How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted

Here is how Arkansas’ U.S. senators and U.S. representatives voted on major roll call votes during the week that ended Friday.

HOUSE

Regular budget for Homeland Security. Passed 257-167, a bill (HR240) to fund the Department of Homeland Security at an annual rate of $39.7 billion for the remaining seven months of fiscal 2015 and avert a partial shutdown of the 231,000-employee, 16-agency department that was set to occur three days later. This bill was free of Republican objections to presidential immigration orders that had delayed its approval for several weeks. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., said: “If you are concerned about illegal immigration, vote for this bill. It fully funds E-Verify. It provides an increase of almost $700 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It fully funds FEMA’s disaster relief programs and the first-responder grant programs that are critical to so many state and local departments.” Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said President Barack Obama “violated the constitutional separation of powers” with his immigration orders. “Regardless of how you feel about immigration or immigration reform or even amnesty, surely you believe in the Constitution that you swore an oath to.” A yes vote was to send the bill to President Obama, who signed it into law. ✖ Rick Crawford (R) ✖ French Hill (R) ✖ Steve Womack (R) ✖ Bruce Westerman (R)

Rail-passenger budget. Passed 316-101, a bill (HR749) that would authorize $7.2 billion through fiscal 2020 for rail-passenger service between U.S. cities, consisting of $5.3 billion for Amtrak operations and capital improvements, $1.2 billion for grants to state-operated passenger lines and $625 million for Amtrak debt service. The bill establishes Amtrak’s profitable Northeast Corridor service between Washington and Boston as a separate financial entity so that its surpluses could no longer be used to subsidize money-losing routes in other regions. The bill gives states greater say in the operation of Amtrak routes within their borders. In addition, the bill would allow short-cut environmental reviews of rail-passenger construction projects; launch a study into the possible restoration of passenger service between New Orleans and Orlando, Fla.; permit passengers to travel with dog and cat pets; and require American-made iron and steel to be used for capital improvements. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., supported the bill but said: “We are still woefully underfunding Amtrak. We spend more than $50 billion per year on highway and transit, and over $15 billion on aviation, while Amtrak is just $1.4 billion, or less than 2 percent, of federal transportation spending.” Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said: “Voters have elected the biggest Republican majority in the House since 1928, with a resounding mandate to stop wasting money. If we can’t bring ourselves to cut [Amtrak subsidies], voters will have every right to ask what good are we.” A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it stands a chance of passage. Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

Rail-passenger subsidies. Rejected 147-272, a bid to strip HR749 (above) of its subsidies of rail-passenger service, effectively killing the more than 15 money-losing Amtrak routes operating outside of the Northeast Corridor. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said: “This year, taxpayers will subsidize Amtrak in the amount of about $1.4 billion. Put another way, we will shell out $45 every time a passenger steps aboard an Amtrak train up from $32 of loss per passenger six years ago.” Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said the amendment would “strand millions of passengers, disrupt commuter operations, add to our already congested roads and airports, eliminate over 20,000 jobs nationwide and jeopardize local economies and business that depend on Amtrak’s service.” A yes vote was to end federal subsidies of rail-passenger service. Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✖ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R) Boost in Amtrak security. Defeated 184-232, a Democratic motion to increase the budget for Amtrak’s police force in HR749 (above) by $150 million annually and require the force to give hiring preference to veterans. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., said: “From additional canine units to explosive-detection equipment, we need to make sure that Amtrak’s police officers have the capability to protect passengers” against terrorist attacks. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., said this measure, if adopted, “will do nothing more than kill the bill,” adding “we cover the cost of security activities in this bill.” A yes vote was to adopt the motion, which, had it prevailed, would have immediately amended the bill. Crawford (R) ✖ Hill (R) ✖ Womack (R) ✖ Westerman (R)

SENATE

New rule for union elections. Approved 53-46, a resolution (SJRes8) that would kill a new National Labor Relations Board rule compressing the time between the filing of a union-organizing petition and the vote on whether to unionize. Set to take effect April 14, the rule bars litigation intended mainly to delay elections and allows forms to be filed electronically with the National Labor Relations Board during the election process instead of only by regular mail. In addition, the rule requires employers to provide organizers with workers’ email addresses and cellphone numbers, going beyond the present requirement that they provide only names and home addresses. Established in 1934, the National Labor Relations Board is in charge of overseeing collective bargaining and protecting the workplace rights of both labor and management. John Thune, R-S.D., said: “Government should not be in the business of tilting the playing field in favor of unions at the expense of workers and businesses.” Patty Murray, D-Wash., said: “Instead of talking about how to create jobs and help working families who are struggling with stagnant wages, Republicans would rather roll back workers’ rights.” A yes vote was to send the resolution to the House. If it passes there, it would require President Obama’s signature to take effect. John Boozman (R) Tom Cotton (R)

Veto of Keystone XL pipeline bill. Failed 62-37, to reach a two-thirds majority needed to override President Obama’s veto of a bill (S1) to require federal approval of a Keystone XL pipeline section from the Canadian border to Steele City, Neb. This would be the final link in a nearly 4,000-mile Keystone XL network for shipping tar-sands crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to refineries in Texas and the Midwest and ports on the Texas Gulf Coast. TransCanada Corp. is the pipeline owner. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said: “The first bill [Keystone] we sent to the president this year is bipartisan and has strong support around the country from an environmental perspective, from an energy-security perspective and from a national-security perspective.” Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., asked: “Why on earth would the Republicans make the first bill a bill to help Canadian special oil interests that will bring in tar-sands oil [that] has caused terrible problems for our communities? Why would they do it, and why would they go against public opinion? A yes vote was to override the veto. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

— VOTERAMA IN CONGRESS