, motion that the House disagree with the Senate amendment and request a conference with the Senate on the bill that would revise the federal income tax system by lowering individual and corporate tax rates, repealing various deductions through 2025. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO *Concealed Carry Reciprocity Between States The House passed the bill that would permit any individual authorized by their home state to carry a concealed handgun to also carry that concealed weapon in any other state that permits the carrying of concealed weapons. The bill also would require a twice-annual certification by all federal agencies, federal courts and state governments, in coordination with the Department of Justice, to verify that all relevant data has been reported and uploaded to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System regarding individuals who are not eligible to purchase firearms. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO *Small Business Mergers Regulatory Exemption The House passed the bill that would exempt brokers handling mergers and acquisitions from Securities and Exchange Commission registration requirements in cases in which the company being sold does not have any class of securities required to be registered with the SEC and in the prior fiscal year, the company's earnings, before interest or taxes, are less than $25 million or gross revenue is less than $250 million. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES *Short-Term Fiscal 2018 Continuing Appropriations The House passed the joint resolution that would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through Dec. 22, 2017, at an annualized rate of $1.23 trillion for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills. The bill also would allow state Children's Health and Insurance Programs to receive extra redistribution funds beyond what is currently allowed, supporting the program's operations through the end of December. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 12-10-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: Tax Overhaul – Motion to Proceed McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes; limiting certain deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cornyn, R-Texas, for Cruz, R-Texas, amendment to the McConnell, R-Ky., for Hatch, R-Utah, substitute amendment, that would allow tuition expenses or the cost of school supplies for secondary public, private or religious school to be treated the same as higher education expenses for certain tax purposes. Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie and voted in the affirmative. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill, as amended, that would revise the federal income tax system by lowering individual and corporate tax rates, repealing various deductions through 2025, specifically by eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes through 2025, increasing the deduction for pass-through entities and raising the child tax credit through 2025. It would also open parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: National Forest Mining Passage of the bill would prohibit the designation of national monuments and the withdrawal of lands in the National Forest System in the state of Minnesota from mineral and geothermal leases without the approval of Congress. It would designate any mineral leases issued within the boundaries of the National Forest System lands in Minnesota as indeterminate preference right leases. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would increase to two years the probationary period for newly hired federal employees, for any individuals promoted to a supervisory or managerial role, and for any individual appointed to the Senior Executive Service. It would also establish a system in which supervisors would be notified near the end of an employee's probationary period. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would authorize $250 million annually, through fiscal 2022, for assistance with environmental assessment, cleanup and job training activities at the EPA's brownfields program sites, and would increase, to $500,000 per site, the amount available for remediation grants for brownfield sites. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would change the definitions of "mortgage originator" and "loan originator" to exempt companies that manufacture homes and sell manufactured homes from various mortgage-related regulatory requirements. It would increase the maximum allowable rates and fees that may be applied to a manufactured home loan before the loan is classified as a high-cost mortgage. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 11-26-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Kan Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Derek Kan to be undersecretary of Transportation for policy. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be general counsel of the Department of Transportation. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Mark T. Esper to be secretary of the Army. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of David G. Zatezalo to be assistant secretary of Labor for mine safety and health. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Joseph Otting to be Comptroller of the Currency. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Flood Insurance Reauthorization Passage of the bill, as amended, would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program through fiscal 2022 and would make modifications to the program, including: raise annual surcharges and reserve fund assessments on federal flood insurance policyholders, raise rates on properties that incur multiple losses, establish an annual deductible for severe and extreme repetitive loss properties and end the requirement that flood insurance be purchased for commercial and multifamily properties located in flood risk zones. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Adoption of the conference report on the bill would authorize $692.1 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2018, including $65.7 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and for the general war on terror. It would authorize $241.2 billion for operations and maintenance; $146.2 billion for military personnel; 10.7 billion for military construction and family housing; $15 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.9 billion for defense health care programs, including $396 million from the overseas operations account. It also would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. It would authorize $8 billion for various cybersecurity programs. The bill would authorize a 2.4 percent pay raise for military personnel. It also 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. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes; limiting certain deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would eliminate personal exemptions and would nearly double the standard deduction. It would raise the child tax credit through 2022, repeal the alternative minimum tax, repeal the estate tax in 2025 and reduce the gift tax rate in 2025. It would establish a new top tax rate for pass-through business income and would modify tax credits related to energy production. