HOW YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES VOTED

For the week ending Nov. 30

Contact your legislators at the U.S. Capitol ZIP codes: House 20515, Senate 20510 Capitol operator: 202-224-3121

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Nov. 30.

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE: The House on Nov. 29 voted, 350 for and 46 against, to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 7, averting a program closure set to occur Nov. 30. The House last year passed a longterm extension, now stalled in the Senate, that has drawn criticism because it partially privatizes the federally run program. The program is already more than $20 billion in debt despite a recent taxpayer bailout of $16 billion. Absent any changes, the debt is expected to grow faster as hurricanes and flooding become increasingly destructive as a result of global warming, which the GOP-led Congress has declined to address with legislation. Nearly five million residential and commercial properties located in flood plains in 22,000 communities are covered by national flood insurance.

A yes vote was to send the bill (HR 7187) to the Senate, where it was passed and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

YES: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Ben Ray Luján NO: Steve Pearce

U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM YEMEN WAR: Voting 63 for and 37 against, the Senate on Nov. 28 discharged from the Committee on Foreign Relations a measure (SJ Res 54) that would end U.S. military support of a Saudi-led coalition conducting war against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. That support, which until recently included U.S. aerial refueling of Saudi warplanes, began about 2015 but has never received congressional authorization or substantive debate in the Senate or House. The policy could receive a full airing if this measure reaches the Senate floor in December as expected.

A yes vote was to advance a Yemen-withdrawal measure to debate on the Senate floor.

YES: Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich

THOMAS FARR JUDICIAL NOMINATION: In a preliminary vote, the Senate on Nov. 28 advanced the nomination of Thomas A. Farr, an attorney in private practice, to become a federal judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The tally was 51 for and 50 against, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the deciding vote. But Tim Scott, R-S.C., said later he would ultimately vote against Farr, effectively sinking the nomination. Farr drew mainly Democratic opposition because of his legal work defending Republicansponsored voting restrictions and gerrymanders in North Carolina that courts found to be discriminatory against African Americans.

NO: Udall, Heinrich