How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted

Here is how Arkansas’ U.S. senators and U.S. representatives voted on major roll call votes during the week that ended Friday.

Elementary and secondary

education. Adopted 359-64, the conference report on a bill (S1177) that would extend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for four years while giving states and localities expanded authority over the spending of federal K-12 school funds. The bill would continue mandatory reading and math testing in grades three through eight and once in high school that was required under the 2001 No Child Left Behind law. But it would allow state and local authorities to develop their own measures for improving school, teacher and student performance in response to test scores. In addition, the bill would make adherence to Common Core academic standards optional; expand access to early childhood education; boost the number of charter schools beyond the 6,700 now in operation and provide special federal aid to help states improve their lowest performing schools. The bill authorizes $24 billion annually for K-12 education, about 60 percent of which is Title I funding to aid impoverished districts and provide disadvantaged students with better educational opportunities. Overall, the bill accounts for about 4 percent of total spending for public-school education in the U.S. John Kline, R-Minn., said the bill “restores local control by protecting the right of states to opt out of federal education programs and by delivering new funding flexibility so taxpayer resources are better spent on local priorities.” No opponent spoke against the bill during floor debate. A yes vote was to approve the conference report. ✔ Rick Crawford (R) ✔ French Hill (R) ✔ Steve Womack (R) ✔ Bruce Westerman (R)

To kill rule on carbon emissions. Adopted 242-180, a measure (SJRes24) that would kill a new Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit carbon emissions from existing natural gas- and coal-fired power plants. The bill targets the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which would allow each state to develop its own steps for meeting federally set limits on carbon discharges from plants that generate electricity. Those emissions make up about one-third of greenhouse-gas discharges in the U.S and are the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution, according to the EPA. Critics say the rule would cost jobs, particularly in coal country, and hamper the overall U.S. economy. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, said: “America’s air and water have never been cleaner. For the president to continue his crusade to shut down the coal industry and all the jobs that go with it is shortsighted, foolish and wrong.” Gerald Connolly, D-Va., said Pope Francis, in his first encyclical, ranked climate change as “one of the most important and imperative moral issues facing mankind today. … We ought to heed his words and his moral warning as we debate this subject.” A yes vote was to send the measure to President Barack Obama, who has promised a veto. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

2016 Intelligence budget.

Approved 364-58, a fiscal 2016 budget (HR4127) estimated at $80 billion or more for the 16 civilian and military intelligence agencies. The actual figure is classified. The bill would authorize intelligence support for Ukraine, stiffen defenses against cybercrimes, expand space-based and underseas intelligence operations and limit detainee transfers from the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison. In addition, the bill funds oversight of the pending agreement to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, increases spending for on-the-ground intelligence collection by humans, curbs the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board’s access to information on covert operations and authorizes $514 million for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said: “The recent Paris attacks drive home just how vigilant we need to be, and [this bill] provides urgent resources for the fight against ISIS and al-Qaida” while also focusing on foes such as Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

Republican energy

package. Passed 249-174, a GOP-drafted energy bill (HR8) that would, in part, repeal the current ban on exporting U.S. crude oil; scale back environmental reviews of cross-border pipeline projects between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico; expedite Department of Energy approval of applications for exporting liquefied natural gas; increase energy efficiency in federal buildings; expedite decisions on the location of new gas pipelines; and allow construction of pipelines through national parks and other sensitive public lands. In addition, the bill would waive National Environmental Policy Act reviews of certain energy projects; prohibit federal regulation on federal and tribal lands of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking; streamline permitting of hydropower projects; boost fossil-fuel and nuclear energy production; and take steps to protect the U.S. electrical grid against cyberattacks and electromagnetic pulses. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Crawford (R) Hill (R) Womack (R) Westerman (R)

Drilling under property

owners’ land. Defeated 206-216, an amendment to HR8 (above) requiring land owners to be notified when companies take steps to drill into government-owned minerals beneath their property. At present, the Bureau of Land Management only has to make a “good faith” notification of applications for permits and other drilling plans. Under the 1862 Homestead Act and later laws, the government awarded land on its surface to settlers while keeping subsurface mineral rights under federal control. These “split estates” are prevalent throughout the West. A yes vote was to adopt the property-rights amendment. ✖ Crawford (R) ✖ Hill (R) ✖ Womack (R) ✖ Westerman (R)

Five-year transportation

Adopted 359-65, the conference report on a bill (HR22) that would set spending of $305 billion over five years for highway and mass-transit construction, auto and road safety, and other transportation programs. The bill is financed by receipts from the Highway Trust Fund along with revenue from steps such as selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, laying claim to Federal Reserve surpluses, raising customs fees and privatizing the collection of unpaid taxes. The bill also would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through September 2019. A yes vote was to send the conference report to the Senate. Crawford (R) Hill (R) Womack (R) Westerman (R)

SENATE

Guns, explosives, terrorist

watch list. Defeated 45-54, an amendment to a bill repealing the 2010 health law (HR3762) that sought to prohibit the sale of firearms or explosives to individuals on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s terrorist watch list. Such transactions are now legal. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said: “If Congress really wants to do something instead of just talking … help us out with that terrorist watch list, those thousands of people that can purchase firearms in this country. I’m more worried about them than I am about Syrian refugees, to be quite frank with you.” John Cornyn, R-Texas, said that under this amendment, “The government without due process can take away from you valuable constitutional rights. They happen to be Second Amendment rights.” A yes vote supported the gun-control amendment. ✖ John Boozman (R) ✖ Tom Cotton (R)

72-hour delay of gun sales.