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 11-19-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Gibson Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Gibson to be deputy chief management officer of the Defense Department. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Steven Engel to be an assistant Attorney General. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of William Wehrum to be an assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Joint Employer Definition Passage of the bill would define a joint employer as an entity with actual, direct and immediate control over employees, with significant control over essential terms of employment such as hiring, determining pay and benefits, day-to-day supervision of employees, and assigning individual work schedules. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would specify a variety of timeframes and procedures for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to follow in carrying out required permitting and licensing activities for non-federal hydropower projects and would make FERC the lead agency for coordinating all applicable federal authorizations. It would extend, from three years to four, the duration of a preliminary permit for proposed non-federal hydropower projects and would allow project sponsors to initiate construction up to 10 years after a proposed project receives a license from FERC. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would require an issuer of securities to meet a specific set of criteria in order for the issuer's transactions to constitute a sale of "nonpublic" securities that are exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and from state regulation. It would require each purchaser to have a substantive pre-existing relationship with an officer or certain shareholders of the issuer, permit no more than 35 purchasers under the exemption over the preceding 12 months, and would cap, at $500,000, the total aggregate amount of securities sold in the 12-month period preceding the transaction. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 11-12-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Barrett Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Amy C. Barrett to be U.S. circuit judge for the Seventh Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Joan L. Larsen to be U.S. circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Allison H. Eid to be U.S. circuit judge for the Tenth Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Stephanos Bibas to be U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Wildfire Funding and Environmental Reviews Passage of the bill would allow for a presidential declaration of a major disaster with regard to wildfires, which would allow for the release of funding from Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund to fight major wildfires, and would modify the disaster cap under the Budget Control Act to account for expected wildfire funding needs. It also would exempt various forest management activities from filing environmental impact statements and would provide for expedited timber salvage operations and reforestation activities after catastrophic events. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would repeal provisions of the 2010 health overhaul law that provide for the creation of Independent Payment Advisory Board, which would recommend cost-cutting measures if Medicare spending exceeds a target growth rate. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Passage of the bill, as amended, would extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal 2022, and would increase funding from $21.5 billion in fiscal 2018 to $25.9 billion in fiscal 2022. It would also provide $3.6 billion annually for community health centers through fiscal 2019, and would extend funding for a number of other public health programs through fiscal 2019. It also would eliminate, through fiscal 2019, scheduled cuts in Medicaid funding to hospitals that serve large numbers of uninsured and low-income patients. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 10-16-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Pai Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Ajit V. Pai to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Lee Francis Cissna to be director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Abortion Ban The House passed the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later, and it imposes criminal penalties on medical professionals who violate the ban. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House adopted the concurrent resolution that would provide for $3.2 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2018, not including off-budget accounts. It would assume $1.22 trillion in discretionary spending in fiscal 2018. It would assume the repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul law. It also would propose reducing spending on mandatory programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and changing programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps). It would call for restructuring Medicare into a “premium support” system beginning in 2024. It would also require the House Ways and Means Committee to report out legislation under the budget reconciliation process that would provide for a revenue-neutral, comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. tax code and would include instructions to 11 House committees to trigger the budget reconciliation process to cut mandatory spending. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 10-9-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Fiscal 2018 Defense Authorization The Senate passed the bill that would authorize $692 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2018, including $60 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Noel J. Francisco to be Solicitor General of the United States. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Delrahim Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Makan Delrahim to be an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Maternal and Infant Home Visit Program The House passed the bill that would authorize, through fiscal 2022, $400 million a year for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program. The bill would require entities that receive grants under the program to continue to demonstrate improvements in applicable benchmarks and guidelines. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill that would extend through March 31, 2018, various expiring authorities, programs and activities for the Federal Aviation Administration. The measure would also extend multiple health care programs and would establish the basis for the development of a private flood insurance market. It would modify tax provisions for individuals living in areas impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and would allow the federal government to reimburse the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for any disaster tax relief that those islands provide their citizens. