How your U.S. lawmaker voted this week

House

Homeland Security budget

By a 307-114 vote, the House on Thursday approved the conference report on a $44.1 billion Department of Homeland Security budget for fiscal 2010, up 6.5 percent from 2009. The bill (HR 2892) funds agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard. The bill prevents Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners from being transferred to U.S. soil except for court proceedings, and bars the release of photos and videos showing U.S. mistreatment of prisoners overseas since 9/11.

The bill provides $1 billion for installing explosive-detection units at airports, $950 million for protecting cities against attacks, $810 million for firefighters, $800 million for physical and electronic fencing on the Mexico border, $400 million to protect government computer systems against cyberattacks, and $122 million for air-cargo screening.

A yes vote was to approve the conference report.

Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-1; Rick Larsen, D-2; Brian Baird, D-3; Doc Hastings, R-4; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5; Norm Dicks, D-6; Jim McDermott, D-7; Dave Reichert, R-8; Adam Smith, D-9.

Guantánamo prisoners

By a vote of 193-224, the House on Thursday defeated a GOP bid to prevent funds in HR 2892 from being used to release Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners into the United States for court appearances or any other purpose.

A yes vote backed the motion.

Voting yes: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.

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

Regional airline safety

By a vote of 409-11, the House on Wednesday passed a bill (HR 3371) setting higher training and skill standards for pilots of regional airlines that link smaller cities to hubs. The bill is a response to the 50-death crash last February of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo, N.Y., in which investigators are focusing on pilot inexperience and fatigue.

The bill requires pilots to have at least 1,500 hours of flight time to fully qualify for airline jobs, up from the current 250-hour minimum. But a loophole allows hours spent in certain high-caliber flight-school training to be counted toward the threshold. The bill also raises federal standards for training in the operation of de-icing and emergency equipment, addresses pilot fatigue and requires applicants to disclose failed flight tests to prospective employers. The bill, which awaits Senate action, also sets new safety and training rules for pilots of the largest airlines.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

Iran investments

By a vote of 414-6, the House on Wednesday removed federal hurdles that keep state and local governments from emptying their portfolios of stock in companies that are invested in or provide services to Iran's energy sector. The bill (HR 1327) discounts the Department of State's argument that such disinvestment hampers the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The bill clears the way for nonfederal governments to disinvest from organizations that have at least $20 million invested in the Iranian energy sector or sell at least $20 million in services or equipment to that sector. The bill awaits Senate action.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, Reichert, Smith.

Voting no: McDermott.

Senate

Energy, water appropriations

By a vote of 80-17, the Senate on Thursday sent President Obama the conference report on a bill (HR 3183) to appropriate $33.5 billion for energy, water and nuclear programs in fiscal 2010. In part, the bill provides $6.4 billion for maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile, $5.6 billion for environmental cleanup at nuclear sites, $5.4 billion for Army Corps of Engineers public works, $4.9 billion for research into long-term energy needs, $2.1 billion to counter the spread of nuclear arms overseas, $311 million for clean-vehicle technologies, $225 million for solar energy, and $172 million for upgrading the nation's electrical grid.

Additionally, the bill funds the administration's decision to permanently bar nuclear-waste disposal at Yucca Mountain in Nevada and establishes a commission to evaluate alternatives for disposing of the nation's radioactive waste.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

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

Roll Call Report Syndicate