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

Jurisdiction over civil lawsuits. Passed 229-189, a GOP-drafted bill (HR3624) aimed at shifting many civil lawsuits from state courts, where plaintiffs such as consumers are thought to fare better, to federal courts, which are seen as more friendly to defendants such as corporations. Backers said the bill would combat fraudulent forum-shopping by plaintiffs’ lawyers, while opponents said it seeks to fix a problem that does not exist. The core of the bill is to give federal trial-level judges more tools for assigning cases to federal courts in “diversity of jurisdiction” proceedings. Doug Collins, R-Ga., said the bill would “protect innocent local parties, often small-business owners, from being dragged into expensive lawsuits.” It would do so by allowing judges “to look at evidence that the trial lawyers aren’t acting in good faith in adding local defendants.” Jim McGovern, D-Mass., called the bill “a giveaway to big corporations and big special interests … that seems like it was written in the Republican congressional campaign committee to make big contributors happy. It does nothing to protect the well-being and the interests of average Americans [or] small businesses.” A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. h✔ Rick Crawford (R) h✔ French Hill (R) h✔ Steve Womack (R) h✔ Bruce Westerman (R)

Sexual abuse of minors.

Defeated 180-239, a bid by Democrats to exempt lawsuits alleging sexual abuse or exploitation of minors from HR3624 (above). The intent of the motion was to prevent such suits from being transferred to federal courts in “diversity of jurisdiction” disputes. Plaintiffs with limited resources are thought to fare better in closer-to-home, faster-moving state courts than in federal courts, where clogged dockets and procedural rules work to the advantage of defendants with deep pockets. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., said: “The new burden that this bill would place on the average American is simply outrageous. The least that we can do is protect children who have already been victimized by sexual assault.” Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said: “Reject this motion … and, in so doing, expand the opportunities of all local citizens and small businesses that would otherwise be smothered by costly and meritless lawsuits.” A yes vote was to adopt the Democratic motion. h✖ Crawford (R) h✖ Hill (R) h✖ Womack (R) h✖ Westerman (R)

Hunting, fishing on federal land. Passed 242-161, a bipartisan bill (HR2406) that would authorize federally funded shooting ranges on state and federal lands, limit Environmental Protection Agency regulation of ammunition and fishing lures as toxic substances, and open all National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land to hunting, fishing and other public recreation. The bill also would allow firearms to be carried on Army Corps of Engineers water projects. In addition, it would permit certain U.S. hunters to import from Canada several dozen hides of polar bears they legally killed there before May 15, 2008, when polar bears gained protection as a depleted species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The bill would allow an expanded use of body-gripping animal traps on public land. Robert Wittman, R-Va., said the bill “defends law-abiding individuals’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms on lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and ensures that hunters are not burdened by outdated laws preventing bows and crossbows from being transported across national parks.” Criticizing the bill’s soft stance on ivory trafficking, Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said: “The trade in ivory fuels some of the most heinous acts by some of the most vicious people in the world. Terrorists use these funds for their horrific activities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.” A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. h✔ Crawford (R) h✔ Hill (R) h✔ Womack (R) h✔ Westerman (R)

Lead contamination from fishing tackle. Defeated 165238, a Democratic bid to require research into the extent to which lead from fishing tackle is contaminating ponds and streams used for recreation. Under this motion to HR2406 (above), manufacturers would conduct research into their products and make their findings available for public review. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., referred to lead contamination in Flint, Mich., water supplies and said: “One hundred thousand residents of Flint lost a basic human right — access to clean water.” Robert Wittman, R-Va., said the appropriate legislative vehicle for the Democratic motion would be the Toxic Substances Control Act rather than this measure. A yes vote was to require industry research into lead contamination from fishing tackle. h✖ Crawford (R) h✖ Hill (R) h✖ Womack (R) h✖ Westerman (R)

SENATE

FDA Commissioner Robert

Califf. Confirmed 89-4, Dr. Robert W. Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Califf, 64, was a professor of cardiology at the Duke University School of Medicine before joining the FDA one year ago as deputy commissioner. His nomination drew criticism over his former professional ties to the pharmaceutical industry and his calls for streamlining FDA rules for approving new drugs and medical devices. Some critics said he would be a lax regulator of addictive drugs to control pain. Presidential candidates Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., did not vote. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that as FDA chief, Califf would uphold “the highest standards of patient and consumer safety … and always put science over politics.” Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said that because of his ties to the pharmaceutical industry, Califf would prove unable “to stem the tide of the opioid [prescription painkiller] crisis we have all over this country.” A yes vote was to confirm the nominee. h✔ John Boozman (R) h ✔ Tom Cotton (R)