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill that would prohibit, beginning in 2021, the payment of social security benefits to an individual who is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for committing a felony or for violating a condition of parole or probation. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 9-25-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Fiscal 2018 Defense Authorization Corker, R-Tenn., motion to table the McConnell, R-Ky., for Paul, R-Ky., amendment to the McCain, R-Ariz., modified substitute amendment to the bill. The Paul amendment would sunset, six months after enactment, the 2001 authorization for the use of military force in Afghanistan and the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Pamela H. Patenaude to be deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McCain, R-Ariz., modified substitute amendment that would authorize $692 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2018. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Criminal Gang Members The House passed the bill that would define a criminal gang as a group of five or more persons that has the primary purpose of the commission of one or more certain criminal offenses and would prohibit individuals defined as foreign criminal gang members from entering the United States. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill, as amended, that would provide $1.23 trillion for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills, including $621.5 billion for defense and $511 billion for nondefense discretionary spending. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 9-18-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Fiscal 2017 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations, Debt Limit, Continuing Appropriations McConnell, R-Ky., motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill with a Senate amendment that would make available $15.25 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal 2017 to partially cover the costs of responding to multiple natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey. The amendment would suspend the public debt limit from the bill's date of enactment until Dec. 8, 2017, and would provide for government operations to be funded at fiscal 2017 levels until Dec. 8. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Emergency Hurricane Harvey Supplemental Appropriations Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution that would provide for the House to concur in the Senate amendments to a bill (HR 601) that would codify practices and programs at the United States Agency for International Development related to U.S. education assistance abroad, with further amendment that would appropriate $7.9 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal 2017 as an initial payment to cover the costs of responding to Hurricane Harvey. The total would include $7.4 billion for the Homeland Security Department's Disaster Relief Fund, which will be used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support ongoing hurricane response efforts. It would also include $450 million for the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program to assist small businesses and homeowners. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES *Fiscal 2017 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations, Debt Limit, Continuing Appropriations Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would make available $15.25 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal 2017 to partially cover the costs of responding to multiple natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey. The measure would suspend the public debt limit from the bill's date of enactment until Dec. 8, 2017, and would provide for government operations to be funded at fiscal 2017 levels until Dec. 8, 2017. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 8-6-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Bernhardt Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of David Bernhardt to be deputy secretary of the Interior. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill would make extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system and by making extensive changes to Medicaid. Vice President Mike Pence voted yes as the tie breaking vote. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate passed the bill that would codify certain existing sanctions on Russia, including various sanctions tied to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Moscow's annexation of Crimea, and malicious cyber activities relating to the 2016 U.S. elections. The bill would establish multiple new sanctions on Russia, including sanctions on entities conducting malicious cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government and entities which conduct business with the Russian intelligence and defense sectors. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- McConnell, R-Ky., second-degree amendment to the McConnell substitute amendment to the bill in which the second-degree amendment would repeal the individual mandate, repeal the employer mandate through 2024, delay the implementation of the medical device tax through 2020, and block, for one year, federal funding from going to certain medical providers that provide abortions. The amendment would ease the waiver process for states to opt out of the requirement that their health insurance providers include certain benefits on their health care plans. Additionally, the amendment would increase the maximum allowable contribution to health savings accounts and would defund the Prevention and Public Health Fund starting in 2019. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO Posted 7-31-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Shanahan Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Patrick M. Shanahan to be deputy secretary of Defense. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Bush Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Kenneth Bush to be a judge for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Ozone Standards Implementation The House passed the bill that would extend for eight years the deadline for the EPA to implement new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone. The bill would require the EPA to review the national ambient air quality standards for each pollutant every ten years, instead of every five, and would require the agency to evaluate possible adverse effects of standard changes. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill that would establish a new system for the approval and permitting of border-crossing oil and gas pipelines and electrical transmission lines. The bill would require sponsors of border-crossing oil pipelines and electricity transmission facilities that cross the U.S. borders into Canada and Mexico to receive a "certificate of crossing" from the relevant federal agency in order to build or modify their projects. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The House passed the bill that would establish the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for the permitting of proposals to build or expand natural gas pipelines. