WASHINGTON — The House was in recess last week. In addition to roll call votes, the Senate also passed the following measures by voice vote. It passed the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act (S. 1203), to improve the Veterans Affairs Department’s health care services for veterans and speed processing of disability claims; passed the SPACE Act (H.R. 2262), to encourage private sector investment in the space industry; and passed a resolution (S. Res. 302), expressing the sense of the Senate in support of Israel and condemning Palestinian terror attacks against Israel. There were no key votes in the House.

SENATE VOTES

Senate Vote 1

EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Scott Allen to serve as U.S. Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The bank works with private banks, other international banks, and 64 donor countries to promote the development of market-oriented economies in central and eastern Europe. The vote, on Nov. 9, was unanimous with 83 yeas.

YEAS: Susan Collins, R-Maine, Angus King, I-Maine

Senate Vote 2

2016 MILITARY FUNDING: The Senate has concurred with the House amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1356), sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. The bill would authorize more than $600 billion of spending on military programs in fiscal 2016, including provisions to provide benefits for military members who serve for less than 20 years, greater protections for victims of sexual assault, and $300 million of aid to Ukraine to counter Russian influence in Ukraine. A supporter, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., praised the bill’s efforts to reform the Pentagon and reform the military’s bureaucracy, and its investment in “modernization and next-generation technologies to maintain our military technological advantage.” The vote, on Nov. 10, was 91 yeas to 3 nays.

YEAS: Collins, King

Senate Vote 3

2016 VA, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION FUNDING: The Senate has passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2029), sponsored by Rep. Charles W. Dent, R-Pa. The bill would provide fiscal 2016 funding for the Defense Department’s military construction and housing programs, as well as the Veterans Affairs Department. A supporter, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., said that by adding $2 billion for veterans health care programs above the level provided in an early version of the bill, it would work to reduce veterans’ long wait for care and for receiving disability benefits, as well as fund new technologies and treatments. The vote, on Nov. 10, was unanimous with 93 yeas.

YEAS: Collins, King

Senate Vote 4

CONFERENCE ON TRANSPORTATION BILL: The Senate has agreed to a motion to go to conference with the House to negotiate differences between the House and Senate-passed versions of the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (H.R. 22), sponsored by Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill. The bill would authorize the federal highway program through fiscal 2021, with an increase in funding for bridge repairs, and authorize a grant program for funding major new transportation projects. A motion supporter, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said the conference was an opportunity to remove a House bid to wrongly use for transportation programs about $50 billion normally transferred from the Federal Reserve to the Treasury Department. The vote, on Nov. 10, was 82 yeas to 7 nays.

YEAS: Collins, King

Senate Vote 5

ALLOWING TWIN-TRAILER SEMI TRUCKS: The Senate has passed a motion sponsored by Sen. Roger F. Wicker, R-Miss., to the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (H.R. 22). The motion requested that Senate conferees negotiating with the House on the two chamber’s versions of the bill insist that the final bill include a measure stopping the Transportation Department from requiring 38 states to allow semi trucks with twin 33-foot trailers on those states’ highways. Wicker said the 38 states have found that semis with twin 33-foot trailers create a safety hazard and put undue stress on roadways. The vote to approve the motion, on Nov. 10, was 56 yeas to 31 nays.

NAYS: Collins

YEAS: King