Failed 55-44, to reach 60 votes needed to advance a GOP-sponsored amendment to HR3762 (above) that sought to delay firearms sales for up to 72 hours if the purchaser is listed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s terrorist watch list. Federal attorneys would have to obtain a court order imposing the delay. Law enforcement officers would move in if they sensed the buyer had actual terrorism connections. Cornyn said his amendment provides “due process, notice and an opportunity to be heard” to those on the terrorist watch list, which often includes innocent people erroneously. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said: “This amendment doesn’t keep terrorists from getting guns. It simply delays their efforts for up to 72 hours. This … means that all a lawyer needs to do is gum up the works for a short time and an FBI terrorist suspect can walk away with a firearm — a legal firearm.” A yes vote was to advance the gunrights amendment. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Expanded gun background

checks. Defeated 48-50, an amendment to HR3762 (above) that sought to require criminal and mental-health background checks of those seeking to buy guns in virtually all commercial transactions, including those made online and at gun shows. A yes vote was to tighten current procedures that are estimated to allow more than half of nonprivate U.S. gun sales to avoid the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said: “Restrictive gun-control measures only prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves.” Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said: “We know what is killing people every day. It is gun violence, and we know it.” A yes vote was to expand gun background checks. ✖ Boozman (R) ✖ Cotton (R)

Repeal of Affordable Care

Act. Passed 52-47, a Republican bill (HR3762) that would repeal key parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while defunding the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for one year. The bill would effectively kill the 2010 health law by eliminating tax penalties necessary to enforce its individual and employer mandates, and repealing taxes on medical-device manufacturers and high-priced “Cadillac” health plans that yield revenue to fund the law. The bill was debated under fast-track “budget reconciliation” rules that prevented a Democratic filibuster and cleared the way for passage by majority vote. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Obama, who said he will veto it. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Unplanned pregnancies,

uninsured women. Killed 54-46, a Democratic-sponsored amendment intended to keep HR3762 (above) from increasing the number of unintended pregnancies or women without health insurance in the U.S. The amendment proposed a special fund to support women’s health care as well as measures to protect abortion clinics against violence. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said: “The best way to ensure that women and men have affordable health care is to pass this repeal bill and repeal ‘Obamacare.’” Patty Murray, D-Wash., said “if Republicans are going to try to cut off women’s access to health care, I am going to make sure … that people across this country know exactly where Democrats stand — with women.” A yes vote was to kill an amendment that also sought to preserve Planned Parenthood funding. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

To regain discontinued

health policies. Failed 56-44, to reach 60 votes for advancing a GOP-sponsored amendment to HR3762 (above) that sought to enable individuals to regain personal health insurance policies that were replaced nearly two years ago by more costly ones that complied with the Affordable Care Act’s minimum-coverage requirements. The improved coverage resulted in higher premiums and deductible levels for many policy holders. Critics said the replacement process reneged on President Obama’s assurance that “if you like your health care plan, you’ll be able to keep [it]” under the Affordable Care Act. A yes vote was to advance the amendment. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Five-year transportation bill.

Adopted 83-16, the conference report on a bill (HR22) that would provide $305 billion over five years for highway construction and other transportation programs while reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank for four years. The bill is financed by receipts from the Highway Trust Fund along with revenue from steps such as selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, diverting Federal Reserve surpluses to infrastructure accounts, raising customs fees and privatizing the collection of unpaid taxes. A yes vote was to send the conference report to President Obama for his signature. ✔ Boozman (R) ✖ Cotton (R)

New chief of foreign aid.

Confirmed 79-7, Gayle E. Smith as the 17th administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which disburses and oversees American assistance to underdeveloped nations. The vote occurred seven months after President Obama sent her nomination to the GOP-controlled Senate. Smith joins USAID after directing global development, democracy and humanitarian issues for the National Security Council. She also worked on international development in the Clinton administration. Jean Shaheen, D-N.H., said: “We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis in Syria and across the Middle East that grows worse by the day, posing a risk to European stability and cohesion. Having someone at the head of USAID is absolutely critical” following an extended vacancy. No senator spoke against Smith during floor debate. A yes vote was to confirm Smith as USAID administrator. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)