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill that would require the Interior Department to convey to the state of Alaska, if requested, 206 acres of federal land within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Izembek Wilderness for the purpose of constructing a single-lane gravel road between the towns of King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 7-23-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Rao Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Neomi Rao to be administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of William Hagerty IV to be U.S. ambassador to Japan. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *California Drought Prevention The House passed the bill that would require the Interior Department to take certain actions to increase the availability of water for agricultural and other purposes in California's Central Valley, including a requirement that the maximum amount of water practicable would have to be provided to all individuals or districts that receive water through the Central Valley Project. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed the bill that would authorize $688.3 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2018. The total would include $74.6 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations funds, of which $10 billion would be used for non-war, base defense budget needs; $239.7 billion for operations and maintenance; $10.2 billion for military construction; $142.9 billion for military personnel; and $33.9 billion for defense health care programs. It would authorize $12.5 billion for procurement of F-35 planes, research and development, as well as modifications to existing aircraft, and would prohibit the retirement of the A-10 bomber fleet. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 7-10-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Svinicki Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Kristine L. Svinicki to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Limitation The House passed a bill that would limit to $250,000 the non-economic damages that can be awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit in which the plaintiff's health care was paid for in whole or in part via a federal program, subsidy or tax benefit, and would establish a statute of limitations for initiating such lawsuits of either three years following the plaintiff's injury, or one year after the plaintiff discovers such injury, whichever occurs first. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed a measure that would prohibit federal, state and local governments from restricting any federal, state, or local government entity or official from complying with immigration laws or from assisting federal law enforcement entities or officials in their enforcement of such laws. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The House passed legislation that would establish specific possible fines and prison sentences for undocumented immigrants convicted of certain criminal offenses and who illegally return to the United States despite having been previously deported or otherwise excluded from the country. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 7-2-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Long Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Brock Long to be administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Sigal Mandelker to be undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial crimes. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Marshall Billingslea to be assistant secretary of the Treasury for terrorist financing. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Federal Lands Vegetation Management Protocol Passage of the bill would allow utilities to submit long-term plans to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for advance approval of vegetation management and other maintenance activities on electricity right-of-ways on federal lands. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would establish the Bureau of Reclamation in the Interior Department as the lead agency for the coordination of all reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits, licenses or other approvals or decisions required by federal law in order to construct new or expanded surface water storage projects on federal lands. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill would authorize state demonstration projects within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to temporarily subsidize employment for program beneficiaries with willing employers and would require $100 million in existing TANF funding must be used for grants to states to implement such programs. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 6-25-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Rapuano Nomination – Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Kenneth P. Rapuano to be assistant secretary of Defense Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Paul, R-Ky., motion to discharge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of a joint resolution that would prohibit the proposed sale of laser-guided weapons systems, fighter aircraft, warhead fuze systems, and other weaponry and defense services to Saudi Arabia. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Passage of the bill that would impose new sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the president would be required to block the transactions of any person deemed to knowingly engage in activities contributing to an Iranian ballistic missile or weapons of mass destruction program, who is involved in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, who is responsible for human rights violations, or who contributes to the arming of Iran. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Health Insurance Tax Credit Verification Passage of the bill would prohibit the advance payment of health insurance premium tax credits to individuals that apply for the credits unless the Treasury Department receives confirmation from the Health and Human Services Department that such an individual's status as a citizens or lawfully present alien has been verified. If the American Health Care Act (HR 1628) is enacted, the bill (HR 2581) would make verification of an individual's status mandatory in order to receive advance payment of the new health insurance premium tax credit created by the American Health Care Act. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Passage of the bill would expand the VA's ability to fire, demote and suspend employees for misconduct or poor performance. The bill would authorize the VA to recoup any bonus or relocation expense paid to a VA employee if it deems it appropriate. It would require that the employee be given advance notice and would allow the employee the right to appeal the disciplinary action through procedures set by collective bargaining. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Passage of the bill would modify the definition of a "qualified health plan" to allow, beginning in 2020, for new tax credits proposed by the American Health Care Act (HR 1628) to be used by individuals or families to pay for continued group health coverage under the 1985 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), provided that the AHCA is enacted into law. