HOW YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES VOTED
For the week ending Feb. 8
Contact your legislators at the U.S. Capitol Zip codes: House 20515, Senate 20510 Capitol operator: (202) 224-3121
By Voterama In Congress
© 2019 Thomas Reports Inc. WASHINGTON — Here’s how area members of Congress voted during the legislative week ending Feb. 8.
DAY CARE AT VETERANS CLINICS, HOSPITALS: Voting 400 for and nine against, the House on Feb. 8 passed a bill (HR 840) that would establish a nationwide system of day care centers at veterans hospitals, clinics and psychological and social counseling facilities. This would expand and make permanent a pilot program under which fulltime caretakers can place their children for supervision while they receive treatment elsewhere on the premises. The bill is tailored for veterans who need intensive physical or mental care and would miss appointments without the availability of on-site care for their children. Because the bill lacks a pay-for to offset its projected $120 million annual cost, it likely would shift funds from other veterans programs to day care.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
YES: Deb Haaland, D-1, Xochitl Torres Small, D-2, and Ben Ray Luján, D-3
CRIMINALITY ON DAY CARE STAFF: Voting 200 for and 214 against, the House on Feb. 8 defeated a Republican motion addressing language in HR 840 (above) that would prohibit Department of Veterans Affairs contracts with child care firms that employ individuals convicted of serious offenses including sex crimes, drug felonies and violent crimes. The motion sought to expand the prohibition to cover contractors with employees who have been charged with but not yet convicted of the specified crimes.
A yes vote was to adopt the motion. NO: Haaland, Torres Small and Luján SUPPORT OF ISRAEL, REBUKE OVER TROOP WITHDRAWALS: Voting 77 for and 23 against, the Senate on Feb. 5 passed a bill (S 1) that would rebuke President Donald Trump over his planned troop withdrawals from Syria and Afghanistan; authorize $3.3 billion annually in U.S. military aid to Israel over 10 years; expand economic sanctions on the Assad regime in Syria; require a probe of money laundering by the Syrian central bank; authorize military and humanitarian aid to Jordan and support Jordan’s efforts to secure its borders and care for hundreds of thousands of refugees. In addition, the bill would give a federal stamp of approval to so-called anti-BDS laws enacted by state and local governments. Those laws deny contracts and other benefits to companies or individuals that support boycotts, divestiture or sanctions against Israel in response to its treatment of Palestinians.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the House. NO: Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich