Congressional roll call

Voterama in Congress

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the week ending May 19.

HOUSE

RUSSIA MEDDLING: Voting 230-189, the House on May 17 blocked a Democratic bid to force floor consideration of a bill (HR 356) now in committee that would create an independent commission for probing Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election by electronic means such as hacking and spreading false information.

The bill has 197 Democratic sponsors, along with Republican sponsors Walter Jones of North Carolina and Justin Amash of Michigan. A yes vote was to keep the bill in committee.

John Faso, R-Kinderhook: Yes Sean Maloney, D-Cold

Spring: No Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford: Yes TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS:

Voting 226-188, the House on May 18 blocked a parliamentary attempt by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill (HR 305) now in committee that would require President Trump and future presidential nominees to disclose their three most recent federal tax returns. A yes vote opposed floor consideration of the disclosure bill. Faso: Yes

Maloney: No Tenney: Yes WARRANTLESS ARRESTS: Voting 229-177, the House on May 19 passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 1039) that would authorize federal probation officers to make on-the-spot arrests without warrants of hostile third parties they see as hampering their work with probationers. While backers called this an important protective measure, critics said it could violate constitutional safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Faso: Yes

Maloney: Yes Tenney: Yes

SENATE

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

GENERAL: Voting 5246, the Senate on May 18 confirmed Rachel L. Brand as associate attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy, where she will oversee the administration’s judicial appointments. Brand had been a faculty member at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. A yes vote was to confirm Brand for the Department of Justice position.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

No Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: No

DEPUTY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: Voting 56-42, the Senate on May 16 confirmed Jeffrey A. Rosen as deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), where he will oversee daily operations of the agency and its 55,000 employees. A partner in a Washington law firm, Rosen previously served in the George W. Bush administration as the top attorney at DOT and the Office of Management and Budget. Democrats said he has a weak regulatory record in areas such as enforcing auto-safety and fuel-economy standards. A yes vote was to confirm Rosen as the second-ranking DOT official. Gillibrand: No Schumer: No

COMING UP

The Senate this week will debate Trump administration nominations. The House schedule was to be announced.