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 6-18-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Elwood Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Courtney Elwood to be general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would impose certain sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the president would be required to block the transactions of any person deemed to knowingly engage in activity contributing to an Iran ballistic missile or mass destruction program, that is related to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, that is responsible for human rights abuses, or that contributes to the arming of Iran. The bill would also require the departments of Defense and Treasury and the National Intelligence Agency to develop a strategy for deterring Iran from activities or threats against the United States and its allies every two years. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Customs and Border Protection Polygraph Waiver Passage of the bill would authorize the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to waive the requirement that applicants for law enforcement positions at CBP undergo polygraph examinations for specific groups of applicants. Certain veterans and law enforcement officers who have already passed a polygraph examination or stringent background investigation could be exempt from the polygraph requirement. Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill Passage of the bill that would overhaul financial industry regulations and repeal many provisions of the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law. It would convert the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau into an executive agency funded by annual appropriations and would modify operations at the Federal Reserve and at the Securities and Exchange Commission. It would repeal the prohibition on banking entities engaging in proprietary trading and would modify regulations governing the amount of capital that banks are required to maintain. Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote on this bill Posted 6-4-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Branstad Nomination The Senate confirmed the nomination of Terry Branstad to be U.S. ambassador to China. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Sullivan to be deputy secretary of State. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Amul R. Thapar of Kentucky to be a judge for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Pesticides Regulations The bill would generally prohibit EPA and states from requiring that entities applying pesticides near navigable waters must first obtain a permit under the Clean Water Act, if the application is authorized under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would make the production of child pornography a crime whenever a minor is engaged in sexually explicit conduct, regardless of whether the conduct was initiated for the purposes of producing such content. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES The bill would require adults authorized to interact with minors or amateur athletes to report any suspected incidents of child abuse, including sexual abuse, to the sport's governing body, and it would allow victims of abuse to seek damages in court. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 5-29-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Wilson Nomination - Confirmation The Senate confirmed the nomination of Heather Wilson to be secretary of the Air Force. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Scott Gottlieb to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the joint resolution that would nullify a Bureau of Land Management rule that requires oil and gas operators on public lands to take measures that decrease waste of natural gas. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be the U.S. Trade Representative. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Jeffrey Rosen to be deputy secretary of Transportation. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Rachel Brand to be associate attorney general at the Justice Department. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Death Sentence Aggravating Factor Expansion Passage of the bill that would require courts and juries to consider if a defendant killed or attempted to kill a state law enforcement officer, local law enforcement officer or first responder as an aggravating factor when determining whether to impose the death sentence on a defendant. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Passage of the bill that would permit federal probation officers to arrest a third party individual without first obtaining a warrant when conducting activities related to an individual on probation or supervised release. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 5-14-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Perdue Nomination The Senate confirmed Sonny Perdue to be secretary of Agriculture. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Acosta Nomination The Senate confirmed Alexander Acosta to be secretary of Labor. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- *State Retirement Plan Disapproval Passage of the joint resolution that would nullify and disapprove of a Labor Department rule that exempts certain state-administered retirement savings plans from select federal regulations governing pension plans if the state programs meet certain standards. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Fiscal 2017 Omnibus Appropriations McConnell, R-Ky., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendments to the bill that would provide $1.16 trillion in discretionary appropriations through Sept. 30, 2017 for federal departments and agencies covered by the remaining 11 fiscal 2017 spending bills. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Register of Copyrights The bill would require the U.S. Copyright Office's Register of Copyrights be recommended by a select panel, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. It would limit a Register of Copyrights' term to 10 years. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill that would require that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac comply with the agency requirements of the Freedom of Information Act while they are under the conservatorship of the federal government. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES The joint resolution would extend continuing appropriations for federal government operations through May 5, 2017. It also would provide for an extension, through May 5, of health care benefits for retired coal miners. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO *Fiscal 2017 Omnibus Appropriations Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., motion to concur in the Senate amendments to the bill with an amendment that would provide $1.16 trillion in discretionary appropriations through Sept. 30, 2017 for federal departments and agencies covered by the remaining 11 fiscal 2017 spending bills. