How your U.S. lawmakers voted

WASHINGTON — Here's how the state's members of Congress voted on major roll calls in the week ending Friday.

HOUSE

Student-loan scandal: By a vote of 414-3, the House on Wednesday passed a bill (HR 890) to remedy illegal or unethical practices recently uncovered by federal and state investigations of the student-loan industry. In part, the bill would bar lenders' gifts and other favors to financial-aid officers; prohibit revenue-sharing arrangements between schools and lenders; require schools to publish their criteria for recommending preferred lenders; prohibit schools from releasing students' private data to marketers; and bar school officials from serving on lender advisory boards and receiving stock in loan companies.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-1, Rick Larsen, D-2, Brian Baird, D-3, Doc Hastings, R-4, Norman Dicks, D-6, Jim McDermott, D-7, Dave Reichert, R-8, Adam Smith, D-9.

Not voting: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5.

Automated tracking system: By a vote of 264-160, the House on Wednesday authorized the Homeland Security Department to employ the Automated Tracking System at all monitored entry points into the United States. The vote occurred during debate on HR 1684. The system is a database of individuals' personal travel data that assesses whether travelers, including U.S. citizens, pose a terrorist threat.

A yes vote backed the ATS.

Voting yes: Hastings, Dicks, Reichert.

Voting no: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, McDermott, Smith.

Not voting: McMorris Rodgers.

War appropriations: By a vote of 221-205, the House on Thursday passed a bill (HR 2206) to release $96 billion in Iraq-Afghanistan war appropriations in two steps — $43 billion immediately and $53 billion in late July — if President Bush certifies Iraqi leaders have met military and political benchmarks set forth in the bill. The bill awaits Senate action.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, Reichert.

Not voting: McMorris Rodgers.

Iraq withdrawal mandate: By a vote of 171-255, the House on Thursday defeated a bill (HR 2237) requiring Bush to start redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq within 90 days of enactment and complete the pullout of all but a residual force within the following 180 days.

A yes vote was to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, Reichert.

Not voting: McMorris Rodgers.

2008 intelligence budget: By a vote of 225-197, the House on Thursday approved a fiscal 2008 U.S. intelligence budget unofficially estimated as high as $48 billion. The bill (HR 2082) proved controversial, in part, because it would require a National Intelligence Estimate on the impact of climate change on U.S. security. The bill awaits Senate action.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, McDermott, Reichert.

Not voting: McMorris Rodgers.

SENATE

Food and Drug Administration: By a vote of 93-1, the Senate on Wednesday voted to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new powers to protect the U.S. population against unsafe food, drugs and medical devices. The bill (S 1082), which awaits House action, would empower the FDA for the first time to continually review drugs after they go on the market and order quick corrective action when harmful side effects come to light.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Maria Cantwell, D, Patty Murray, D.

Prescription-drug imports: By a vote of 49-40, the Senate on Monday voided a measure permitting individuals to import federally approved prescription drugs from countries such as Canada. The vote, during debate on S 1082 (above), set unattainable certification standards for buying lower-cost pharmaceuticals from abroad.

A yes vote was to negate a pending drug-import measure.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

Drug conflicts of interest: By a vote of 47-47, the Senate on Wednesday defeated an amendment to reduce conflicts of interest on the FDA advisory panels that rule on the safety of new drugs and medical devices. The amendment to S 1082 sought to sharply restrict FDA conflict-of-interest waivers. Such waivers permit experts with a financial interest in a drug company to sit on a panel judging that company's application for FDA approval of a new product.

A yes vote backed the amendment.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

Roll Call Report Syndicate