Congressional roll call

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the week ending July 20.

HOUSE

CARBON TAX: Voting 22180, the House on July 19 adopted a nonbinding GOP statement of opposition to proposals that would put a new tax on the use of coal, natural gas and petroleum products in order to discourage their use and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. The measure (H Con Res 119) asserted a carbon tax “would be detrimental to American families and businesses and is not in the best interest of the United States.” Supporters of the tax said it would be a cost-efficient and equitable way to reduce toxic emissions while generating revenue to help those most affected by the higher cost of using fossil fuels. A yes vote was to adopt the resolution opposing the tax.

John Faso, R-Kinderhook:

Yes

Sean Maloney, D-Cold Spring: No ELECTION SECURITY

FUNDS: Voting 182 in favor and 232 opposed, the House on July 19 defeated a Democratic attempt to add funding for Election Assistance Commission (EAC) grants for states to a 2019 spending bill (HR 6147, below). The underlying bill “zeroed out” funding in the new fiscal year for these grants, which have been used since 2003 to help states upgrade voting machines and fortify electoral systems. In this vote, Democrats sought to restore funding to the 2018 level of $380 million. At least 40 states use outdated voting machines and 13 states employ machines that fail to generate paper backups to electronic voting files, according to debate. A yes vote was to provide $380 million in electoral grants to states next fiscal year.

Faso: No Maloney: Yes ENVIRONMENT, TREASURY, DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA: Voting 217199, the House on July 19 approved a $58.7 billion appropriations bill (HR 6147) for the Treasury and Interior departments, federal judiciary, District of Columbia and numerous related agencies in fiscal 2019. In part, the bill would cut the Environmental Protection Administration budget by $100 million, to $7.96 billion; put Congress in control of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau budget; set aside $585 million that could not be spent until Congress eliminates annual deficits; increase the Internal Revenue Service budget by $186 million, to $11.6 billion; prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission from requiring the disclosure of political contributions to shareholders; and appropriate $3.9 billion for fighting and preventing forest fires. In addition, the bill would fund a $751 million federal payment to the District of Columbia while repealing the federal city’s Death With Dignity Act, and provide $45 million for vouchers used by some D.C. students to transfer to private and parochial schools. The bill also would raise the Indian Health Service budget by $370 million, to $5.9 billion; prohibit regulation of the lead content in ammunition and fishing tackle; scale back certain Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act regulations; and provide $21 million for developing an early warning system for West Coast earthquakes. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Faso: Yes Maloney: No RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE:

Voting 230-183, the House on July 17 blocked a Democratic bid for floor debate on a measure (H Res 999) that would formally enshrine Speaker Paul Ryan’s written statement that there is “no question” that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential campaign and continues to interfere with U.S. elections. Ryan commented after President Donald Trump, in a news conference in Helsinki, sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies when asked about Russian interference in his contest against Hillary Clinton. Had Democrats prevailed on this vote, they would have had standing to call the resolution up for debate. A yes vote was in opposition to calling the measure up for debate. Faso: Yes

Maloney: No EXPANDING BALLOT ACCESS: Voting 226-186 against, the House on July 18 blocked a Democratic attempt to call up for debate a bill (HR 12) that would streamline and promote voter registration in the states, upgrade software and technology at polling places, fortify ballot security and combat obstacles to equal access to the ballot. Had Democrats prevailed on this vote, they would been

able to bring the bill to the floor for debate. A yes vote was in opposition to calling the measure up for debate. Faso: Yes

Maloney: No IMMIGRATION ENFORCE

MENT: Voting 244-35, the House on July 18 adopted a nonbinding GOP-sponsored measure (H Res 990) expressing support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Thirty-five Democrats voted no, while another 133 answered “present,” which is the equivalent of not voting. Some Democrats and progressives have criticized the agency’s stepped-up arrests of undocumented immigrants and its role in separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy. A yes vote was to adopt the resolution. Faso: Yes

Maloney: Voted ‘present’

SENATE

INTERROGATING AMERI

CANS: Voting 98-0, the Senate on July 19 stated its opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request for President Trump to submit 11 American citizens — including current and former diplomats — to interrogation by Russian prosecutors probing U.S. economic sanctions against their country. Trump weighed the request for three days, then rejected it at about the time of this vote, which adopted a nonbinding “sense of the Senate” resolution (S Res 584). Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said “it is neither the policy nor the practice of the United States to submit our citizens, let alone our ambassadors, to the interrogation of a foreign adversary. Let this resolution be a warning to the administration that Congress will not allow this to happen.” A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

Yes Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: Yes

COMING UP

The House this week will debate health care bills and next year’s Department of Homeland Security budget. The Senate will vote on fiscal 2019 appropriations and judicial and executive branch appointments.