HOW TEXAS VOTED
Washington – How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:
Senate 1. To Kill Rule on Carbon Emissions:
Adopted, 52-46, a measure (SJ Res 24) that would kill a new Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit carbon emissions by natural gas- and coal-fired power plants. A yes vote was to send the measure to the House, which is expected to send it to President Obama, who has promised a veto.
House 1. More Checks on Syrian Refugees:
Passed, 289-137, a bill (HR 4038) requiring the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security and the director of national intelligence to clear each refugee applicant from Syria and Iraq before they can be admitted to the U.S.
2. No Pause in Refugee Resettlement:
Defeated, 180-244, a Democratic motion to HR 4038 (above) that would require extensive additional screening of Syrian and Iraqi refugee applicants while not suspending or shutting down the administration’s ongoing resettlement program.
3. Congressional Audit of Federal Reserve:
Passed, 241-185, a bill (HR 3189) authorizing the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to conduct an audit of the Federal Reserve System, with authority to inspect internal communications among Fed governors and staff.
Defeated, 182242, a motion by Democrats to HR 3189 (above) that would deny access to the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending window to any financial institution found guilty of having swindled seniors through the aggressive sale of unsound financial products.
5. Bias in Auto Lending:
Passed, 332-96, a bill (HR 1737) that would halt Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulation of auto loans with discriminatory interest rates.
6. Protecting Banks Against Lawsuits:
Voted, 255-174, to grant protection against most consumer lawsuits to community banks and credit unions issuing risky home loans if they keep the loan in their portfolio.
7. Predatory Loans to Military Personnel:
Defeated, 184-242, a Democratic motion to allow consumer lawsuits to proceed under HR 1210 (above) against lenders alleged to have made predatory home loans to active-duty military personnel and veterans.
8. Labor Unions on Tribal Lands:
Passed, 249-177, a bill (HR 511) to remove Indian reservations from the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) on grounds they are sovereign nations not subject to that New Dealera law.
9. Contracts For Veterans, Minorities, Women:
Passed, 285-138, a bill (HR 1694) that would enable veteran-owned businesses to compete against women- and minorityowned businesses in a program that sets a goal of awarding 10 percent of Department of Transportation infrastructure projects to disadvantaged firms.