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

Expansion of gun background checks. Passed 240-190, a bill (HR8) that would expand federal background checks of prospective gun buyers by extending the requirement to transactions on the Internet and between private parties at venues including gun shows and parking lots. Now, only licensed dealers must run buyers’ personal information through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The system was established in 1993 by the so-called Brady bill, which outlaws the sale of firearms to convicted felons, drug addicts, abusive partners, fugitives, people with serious mental illnesses and people in the country illegally. This bill would exempt sales between family members and waive background checks for transfers for hunting and when a purchaser faces imminent threat of great bodily harm. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said the expansion is needed because “each year, 120,000 Americans are injured by a firearm, 35,000 Americans die. … Mass shootings are on the rise. Military-style assault weapons are deadlier than ever. People are being gunned down in churches, schools, movie theaters, nightclubs and synagogues.” Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., said: “The fact is, criminals don’t get their guns legally and will not go through a background check to get their guns even if this bill were signed into law. … [The bill] will also turn everyday law-abiding citizens into criminals if it becomes law.”

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

Rick Crawford (R) French Hill (R)

Steve Womack (R) Bruce Westerman (R)

Attempted purchases by people in the country illegally. Adopted 220-209, a Republican motion to HR8 (above) under which a person in the country illegally must be reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when the National Instant Criminal Background Check System detects that he is attempting to buy a firearm.

Doug Collins, R-Ga., asked: “Now, which members in this body are opposed to notifying law enforcement when a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm attempts to do so? Are we against that? No.” Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., called the motion “just a red herring to try to mix up the immigration issue with the gun violence issue, and they really have nothing to do with each other.”

A yes vote was to add the GOP-sponsored provision to the bill.

Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R)

More time for background checks.

Passed 228-198, a bill (HR1112) that would increase from three business days to 20 business days the maximum time for deferring firearms sales when FBI background checks on buyers have not yet been completed. The bill would apply to the estimated 10 percent of prospective sales not promptly cleared or denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. If the check remains open after 10 business days, a purchaser could file a petition asserting his eligibility to acquire a firearm. If the matter remains unresolved for another 10 business days — bringing the total deferral to 20 business days — the sale would automatically take effect.

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

Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R)

Exemption for domestic violence victims.

Rejected 194232, a Republican motion that would exempt victims of domestic violence from the delays that HR1112 (above) would impose on unfinished background checks. The measure would allow such individuals to acquire firearms after three business days even when the FBI has not yet approved or denied the prospective sales. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., asked: “Do we really want to tell victims of domestic violence they have to wait up to 20 business days before they are allowed to adequately defend themselves?”

Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said: “When a background check cannot be completed within a three-day period, it is important that the FBI work to resolve the unanswered questions presented, because these are the very cases that present the most danger.”

A yes vote was to adopt the motion.

Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R)

Nullifying emergency call on border.

Approved 245-182, a measure (HJRes46) that would nullify a national emergency declared by President Donald Trump in an effort to secure border-wall funding. Trump invoked the emergency after Congress denied his request for at least $5.7 billion in fiscal 2019 for wall construction on the U.S.-Mexico border. He asserted authority under the 1976 National Emergencies Act to reallocate military appropriations to the project, while critics said there is no border emergency. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said: “President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency at the southern border to siphon funds for his border wall is an unconstitutional, grotesque abuse of power.” Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said a border emergency exists “because of the high rate of unchecked, unregulated illegal immigration … directly contributing to the flow of drugs, human trafficking and gang members into this country.”

A yes vote was to send the measure to the Senate for a vote to occur within 18 days. Crawford (R)

Hill (R)

Womack (R) Westerman (R) SENATE Infants born in failed abortions.

Failed 53-44 to reach 60 votes needed to end a Democratic-led filibuster against a bill (S311) that would prescribe rules of care for infants who survive failed lateterm abortions. Health care providers including doctors could face up to five years in prison if they failed to immediately ensure the hospitalization of an infant showing signs of life after an abortion attempt. The infant would have to receive the same level of care provided to “any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” The bill also would require medical practitioners or employees of hospitals, clinics or physician’s offices to report to law enforcement agencies any violation they witnessed.

Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said: “This bill does not address abortion. It does not address women’s health care issues. What this bill does is address the health care of a baby who is born alive after a botched abortion. We are not talking about abortion, folks. We are talking about the life of a child who is born.”

Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said: “When you strip away the ultraconservative rhetoric, you are left with a very simple argument from supporters of this legislation — that the moral judgment of right-wing politicians in Washington, D.C., should supersede a medical professional’s judgment and a woman’s decision.”

John Boozman (R)

Tom Cotton (R)

Andrew Wheeler, EPA administrator.

Confirmed 52-47, Andrew R. Wheeler as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Wheeler had served as acting administrator after replacing EPA head Scott Pruitt last July. He joined the EPA three months earlier from a law firm that represents Murray Energy Corp., the country’s largest owner of underground coal mines. He worked previously at the EPA under President George H.W. Bush and was a staff aide to Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. Calling Wheeler “the slightly cleaned-up version of Scott Pruitt,” Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said: “It ought to tell us a lot that the Republicans put up a coal lobbyist to represent the people of America leading the Environmental Protection Agency.”

Inhofe said Wheeler will be “a good steward of the environment without punishing our states, without punishing our farmers and without punishing our job creators just for the sake of it. Those days are behind us.”

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Boozman (R)

Cotton (R)