How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted

HOUSE

Russian election meddling. Approved 230-189, blocking a Democratic bid to force floor consideration of a bill (HR356) now in committee that would create an independent commission for investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election by electronic means such as hacking and spreading false information. The bill has 197 Democratic sponsors along with Republican sponsors Walter Jones of North Carolina and Justin Amash of Michigan. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said: “Democrats may have been the victims of this most recent attack. If history has its way, another adversary … could attack us and Republicans may be the victims. But the constant should always be that both parties say, `We will never tolerate foreign interference.’”

No opponent spoke on the bill. A yes vote was to keep the bill in committee.

✔ Rick Crawford (R)

✔ French Hill (R)

✔ Steve Womack (R)

✔ Bruce Westerman (R)

Death sentence expansion. Passed 271-143, a bill (HR115) that would authorize federal courts deciding whether to impose the death penalty to treat as an “aggravating circumstance” the murder or attempted murder of nonfederal police or first responders. This would raise from 16 to 17 the number of aggravating factors upon which federal judges and juries can base capital-punishment decisions.

Ken Buck, R-Colo., said the bill “sends a clear message: Those who target our police officers, firefighters or first responders with violence will be met with an equally harsh punishment.”

Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said: “Ask police officers what their attitude is about assault weapons. I think you would find that, if we passed an assault weapons [control] measure, we would be pleasing police officers a great deal more.”

A yes vote was to send the GOP-sponsored bill to the Senate. h Crawford (R)

✔ Hill (R)

✔ Womack (R)

✔ Westerman (R)

Disclosure of Donald

Trump’s tax returns. Approved 226-188, blocking a parliamentary attempt by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill (HR305) now in committee that would require President Trump and future presidential nominees to disclose their three most recent federal tax returns.

Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said: “Congress can act today to provide public disclosure of the president’s tax returns, which would provide an immediate and important window into the president’s potential Russian entanglements and answer the critical questions of to whom does he owe money and who is the president doing business with.”

No opponent spoke on the bill. A yes vote opposed floor consideration of the disclosure bill.

Crawford (R)

✔ Hill (R)

✔ Womack (R)

✔ Westerman (R)

Probation officers’ arrests without warrants. Passed 229-177, a GOP-sponsored bill (HR1039) that would authorize federal probation officers to make on-the-spot arrests without warrants of hostile third parties they see as hampering their work with probationers. While backers called this an important protective measure, critics said it could violate constitutional safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Doug Collins, R-Ga., said: “Simply put, probation officers are in a dangerous situation for the benefit of our communities and should be able to effectively protect themselves and others.”

Jared Polis, D-Colo., said: “Simply being a roommate or family member of somebody who’s on probation should not mean you lose your constitutional rights as an American.”

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

Crawford (R)

✖ Hill (R)

✔ Womack (R)

✔ Westerman (R)

SENATE

Rachel Brand, associate attorney general. Confirmed 5246, Rachel L. Brand as associate attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy, where she will oversee the administration’s judicial appointments. Brand had been a faculty member at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

John Kennedy, R-La., said both parties should “agree that right now it is particularly important not only to have a Department of Justice that is fully staffed but to have it fully staffed with extraordinarily qualified people” such as Brand. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said: “I will oppose all nominations for the Department of Justice until public trust and confidence in the rule of law is restored and sustained by appointment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference in our last election.” (Note that a special prosecutor was appointed after this vote was taken).

A yes vote was to confirm Brand for the Department of Justice position.

✔ John Boozman (R)

✔ Tom Cotton (R)

Jeffrey Rosen, deputy transportation secretary. Confirmed 56-42, Jeffrey A. Rosen as deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation, where he will oversee daily operations of the agency and its 55,000 employees. A partner in a Washington law firm, Rosen previously served in the George W. Bush administration as the top attorney at the Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget. Democrats said he has a weak regulatory record in areas such as enforcing auto-safety and fuel-economy standards.

Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said Rosen is “well regarded in the legal community here in town and someone who understands how the Department of Transportation works and what is needed to ensure that it will be successful.”

Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Rosen has “opposed efforts to improve fuel-economy standards that have spurred innovation, cut pollution and saved consumers at the pump.”

A yes vote was to confirm Rosen as the second-ranking the Department of Transportation official.

✔ Boozman (R)

✔ Cotton (R)