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. KEY: FOR AGAINST NOT VOTING PASSED DEFEATED

HOUSE

Floor debate on Net neutrality. Blocked 236-187, a bid by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill (HR4585) now in committee aimed at preserving the Federal Communications Commission’s “net neutrality” rules. The Obamaera rules are designed to keep the Internet equally available to all users. In part, they prevent broadband firms such as Verizon and Comcast from charging different prices to websites and other users based on service levels including capacity and speed of delivery. The vote occurred during debate on HRes657. It occurred one day before the GOP-controlled FCC voted to repeal the rules on grounds that they deter investment and innovation in Internet technologies including broadband improvements. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., said: “Infrastructure investment in the Internet has gone down over the last two years. I would agree: If it is not broken, why did President Obama try to fix it?” Bill sponsor Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., said “the real reason that people want to end net neutrality is money and profitability. Getting rid of net neutrality would expose consumers to all sorts of practices that right now are banned.”

A yes vote was to block floor debate on a bill to retain net-neutrality rules.

Rick Crawford (R) French Hill (R)

Steve Womack (R) Bruce Westerman (R)

Certification of aircraft

sales to Iran. Passed 252-167, a GOP-sponsored bill (HR4324) that would effectively block U.S. manufacturers such as Boeing from selling commercial passenger aircraft to Iran. The bill requires banks financing the sales to certify that none of the aircraft would be used to further Iran’s weapons programs or its involvement in terrorism. The bill would be likely to unravel the 2015 deal between Iran and six world powers that removed global economic sanctions in return for Iran dismantling a nuclear-weapons program that was nearly operational. The lifting of sanctions cleared the way for international sales of passenger aircraft and maintenance contracts to Iran. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R)

Adding Russia to certification bill. Defeated 188-233, a bid by Democrats to add Russia to a bill (HR 4324, above) requiring Treasury Department certification of U.S. aircraft sales to Iran. Under the amendment, the treasury secretary and director of national intelligence would have to certify that banks financing the sales have not done business with any entity found to have ‘’engaged in or authorized cyber-attacks targeting any election held in the United States,’’ namely Russia. Sponsor Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said a yes vote would express “concern not only about Iran, but also for our democracy and the interference that Iran’s best friend, Russia, carried out in our last election.” Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said “it is no time to relitigate an election that my friends on the other side of the aisle lost.”

A yes vote was to add scrutiny of Russia to the bill. Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R)

Disclosure of Iranian leaders’ assets. Passed 289-135, a GOP-sponsored bill (HR1638) that would require the Treasury Department to publicly disclose information on financial assets held by Iran’s top military and political leaders, including details on how they acquired their wealth. The information would be posted on the Internet in English and languages commonly used in Iran, with classified data provided only to Congress. Backers said the bill would expose corruption by the Iranian leadership. Foes said it could unravel the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and blow the cover on the sources and methods of Western intelligence in Iran. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, said “the citizens of Iran and the people of the world should know how much wealth has been accumulated by these chief sponsors of terrorism and what the money is being used for. Companies across the globe looking to possibly do business with Iran should also understand what they are dealing with before they invest.”

Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said: “Few issues are more important to global peace and security than preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This bill would do nothing to advance that goal. In fact, if enacted, it could do grave damage to the important progress that has been made” under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Crawford (R) Hill (R) Womack (R) Westerman (R)

SENATE

Leonard Grasz, federal appellate judge. Confirmed 50-48, Leonard S. Grasz, 56, an attorney in private practice and a former Nebraska deputy attorney general, for a judgeship on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Supporters said Grasz has a distinguished resume. But the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated him ”not qualified,” citing, in part, a record of “gratuitously rude” professional conduct and a “passionately held social agenda” that “overwhelms the ability to exercise dispassionate and unbiased judgment.”

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

John Boozman (R)

Tom Cotton (R)