HOW TEXAS VOTED

WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues in the legislative week ending Dec. 24:

Key votes ahead

Congress will vote this week on President Trump's veto of the fiscal 2021 military budget.

Senate

1. Sending coronavirus aid to President Trump: Voted, 92-6, to give final congressional approval to a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill (HR 133) that would start delivering benefits immediately.

The measure includes onetime payments of $600 to those with incomes under $75,000 and of $1,200 to couples earning less than $150,000; $300 per week through March 14 in added jobless benefits for laid-off employees as well as “gig economy” workers and the self-employed; $284 billion in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for businesses with fewer than 300 workers that retain or reinstate employees; an expansion of PPP to include newspapers, radio and TV broadcasters, religious institutions and nonprofits; $82 billion for K-12 and postsecondary education with a focus on making classrooms COVID-free; tax credits for employers granting paid sick leave; and expanded earnedincome and child tax credits for low-income families impacted by the pandemic. In addition, the bill would put an end to surprise billing for emergency and out-of-network medical care. The bill was sent to the Senate after being joined with a $1.4 trillion measure to fund the government through September.

Rob Portman, R-Ohio, called the package “a targeted bill that focuses on providing a bridge between now and the time at which the vaccines will be widely available.”

Criticizing the bill's deficit spending, Rand Paul, R-Ky., said the country “can be saved, we can survive this (pandemic) if we pull together, but adding more debt is a mistake.”

A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump.

Cornyn(R)San Antonio Y Cruz(R)Houston N

House

1. Approving $900 billion for COVID-19 relief: Approved, 359-53, a bill that would provide $900 billion in coronavirus relief along with $1.4 trillion in government-wide appropriations for fiscal 2021.

In addition to outlays noted above, the bill (HR 133) would provide $29 billion for purchasing and distributing vaccines; $25 billion in emergency rental aid plus a moratorium on evictions through January; $22 billion to help states address Covid-19; $20 billion targeted to Main Street businesses; $16 billion for airlines and $14 billion for mass transit plus a few billion for Amtrak and inner-city bus service; $15 billion for cultural venues and movie theaters; $13 billion for food stamps and nutrition programs to sustain hungry children; $13 billion for farmers and ranchers; $10 billion to keep child-care centers open; and $1.3 billion in forgiveness of federal loans for infrastructure repairs at historically Black colleges and universities.

The bill also would expand Pell Grants for lowincome college students and, for the first time, qualify those in prison for

Pell grants to pay tuition costs.

Donna Shalala, D-Fla., said in debate: “With this bill, we are attempting to right our moral compass and fulfill our obligation [to] those suffering across our country, and guide us out of this dark winter.”

Chip Roy, R-Texas, said in a press release the bill would “rack up debt, fund the very local governments locking downs schools and businesses, extend federal subsidies to pay people more not to work than to work, fall short on desperately needed small business relief. …”

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