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Passage of the bill that would make extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 4-16-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court - Nuclear Option Judgment of the Senate to affirm the ruling of the chair regarding the McConnell, R-Ky., point of order that the precedent set on November 21, 2013 (that a simple majority is required to invoke cloture on nominations excluding the Supreme Court), applies to cloture votes on all nominations. The ruling of the chair did not stand and the point of order was sustained. This vote sets a precedent for future cloture votes on all judicial nominations which will only need a simple majority to pass. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Confirmation of President Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch of Colorado to be an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Employee Stock Sales Passage of the bill that would direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase from $5 million to $10 million the annual amount of securities that privately-held companies can sell for employee compensation without needing to disclose certain information to investors. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Passage of the bill that would establish that "stop-loss" insurance, coverage that protects businesses from certain large financial risks associated with providing insurance, would not be considered health care insurance under federal law. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 3-26-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Disapprove Unemployment Benefit Drug Testing Rule The resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Labor Department on Aug. 1, 2016, that defines the occupations for which states can require individuals applying for unemployment benefits to undergo drug testing. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Dan Coats to be the director of National Intelligence. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Herbert R. McMaster, Jr. to be a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *VA Personnel Accountability The bill would provide the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) with additional tools to fire or demote VA employees based on performance or misconduct, and would modify the appeals process to provide for the appeals of decisions by administrative law judges. It also would include provisions to protect VA whistleblowers against retaliation by supervisors, authorize the department to recoup employee bonuses and relocation expenses, and allow the pensions of VA employees to be reduced if convicted of certain felonies. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would clarify the conditions under which individuals who receive federal benefits from the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) may be declared mentally incompetent for purposes of being added to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and thereby prevented from purchasing guns or ammunition - requiring that an affirmative declaration be made by a judge that the person is dangerous. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would establish new staffing, recruitment and retention programs at the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) to enable the VA to help recruit and retain a strong medical professional workforce. It would create a recruiting database to make high-quality potential employees aware of positions at the VA, provide for additional opportunities for career training and advancement for current VA employees through fellowship positions and establish a promotional track for technical experts. It also would require the department to train human resources employees in recruitment and retention methods. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 3-19-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Confirmation of Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior The Senate confirmed Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke to be secretary of the Interior. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Ben Carson to be secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Rick Perry to be secretary of Energy. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove, under the Congressional Review Act, a Defense Department, General Services Administration and NASA rule that requires federal contractors to self-certify violations of 14 specified federal labor laws and equivalent state laws. The laws include the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, National Labor Relations Act, Davis-Bacon Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act, among others. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Dec. 12, 2016, which modified the process under which BLM develops plans for the use of the public lands it manages, including by considering a wider variety of issues and possible impacts. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Education Department on Oct. 31, 2016, relating to teacher preparation programs that require states to annually evaluate the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education and to publicly report this information, including the job placement and retention rates of graduates. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Education Department on Nov. 29, 2016 which addresses implementation of a state's accountability systems when receiving federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Act (ESEA). Among other things, the rule requires states to identify low-performing schools for comprehensive or targeted support and improvement, and requires that each state's statewide plan use multiple indicators of student success that are the same for all public schools (including charter schools). Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Seema Verma to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Review Federal Regulations for Repeal The measure would establish a 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 repealed immediately 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would require proposed rules by federal departments and agencies, including independent agencies, to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and it would direct OIRA to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of significant regulatory actions and to ensure that proposed rules are consistent with applicable law and that regulations do not conflict. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Dec. 19, 2016, that extends to five years the period for which OSHA can cite an employer for failing to officially record a workplace injury or illness. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would require 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 would prohibit agencies from soliciting support for, or promoting, its regulatory actions. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The legislation would provide full-year appropriations for Defense Department programs and activities for fiscal 2017, providing $577.9 billion in discretionary spending, $5.2 billion more than fiscal 2016. It would include $516.1 billion subject to spending caps for fiscal 2017 and $61.8 billion in uncapped Overseas Contingency Operations war and anti-terror funding. