Last week in Congress
How our representatives voted
WASHINGTON — Here are the recent votes of Western New York’s four members of the House of Representatives on major legislation in Congress. There were no key votes in the Senate last week. A “Y” means the member voted for the measure; an “N” means the member voted against the measure; an “A” means the member did not vote.
HOUSE
Offering Production Leases in Alaska Oil Reserve — The House failed to pass a bill sponsored by Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W. Va., to direct the interior secretary to quickly offer competitive leases for oil and natural gas production in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, as well as the building of a natural gas pipelines to serve the reserve. The vote July 17 was 244 yeas to 173 nays, with a two-thirds majority required for approval. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, Y; Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport, Y; Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, N; Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, Y. Bolstering FAA Regulations — The House passed the Aviation Safety Enhancement Act sponsored by Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., to establish various rules enhancing Federal Aviation Administration policing of the airline industry. The vote Tuesday was 392 yeas to 0 nays. Higgins, Y; Kuhl, Y; Reynolds, Y; Slaughter, Y. Global HIV/AIDS Assistance — The House passed a Senate amendment to the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. The amendment will allow for funding to provide assistance to combat HIV/AIDS in foreign countries from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2013. The vote Thursday was 303 yeas to 115 nays. After passing both the Senate and House, the measure will be sent to the president for approval. Higgins, Y; Kuhl, Y; Reynolds, Y; Slaughter, Y. Medicare Adjustment Provision — The House agreed to a resolution sponsored by Rep. Alcee Hastings, DFla., related to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The resolution will prohibit Section 803 of the act from being applied during the remainder of the 110th congressional session. Proponents of the resolution said Section 803 allowed for Medicare-related spending and authorizations to pass without proper House consideration and that underhanded tactics were used to strong-arm it into the bill. Opponents said Democrats were trying to avoid tough votes and real debates on fiscal responsibility. The vote Thursday was 231 yeas to 184 nays. Higgins, Y; Kuhl, N; Reynolds, N; Slaughter, Y. National Child Awareness Month — The House passed a resolution sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert, RCalif., to institute a National Child Awareness Month that will promote awareness of children’s charities and youth-serving organizations and the benefits they bring to children. According to the resolution, September has been designated National Child Awareness Month. It will focus on support and recognition of people involved in the improvement of children’s lives. The vote Thursday was 404 yeas to 0 nays. Higgins, Y; Kuhl, Y; Reynolds, Y; Slaughter, Y.
Information for this column is supplied by Targeted News Service.
