Congressional roll call

Here’s how area senators voted on major issues in the week ending August 3. The House was in recess.

SENATE

ELECTION SECURITY: Voting 50-47, the Senate on Aug. 1 failed to reach 60 votes needed to expand HR 6147 (below) to include $250 million for election security grants to states. The underlying bill “zeroed out” funding in the new fiscal year for these grants, which help states upgrade voting equipment and fortify electoral systems against outside attacks and internal breakdowns. Both chambers have now voted to deny such funding in the new fiscal year. A yes vote was to add electoral funds for states to a pending appropriations bill.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

Yes Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: Yes

INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IN

D.C.: Voting 54-44 against, the Senate on Aug. 1 tabled (killed) an amendment to HR 6147 (below) that sought to repeal the District of Columbia’s individual mandate, which requires city residents to obtain health insurance or face a fine. Although Congress has outlawed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate starting in 2019, jurisdictions including D.C. and Vermont have imposed a similar requirement in an effort to hold down premium costs in their ACA marketplaces. A yes vote was to retain the D.C. individual mandate. Gillibrand: Yes Schumer: Yes

SPENDING PACKAGE:

Voting 92-6, the Senate on Aug. 1 passed a bill (HR 6147) combining four of the 12 appropriations bills that fund the government into a single package totaling $154.2 billion. In part, the bill would fund the departments of Interior, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; the Treasury Department and federal judiciary; numerous agencies, including the Small Business Administration and Environmental Protection Agency; and the federally funded share of the District of Columbia. A yes vote was to send the bill to a House-Senate conference committee. Gillibrand: Yes Schumer: Yes

$717B FOR MILITARY:

Voting 87-10, the Senate on Aug. 1 approved the conference report on a bill (HR 5515) that would authorize a $717 billion military budget for fiscal 2019, including $69 billion for war-fighting overseas and $57 billion for active-duty and retiree health care. The bill would lift a ban on the development of sea-launched, low-yield nuclear weapons, fund a military parade in Washington requested by President Trump and weapons systems, set a 2.6 percent pay raise for uniformed personnel and fund programs for military victims of sexual assault. A yes vote was to send the bill to Trump.

Gillibrand: Yes Schumer: No

FLOOD INSURANCE: Voting 88-12, the Senate on July 31 passed a bill (S 1182) that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Nov. 30. This would give Congress more time to consider proposed reforms of a program that is running a deficit of more than $20 billion even after having received a $16 billion taxpayer bailout. Addressing a market largely shunned by the private sector, the program sells below-market-rate policies to five millionplus residential and commercial properties located in flood plains in 22,000communities. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump. Gillibrand: Yes Schumer: Yes

COMING UP

Both chambers are in recess this week.