WASHINGTON — Along with roll call votes last week week, the Senate also passed the Higher Education Extension Act (H.R. 3594), to temporarily extend the Federal Perkins Loan program; passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 78), to provide further continuing appropriations for the government, through December 22; and passed a resolution (S. Res. 310), condemning ongoing sexual violence against women and children by members of the Islamic State group.

The House also concurred in the Senate amendment to the Higher Education Extension Act (H.R. 3594), to temporarily extend the Federal Perkins Loan program; passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 78), to provide further continuing appropriations for the government, through December 22; passed the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act (H.R. 3878); and passed the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act (H.R. 3654), to require a report on U.S. strategy concerning use of social media by terrorists.

HOUSE VOTES

House Vote 1

FINALIZING TRADE BILL: The House has approved the conference report for the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (H.R. 644), sponsored by Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y. The bill would promote fast-track consideration of trade agreements with Asian countries, automate the processing of certain trade documents by the Customs and Border Protection agency, and establish processes for investigating whether foreign countries are directly or indirectly manipulating their currency to subsidize their exports. A supporter, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said it “will level the playing field for Americans and also make it easier for them to compete in a global marketplace,” while strengthening the country’s ability to enforce its trade laws and combat currency manipulation. A bill opponent, Rep. Sander M. Levin, D-Mich., said it weakened laws against human trafficking and would block climate change efforts from being included in future trade agreements. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 256 yeas to 158 nays.

NAYS: Chellie Pingree, D-1st District

Advertisement

YEAS: Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District

House Vote 2

PRESS FREEDOM IN LATIN AMERICA: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 536), sponsored by Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., stating support of free speech and freedom of the press in Caribbean and Latin American countries, and condemning government harassment and violence against journalists in the two regions. Sires stressed the importance of freedom of expression for maintaining a thriving democracy by holding governments accountable for their actions and resisting illegitimate government actions. The vote, on Dec. 15, was 399 yeas to 2 nays.

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

House Vote 3

UMBILICAL BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2820), sponsored by Rep. Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J. The bill would reauthorize through fiscal 2020 government programs for storing and distributing for transplant umbilical cord blood to patients needing blood infusions. Smith said umbilical cord blood helped treat more than 70 diseases, including lymphoma and leukemia, and is often the only cure available for senior citizens with those diseases. The vote, on Dec. 16, was unanimous with 421 yeas.

Advertisement

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

House Vote 4

BANKRUPTCY AND MILITARY MEMBERS: The House has passed the National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act (H.R. 4246), sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. The bill would extend by four years an exemption from the means test presumption of abuse for National Guard members and members of the Armed Forces reserves who file for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Cohen said the members were vulnerable to unscrupulous lenders and payday lenders pushing them into having to seek bankruptcy relief from their debts, and making it easier for them to obtain relief was “a way for our nation to recognize the sacrifices made by National Guard and Reserve members.” The vote, on Dec. 16, was 419 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

House Vote 5

COMBATING HEZBOLLAH: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act (H.R. 2297), sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Royce, R-Calif. The bill would require the Treasury Department and State Department to take measures to block financing of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group and identify all the nations that support Hezbollah. Royce said Iran used Hezbollah to export violence and bolster efforts to undermine U.S. interests and allies such as Israel, prompting the need to take tougher measures against Hezbollah. The vote, on Dec. 16, was unanimous with 425 yeas.

Advertisement

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

House Vote 6

TERRORIST SAFE HAVENS: The House has passed the Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe Havens Act (H.R. 4239), sponsored by Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-N.J. The bill would require the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress estimates of the number of U.S. citizens who have joined terrorist safe havens in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere, the number and national origin of foreigners in the safe havens, and how many of them have left the safe havens. LoBiondo said the San Bernardino attack showed the need for more information about threats posed by terrorists coming from the safe havens, information that could help Congress better understand the threats and the best ways to respond to them. The vote, on Dec. 16, was unanimous with 423 yeas.

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

House Vote 7

EXTENDING TAX CUTS: The House has passed an amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2029), that would extend or make permanent an estimated $622 billion package of tax incentives and tax credits, including the earned income and child tax credits and a credit for business research and development spending. It would also suspend for two years the medical device excise tax included in the health care reform law. A supporter, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said that by stabilizing the tax code, the amendment would make it easier for individuals and business owners to plan and invest for the future, thereby enabling economic growth. An amendment opponent, Rep. Sander M. Levin, D-Mich., said its revenue cuts would weaken funding for a variety of discretionary government programs that help poorer Americans. The vote, on Dec. 17, was 318 yeas to 109 nays.

Advertisement

YEAS: Pingree, Poliquin

SENATE VOTES

Senate Vote 1

ARMY GENERAL COUNSEL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Alissa M. Starzak to serve as the Army’s general counsel. A supporter, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said that in her several years as deputy general counsel at the Defense Department, Starzak gained strong expertise in the Army’s legal challenges, including policies regarding harassment and treatment of terrorist detainees, as well as helped prepare the military’s annual budget. Feinstein called Starzak “well suited to provide legal guidance to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army and ensure the Department strictly obeys the law.” The vote, on Dec. 14, was 45 yeas to 34 nays.

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


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.