Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - S.47
The Senate will continue debate on the bill starting Monday, February 11. Six debates are scheduled for consideration including one by Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn that would remove the Indian tribal court provision. Final passage is expected later in the week.
To eliminate the 2013 statutory pay adjustment for civilian federal employees. - H.R.273
Federal civilian workers have been living under a pay freeze for several years will be able to receive a 0.5 percent cost of living adjustment upon expiration of the current Continuing Resolution governing federal spending, which runs through March 27. This bill would continue the pay freeze through the end of 2013.
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act - H.R.592
This bill would clarify that houses of worship are eligible for certain disaster relief and emergency assistance on terms equal to other eligible private nonprofit facilities.
February 4, 2013
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Temporary Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
- Senate: Disaster Relief – Final Passage
- Senate: Secretary of State Confirmation
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
- House: Require a PLAN Act
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| Recent Senate Votes |
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. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Saxby Chambliss voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - S.47
The Senate will begin debate on a reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act, which stalled last year amidst disagreement between the House and Senate. This bill is virtually identical to the one the Senate passed last year and is co-sponsored by 59 senators in addition to Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont. A vote on the motion to proceed to the measure is scheduled for Monday, Feburary 4.
Require a PLAN Act - H.R.444
The House is expected to consider and pass a bill that would require the president to submit a FY 2014 budget that achieves balance within the document’s 10-year timeframe. (The "PLAN" in the bill’s title stands for "Presidential Leadership and No Deficits.")
January 28, 2013
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Temporary Rules Changes
- Senate: Permanent Rules Changes
- House: Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
- Senate: To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes.
Editor's Note: The House is in Recess until Monday, February 4.
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| Recent Senate Votes |
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. Saxby Chambliss voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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 votecan 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. Saxby Chambliss voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Recent House Votes |
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 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. Doug Collins voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package on Monday, January 28, as well as an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would offset the bill's cost with spending cuts.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. - H.R.325
Majority Leader Reid has stated he will bring the House debt limit/no-budget-no-pay bill to the floor.
January 22, 2013
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Substitute Amendment
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Long-term Recovery Aid
- House: Sandy Recovery Supplemental – Final Passage
- House: Disaster Aid Reform
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
- House: To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes
Editor's Note: Due to the redistricting of congressional districts, you may live in a new district and your subscription to this newsletter may need to be updated. To ensure that your congressional district information is correct, click on the "Edit Subscription" link at the bottom of this email. Scroll down to "Subscription Management" and enter your email to make changes to your district.
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| Recent House Votes |
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. Doug Collins voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Doug Collins voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Doug Collins voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Doug Collins voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152
The Senate is expected to take up the House-passed disaster aid package this week.
To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes - H.R.325
Republicans appear to have given up their strategy of using the debt ceiling to extract concessions from President Obama on spending and entitlements. That does not mean they plan simply to raise it, however. Their new gambit, expected to be on the floor Wednesday, would actually suspend the ceiling until May 19. Simultaneously, it would introduce a requirement that if either house of Congress does not pass a budget resolution by April 15 (as technically required by law), members of that house would not be paid until 1) a budget is passed or 2) the end of the 113th Congress, whichever occurs first.
January 8, 2013
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- House: Establishing the Rules of the House
- House: Hurricane Sandy Relief – Suspension
Editor's Note: Due to the redistricting of congressional districts, you may live in a new district and your subscription to this newsletter may need to be updated. To ensure that your congressional district information is correct, click on the "Edit Subscription" link at the bottom of this email. Scroll down to "Subscription Management" and enter your email to make changes to your district.
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| Recent House Votes |
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. Doug Collins voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Doug Collins voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
December 17, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: TAG Extension – Motion to Waive
- House: Suspension Authority
- House: Epinephrine Inhalers – Suspension
- House: Defense Authorization – Motion to Instruct
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
- House: Defense Authorization
Editor's Note: MegaVote will be on hiatus until January 2, 2013.
