Congressional roll call

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the week ending March 17.

HOUSE

TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS: Voting 223-183, the House on March 15 blocked a Democratic attempt to force consideration of a resolution directing the Ways and Means Committee to use its authority under law to obtain from the Treasury copies of President Trump’s tax returns from 2006 through 2015, review the documents in a closed session and then “report the information therein” to the full House. The resolution was quashed by a parliamentary ruling by the presiding officer representing the Republican majority that the measure did not qualify as a “privileged question” entitled to floor action under House rules. On the vote reported here, Republicans upheld that ruling after it was appealed by Democrats. A yes vote was in opposition to the Democrats’ bid for disclosure of the president’s tax returns.

John Faso, R-Kinderhook:

Yes

Sean Maloney, D-Cold Spring: No DISMISSALS AT V.A.:

Voting 237-178, the House on March 16 passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 1259) that would reduce civil service job protections and weaken collectivebargaining rights at the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to make it easier for the agency to fire or discipline employees with

poor performance records or misconduct issues. The bill, which covers Senior Executive Service employees as well as rank-andfile civil servants at the 350,000-employee department, also would improve protections for whistleblowers and allow the agency to reduce pensions and recoup bonuses in certain circumstances. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Faso: Yes Maloney: No GUN PURCHASES,

MENTAL HEALTH: Voting 240-175, the House on March 16 passed a bill that would require patientby-patient judicial review before the Department of Veterans Affairs can submit the names of veterans with serious mental issues to the FBI’s system of background checks on gun purchasers. Such referrals now occur without judicial oversight. Under the bill (HR 1181), a judicial authority must rule the person “mentally defective” before any referral to the FBI. Foes of the existing policy said it violates Second Amendment rights, while backers said it is common sense to keep guns away from a population afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder and high rates of suicide. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate Faso: Yes Maloney: No

SENATE

JOBLESS BENEFITS,

DRUGS: The Senate vote 51-48 on March 14 to nullify as too soft an Obama administration rule under which states can subject applicants for unemployment compensation to drug testing. The Department of Labor rule limits scrutiny to occupations where testing already occurs such as aviation, railroading and mass transit. Republican advocates of a replacement rule support drug checks on a broader array of occupations, or even blanket testing. A yes vote was to send the nullification measure (HJ Res 42) to President Trump.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

No Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: No

MEDICARE ADMINISTRATOR: Voting 55-43, the Senate on March 13 confirmed Seema Verma, a private healthcare consultant, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. With 4,000 employees and annual expenditures topping $1 trillion, the CMS helps administer care to more than 100 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Verma has helped several

states develop new procedures for their Medicaid programs, including tightened eligibility standards and use of health savings accounts. A yes vote was to confirm Verma.

Gillibrand: No Schumer: No DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL

INTELLIGENCE: Voting 85-12, the Senate on March 15 confirmed former Indiana GOP Sen. Dan Coats, 73, as the director of national intelligence. Created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the office is charged with overseeing and meshing the work of the 16 U.S. civilian and military intelligence agencies. A yes vote was to confirm Coats.

Schumer: Yes Gillibrand: No NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Voting 86-10, the Senate on March 15 reconfirmed Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as a threestar general, enabling him to remain on active duty while serving as President Trump’s national security adviser. McMaster, 54, is decorated for service in the Gulf War and later combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. He joined the administration Feb. 20 to replace retired Marine Gen. Michael Flynn, who resigned under presidential pressure after one month on the job. A yes vote was to qualify McMaster to remain on active duty while serving as national security adviser. Schumer: No Gillibrand: No

COMING UP

The House this week is to take up the GOP’s American Health Care Act along with bills to repeal the anti-trust exemption for health insurers and promote “association health plans” for small businesses. The Senate will vote on the nomination of David M. Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel.