Congressional roll call
Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Oct. 2.
House
PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER: Voting 397-5, the House on Sept. 29adopted a measure (H Res 1155) affirming “the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for by the Constitution” if President Trump is voted out of office this year. This was a response to Trump’s repeated refusal to commit to relinquishing power on Jan. 20, 2021, should he lose the November election.
The five “no” votes were cast by Republicans Matt Gaetz of Florida, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Steve King of Iowa and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.
Antonio Delgado, DRhinebeck: Yes
Sean Maloney, D-Cold Spring: Yes
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF: Voting 214-207, the House on Oct. 1 approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package (HR 925) that would authorize $600per week in added jobless benefits through January and a second round of stimulus payments of $1,200to individuals and $2,400to families up to certain income levels, plus expanded child tax credits.
The bill also provides, in part, $436billion for state, local, tribal and territorial governments; $182billion for K-12schools; $120billion for restaurants; $75billion for coronavirus testing, tracing and isolation; $57 billion for child-care centers; $50billion for tenants’ rental assistance; $50billion for hospitals serving poor communities; $50billion in grants to small businesses; $39billion for colleges and universities; $28.3billion for airline payrolls; $28billion for vaccine procurement, distribution and education; $21billion in homeowner mortgage aid; $15billion to sustain the Postal Service; and $3.6 billion to boost ballot security and voter participation in this year’s elections.
The bill is a reduced version of the $3trillion Heroes Act, which passed the House May 15but stalled in the Senate. The House has now passed six virus relief bills since March 4, four of which have become law.
In other provisions, the bill would expand food stamps and nutritional assistance; fund student loan forgiveness of up to $10,000per borrower; expand access to the Affordable Care Act; require Occupational Health and Safety Administration coronavirus workplace rules; give the Census Bureau more time to compile data for redrawing legislative districts next year; provide tax credits to incentivize employers to retain workers; expand earned-income tax credits for low-income families; suspend for one year a cap on deductions for state and local tax payments in certain states; and shore up multi-employer pension plans in collective bargaining agreements. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
Delgado: Yes
Maloney: Yes SURGERY-IMMIGRANTS:
Voting 232-157, the House on Oct. 2adopted a nonbinding condemnation (H Res 1153) of unwanted gynecological surgery allegedly performed in recent years on numerous women held for immigration offenses at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility is managed by the private firm LaSalle Corrections, and the operations reportedly were performed at a nearby hospital.
The Department of Homeland Security inspector general recently opened an investigation of the allegations, which were raised in a nurse’s whistleblower complaint.
A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.
Delgado: Yes
Maloney: Yes
Senate
HEALTH LAW: Voting 5143, the Senate on Oct. 1 turned back a Democratic attempt to end the Trump administration’s advocacy before the Supreme Court of litigation to strike down the Affordable Care Act.
The bill (S 4653) needed 60 votes to advance.
The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Nov. 10in the lawsuit Texas v. United States that would kill the 2010health law, and the Department of Justice has filed a brief in support of the suit.
A yes vote was to end administration involvement in the repeal lawsuit.
Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.: Yes
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: Yes
STOPGAP SPENDING: Voting 84-10, the Senate on Sept. 30passed a bill (HR 8337) to fund the government on a stopgap basis in the opening weeks of fiscal 2021, which began Oct. 1. The bill, which became necessary when Congress failed to pass regular appropriations bills for the new budget year, will fund agencies at 2020spending levels through Dec. 11.
A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump. Gillibrand: Yes
Schumer: Yes
Coming up
Congress is in recess this week.