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| Recent Senate Votes |
TAG Extension – Motion to Waive - Vote Rejected (50-42, 8 Not Voting)
Last week 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. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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| Recent House Votes |
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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 - H.R.1
The Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of the supplemental appropriations bill providing emergency relief to the states victimized by Hurricane Sandy. Because all spending bills must originate in the House, Senate leaders are using H.R. 1 – which the House passed in February 2011 - as a legislative "shell" to carry the emergency spending language.
Defense Authorization - H.R.4310
Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has indicated that the defense authorization may be ready for floor action by mid-week.
December 10, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Disability Treaty – Ratification
- Senate: Defense Authorization – Final Passage
- Senate: Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage
- House: Energy Efficiency – Suspension
- House: Global Internet Governance – Adoption
- House: Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes.
- House: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
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| Recent Senate Votes |
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.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Saxby Chambliss voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Saxby Chambliss voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Recent House Votes |
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes. - S.3637
The Senate is scheduled to hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a bill that would extend the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program through the end of 2014. TAG is a program administered by the FDIC that provides full deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. The program was created in the midst of the financial crisis in late 2008 and later extended for two years in late 2010. It is set to expire at the end of this year, however, and lobbyists for small and independent banks are making a heavy push to extend the program again. Republicans are wary of keeping it alive, so invoking cloture is no guarantee.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - H.R.4310
The House is scheduled to consider several bills under suspension of the rules, as well as a Motion to go to Conference on the defense authorization bill.
September 24, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Veterans Job Training – Motion to Waive
- Senate: Foreign Aid Suspension
- Senate: Iran Nuclear Threat
- Senate: Continuing Resolution
- House: Student Loan Exemption for Deceased Veterans – Suspension
- House: Public Funding for Political Conventions – Suspension
- House: Welfare Work Requirements – Disapproval Resolution
- House: STEM Visa Program - Suspension
- House: Manhattan Project National Park – Suspension
- House: Energy Regulatory Rollback – Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Sportsmen's Act of 2012
Editor's Note: The House and Senate are in recess until Tuesday, November 13.
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| Recent Senate Votes |
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. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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. Saxby Chambliss voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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.)
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
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| Recent House Votes |
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Public Funding for Political Conventions – 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 votepercentage 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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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 rulemaking. 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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
STEM Visa Program - Suspension - 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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Energy Regulatory Rollback – 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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Sportsmen's Act of 2012 - S.3525
Before breaking for recess, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to this catch-all bill sponsored by Jon Tester, D-Mont. It would loosen a variety of regulations on hunters and fishermen, particularly regarding their activities on public lands.
September 17, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 9th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
- House: Minnesota Land Exchange
- House: Government Surveillance Authorities
- House: Sequestration Replacement
- House: Continuing Resolution
- House: Energy Department Loan Guarantees
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012
- Senate: Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013
- House: Welfare waiver disapproval
- House: STEM Jobs Act of 2012
- House: Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012
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| Recent House Votes |
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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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.
Rep. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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. Tom Graves voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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| Upcoming Votes |
Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012 - S.3457
The Senate spent most of its time last week on this measure sponsored by Bill Nelson, D-Fla. It would create a veterans jobs corps to expedite and enhance employment opportunities in the public and private sector. After voting last week to proceed to the bill, Majority Leader Reid introduced a substitute amendment from Veterans Affairs committee chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., and filed cloture on the substitute. There is currently agreement to hold a series of votes on Wednesday September 19, on a budget point of order regarding the Murray amendment; a motion to waive the point of order; cloture on the amendment (assuming the point of order is waived); and final passage of the bill (assuming cloture is invoked).
Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 - H.J.RES.117
The Senate will take up the six-month CR following their work on the veterans jobs bill. A cloture vote is scheduled for Thursday, September 20.
Welfare waiver disapproval - H.J.RES.118
This disapproval resolution would overturn modifications that the Health and Human Services Department made to federal welfare rules in July.
STEM Jobs Act of 2012 -
This bill introduced by Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Tex., would make changes to immigration rules to encourage foreign recipients of doctorate and Master’s degrees in so-called STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) to stay and work in the U.S.
Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 - H.R.3409
This bill includes a number of measures previously passed by the House under the umbrella of a bill recently cleared by the Natural Resources committee. The "parent" bill would effectively prevent the Interior department from issuing new regulations on coal mines until December 31, 2013. |
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