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would prohibit 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 would require 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would establish national standards under which federal courts, when considering whether to remand back to state court a lawsuit against an out-of-state entity, must deny that motion and have the case decided in federal court because it determines that an in-state co-defendant should not have been joined to the case. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would modify federal rules governing civil lawsuits to require federal courts to impose sanctions on parties that violate the existing prohibition on the filing of frivolous lawsuits, with such sanctions to include monetary penalties to cover the other party's attorneys' fees and other costs. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 2-26-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Confirmation of Steven Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury The Senate confirmed Steven Mnuchin to be secretary of the Treasury. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed David Shulkin to be secretary of Veterans Affairs Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Vote Confirmed (81-19) The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon to be the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate passed legislation which would disapprove, under terms of the Congressional Review Act, a December 2016 Social Security Administration rule that could make it easier for certain mentally challenged individuals to be placed on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), thereby restricting them from purchasing firearms. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed South Carolina Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act The bill would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to pay for a private survey to identify the south boundary line along the Red River separating Texas and Oklahoma with regards to land title and ownership, with the states of Texas and Oklahoma to determine which lands are federal lands and which are private. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The measure would disapprove the rule issued by the Labor Department on Dec. 20, 2016, that exempts local government-administered retirement plans for workers at private sector businesses and nonprofit entities from certain restrictions and requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The measure would disapprove the rule issued by the Labor Department on Aug. 30, 2016, that exempts state-administered retirement plans for workers at private sector businesses and nonprofit entities that don't offer retirement plans from certain restrictions and requirements under ERISA. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Labor Department on Aug. 1, 2016, that defines the occupations for which states can require individuals applying for unemployment benefits to undergo drug testing. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Interior Department on Aug. 5, 2016, that prohibits certain predator control practices in national wildlife refuges in Alaska (such as the taking of mother bears and their cubs, the killing of wolves and their pups at den sites, and aerial shooting). Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) on Dec. 19, 2016, that modifies eligibility requirements for Title X grants for family planning services to specify that states awarding funds cannot prohibit a health care provider from participating for reasons other than its ability to provide Title X services. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 2-20-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Prohibit Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Speak on Senate Floor When Debating Sen. Sessions Nomination to be U.S. Attorney General The Senate voted to sustain the ruling of the presiding officer (Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines) in which he prohibited Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren from speaking on the Senate floor for the remainder of the debate concerning Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to be U.S. attorney general. The presiding officer ruled that Sen. Warren violated Senate rule 19 prohibiting senators from "imputing" one another. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions to be U.S. attorney general. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price to be secretary of Health and Human Services. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: ----------------------------------------------------------------- The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Dec. 12, 2016, which modified the process under which BLM develops plans for the use of the public lands it manages, including by considering a wider variety of issues and possible impacts. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Education Department on Nov. 29, 2016 which addresses implementation of a state's accountability systems when receiving federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Act (ESEA). Among other things, the rule requires states to identify low-performing schools for comprehensive or targeted support and improvement, and requires that each state's statewide plan use multiple indicators of student success that are the same for all public schools (including charter schools). Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The joint resolution would disapprove the rule issued by the Education Department on Oct. 31, 2016, relating to teacher preparation programs that require states to annually evaluate the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education and to publicly report this information, including the job placement and retention rates of graduates. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 2-12-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Confirmation of Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation The Senate voted to confirm Elaine Chao to be secretary of Transportation. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate voted to confirm Rex Tillerson to be secretary of State. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The bill would disapprove the Interior Department's Stream Buffer Rule requiring that surface coal mining operations be designed to minimize the amount of waste placed outside the mined-out area, thus minimizing the amount of land disturbed. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The measure would disapprove of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule issued in July 2016 that requires resource extraction issuers (companies that extract oil, natural gas or minerals) that are registered in the United States to provide detailed, public reporting of certain payments to governments that equal or exceed $100,000 per project annually. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate voted to confirm Betsy DeVos to be secretary of Education. The tie-breaking yes vote was cast by Vice President Mike Pence. