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.

HOUSE

National flood insurance. Passed 350-46, a bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 7, averting a program closure that was set to occur Nov. 30. The House last year passed a long-term extension, now stalled in the Senate, that has proved controversial over its partial privatization of the federally run program. Already more than $20 billion in debt despite a recent taxpayer bailout of $16 billion, the program — without changes — is expected to take on red ink at an accelerated pace as hurricanes and flooding become increasingly destructive as a result of climate change, which the GOP-led Congress has declined to address with legislation. Nearly 5 million residential and commercial properties located in flood plains in 22,000 communities are covered by national flood insurance.

Charlie Crist, D-Fla., said: “Congress cannot allow this program to expire. A lapse would leave countless families unable to renew their policies, putting them in financial peril if disaster were to strike. It would also upend the housing market, with closings coming to a full stop due to the inability to secure required coverage.”

Roger Williams, R-Texas, said: “Enough is enough. We can’t continue to pass our problems along to those in the future. The time to fix this problem is now. I will oppose extensions of the NFIP as long as this body continues to ignore meaningful reforms.”

A yes vote was to send the bill (HR7187) to the Senate, where it was passed and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

✔ Rick Crawford (R)

✖ French Hill (R)

✔ Steve Womack (R)

✔ Bruce Westerman (R)

SENATE

U.S. withdrawal from Yemen war. Approved 63-37 pulling from the Committee on Foreign Relations a measure (SJRes54) that would end U.S. military support of a Saudi-led coalition conducting war against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. That support, which until recently included U.S. aerial refueling of Saudi warplanes, began about 2015 but has never received congressional authorization or substantive debate in the Senate or House. The policy could receive a full airing if this measure reaches the Senate floor this month as is expected. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said: “U.S. intervention in Yemen is unauthorized, unconstitutional and immoral. We must not — we cannot — delay voting to end our involvement and our support of Saudi Arabia any further. If we do, we have ourselves to blame for our country’s lost credibility on the world stage, and, more importantly, our own consciences will bear the blame for the thousands of lives that will surely continue to be lost.”

No senator spoke on the other side of the issue.

A yes vote was to advance the Yemen-withdrawal measure to debate on the Senate floor.

✖ John Boozman (R)

✖ Tom Cotton (R)

Thomas Farr judicial nomination. Approved 51-50, in a preliminary vote, the nomination of Thomas A. Farr, an attorney in private practice, to become a federal judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote. But Tim Scott, R-S.C., said later that he would ultimately vote against Farr, effectively sinking the nomination. Farr drew mainly Democratic opposition because of his legal work defending Republican-sponsored voting restrictions and gerrymanders in North Carolina that courts found to be discriminatory toward black people.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Farr’s nomination “an absolute disgrace” because he “has been chief cook and bottle washer with North Carolina’s invidious and despicable efforts to prevent people, particularly minorities, from voting.”

No senator spoke in support of Farr.

A yes vote was to advance a nomination that was later shelved by the GOP leadership.

✔ Boozman (R)

✔ Cotton (R)