HOW TEXAS VOTED

WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:

Senate

1. Federal Judge Daniel

Collins: Confirmed, 53-46, Daniel Collins, an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles, as a judge on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

2. $19.1 billion disaster

aid: Passed, 85-8, a bill (HR 2157) for $19.1 billion in emergency aid to homeowners, farmers, businesses, local governments and other entities struck by natural disasters such as wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes in recent years. The bill includes $1.4 billion for Puerto Rico and $4.5 billion requested by the administration for security and humanitarian aid on the U.S.Mexico border.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the House.

House

1. Expansion of worker

retirement plans: Passed, 417-3, a bill (HR 1994) that would expand tax-favored retirement plans and benefits. The bill would remove limits on contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts; increase from 70½ to 72 the age at which individuals must start making annual withdrawals from their plans; require employers to include in companysponsored plans part-time employees with sufficient work histories; expand the use in retirement plans of annuities offering lifetime payments; and make it easier for workers to take retirement accounts with them to new jobs.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

2. Boycotts, divestiture,

sanctions: Defeated, 200-222, a Republican bid to include a rebuke of the so-called BDS movement in HR 1994 (above). BDS is a global campaign by some companies and other entities to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel and Israeli-owned companies in response to that nation’s treatment of Palestinians.

A yes vote was to adopt the motion. 3. Restoring consumer financial protections: Passed, 231-191, a Democratic-sponsored bill (HR 1500) that would restore Consumer Financial Protection Bureau powers watered down or abandoned by the Trump administration. The bureau was created as an independent agency to protect consumers against predatory practices in matters involving credit cards, unsecured payday lending, debt collection, mortgages and auto financing.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

4. Congressional control of consumer bureau

budget: Defeated, 192-235, a Republican amendment to HR 1500 (above) that sought to include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau budget in the congressional appropriations process, thus giving the House and Senate more control over the independent agency.

A yes vote was to approve the amendment.

5. Mandatory arbitration vs. consumer lawsuits: Voted, 235-193, to reinstate a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would prohibit financial services companies from using mandatory arbitration clauses that prevent aggrieved customers from joining class-action lawsuits against the companies.

A yes vote was to reinstate the rule.

6. Allocations from

civil penalty fund: Defeated, 191-231, a Republican motion to HR 1500 (above) that sought to require disbursements from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Civil Penalty Fund to be used only to benefit victims of financial crimes.

A yes vote was to adopt the motion.