HOW TEXAS VOTED

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

Senate

1. Loosening health insurance requirements: Defeated, 43-52, a Democratic resolution (SJ Res 52) that would prohibit states from offering in their health insurance exchanges diluted versions of the coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. The resolution sought to block a Trump administration rule under which states could obtain waivers to offer short-term policies that omit or weaken ACA requirements intended to guarantee coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions and “essential health benefits” such as pediatric care, mental health and substance abuse treatments, emergency care, outpatient services and maternity care. Backers of the administration’s waiver policy said it gives states flexibility to develop lower-priced coverage alternatives. But critics call such policies “junk insurance.”

A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.

House

1. Adopting rules for public impeachment hearings: Adopted, 232196, a resolution (H Res 660) offered by majority Democrats setting ground rules for public hearings that will be the next phase of the ongoing inquiry into potential impeachment of President Donald Trump. The resolution was supported by all but two of the Democrats who voted and opposed by all the Republicans who voted. The Select Permanent Committee on Intelligence will begin public hearings and is authorized to release transcripts of the testimony it has already taken in closed sessions. The panel will report its findings to the Judiciary Committee, which would decide in additional public hearings whether to send articles of impeachment to the full House. If the House voted to impeach, the Senate would conduct a trial to determine if Trump would be removed from office.

A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.

2. Declaring Armenian massacre a genocide: Adopted, 405-11, a resolution (H Res 296) officially recognizing Turkey’s killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the fading Ottoman Empire in 1915-16 as a genocide. For the U.S. to officially declare an Armenian genocide, the resolution would have to pass the Senate and gain President Donald Trump’s signature.

No member spoke against the resolution.

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

3. Sanctioning Turkey over invasion of Syria: Passed, 403-16, a bill (HR 4695) to penalize Turkey if it resumes or continues attacks on Kurdish forces and civilians in northeastern Syria that began when President Donald Trump reduced America’s military presence there early last month. The bill would freeze the U.S. assets of top government officials and cancel their U.S. visas while imposing sanctions on certain Turkish banks. In addition, the bill would block the sale of U.S. arms that Turkey could use in its Syrian offensive and require the administration to develop a strategy for preventing a resurgence of Islamic State military strength in the region.

No member spoke against the bill.

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

4. Prohibiting mining near Grand Canyon: Passed, 236-185, a bill (HR 1373) that would make permanent a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new mining claims on federally owned land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. During debate, there was discussion of groundwater pollution attributed to an inoperative uranium mine opened in 1986 in nearby Kaibab National Forest.

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