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Disapprove Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers Rule The measure would disapprove of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule issued in July 2016 that requires resource extraction issuers (companies that extract oil, natural gas or minerals) that are registered in the United States to provide detailed, public reporting of certain payments to governments that equal or exceed $100,000 per project annually. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would disapprove the Interior Department's Stream Buffer Rule requiring that surface coal mining operations be designed to minimize the amount of waste placed outside the mined-out area, thus minimizing the amount of land disturbed. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would disapprove a Defense Department, General Services Administration and NASA rule that requires federal contractors to self-certify violations of 14 specified federal labor laws and equivalent state laws. The laws include the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, National Labor Relations Act, Davis-Bacon Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act, among others. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would disapprove, under terms of the Congressional Review Act, a December 2016 Social Security Administration rule that could make it easier for certain individuals who use others to manage their finances to be placed on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would disapprove, under terms of the Congressional Review Act, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule issued last November that requires oil and gas producers to implement measures that reduce natural gas waste. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 2/5/17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *GAO Access and Oversight Act The bill would grant the Government Accountability Office access to the National Directory of New Hires. The directory contains information from states about new employees. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Gen. James Mattis to be secretary of Defense. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Gen. John Kelly to be secretary of Homeland Security. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed Kansas Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Senate confirmed South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki R. Haley to be the representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of ambassador, and the representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Abortion Funding The bill would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or abortion coverage. It also would not allow federal medical facilities and health professionals from providing abortion services, and prohibit individuals and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health overhaul law to purchase health care plans that cover abortions. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO Posted 1-22-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Klobuchar Amendment Concerning Drug Importation The amendment would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to lower prescription drug prices for Americans by importing drugs from Canada. Sen. Ron Wyden voted YES ------------------------------------------------------------ The concurrent resolution would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ------------------------------------------------------------ The bill would provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Private Market Investors The bill would expand 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 The bill would modify the federal rule-making process with a focus on reducing the possible economic costs of federal regulations, allowing more legal challenges to rules and increasing transparency. Among its provisions, it would require agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider lower-cost alternatives, creating additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing "major" or "high impact" rules, including an opportunity for the public to challenge agency justifications and findings. It also automatically would postpone the implementation of new federal rules costing $1 billion or more until all legal challenges are resolved, and it effectively would overturn two Supreme Court decisions that require courts to give substantial deference to an agency's interpretation of a rule or underlying law. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct cost-benefit analyses of new regulatory proposals and existing rules, and to modify or rescind those found to have a negative impact. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill would reauthorize operations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission through fiscal 2021 and amend the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law to modify and clarify how the CFTC is to regulate derivatives and swaps. Among its provisions, it would ease certain regulatory requirements to ensure that some "end users" of derivatives are not regulated as swaps dealers, require the CFTC to conduct cost-benefit analyses of its proposed rules and allow for the development of rules regarding the interaction of U.S. swaps rules to international requirements. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The concurrent resolution would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The bill that would provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted YES Posted 1-16-17 RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. SENATE: *Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Motion to Proceed The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the measure allowing for Senate debate on the concurrent resolution itself. The legislation would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Sen. Ron Wyden voted NO ----------------------------------------------------------------- RECENT VOTES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: *Objecting to the United Nations Security Council Resolution Vote 2334 Concerning Israeli-Palestinian Peace The House agreed to this resolution which would express the sense of the House that the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticized Israel for its continued expansion of settlements in occupied territories, and which the United States abstained from vetoing in the Security Council, undermined the long-standing position of the United States to oppose and veto U.N. Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to Israeli-Palestinian final status issues, or that are one-sided and anti-Israel. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rule-making process by preventing "major rules", those generally having an annual economic impact greater than $100 million, from being implemented unless Congress enacts legislation approving them. Rep. Peter DeFazio voted NO The House passed legislation that would permit a new Congress to use 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
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