HOW TEXAS VOTED
WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:
Senate
1. Rex Tillerson, secretary of state: Confirmed, 56-43, Rex W. Tillerson, 64, as the 69th U.S. Secretary of State.
Tillerson was employed by Exxon Mobil for 41 years, serving as chairman between 2006-2016.
A yes vote was to confirm Tillerson as secretary of state.
2. Rule on mountaintop-removal mining: Voted, 54-45, to join the House (below) in adopting a measure (HJ Res 38) that would nullify a federal rule designed to protect streams, forests and drinking water in Appalachian states from pollution caused by debris when mountaintops are strip-mined for coal.
A yes vote was to send the resolution to President Donald Trump for his expected signature.
3. Disclosure of payments to foreign governments: Voted, 52-47, to join the House (below) in adopting a measure (HJ Res 41) that would nullify a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirement that companies traded on U.S. stock exchanges publicly report payments to foreign governments for access to oil, natural gas, coal and other mineral resources.
A yes vote was to send the measure to President Trump for his expected signature.
4. Elaine Chao, transportation secretary: Confirmed, 93-6, Elaine L. Chao as the 18th U.S. secretary of transportation.
Chao, 63, served in previous GOP administrations as secretary of labor, Peace Corps director and chair of the Federal Maritime Commission.
No senator spoke against Chao in brief floor debate on her nomination.
A yes vote was to confirm Chao as transportation secretary.
House
1. Rule on mountaintop-removal coal mining: Adopted, 228-194, a GOP-sponsored measure (HJ Res 38) that would repeal a new federal rule aimed at protecting streams and drinking water from pollution caused by mountaintop-removal coal mining.
A yes vote was to send the repeal measure (HJ Res 38) to the Senate.
2. Disclosure of payments to foreign governments: Voted, 235-187, to repeal a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule under which publicly traded companies must disclose their payments to foreign governments for access to oil, natural gas, coal and other mineral resources.
A yes vote was to send the repeal measure (HJ Res 41) to the Senate.
3. President Trump’s immigration order: Voted, 231-191, to block a parliamentary move by Democrats that sought to force debate on a bill now in committee that would rescind President Trump’s newly issued order on immigrants and refugees.
A yes vote was to quash a Democratic attempt to rescind Trump’s order on immigrants and refugees.
4. Rule on mental issues, gun background checks: Voted, 235-189, to nullify an Obama Administration rule designed to keep the mentally ill from passing federal background checks on gun purchases.
A yes vote was to send HJ Res 40 to the Senate, where it was adopted and sent to President Trump for his expected signature.
5. Repeal of workplace rule for contrac- tors: Voted, 236-187, to nullify a federal regulation aimed at keeping federal contractors in compliance with workplace laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
A yes vote was to send HJ Res 37 to the Senate, where it was adopted and sent to President Trump for his expected signature.
6. Waste of natural gas on federal land: Adopted, 221-191, a measure that would nullify a new regulation aimed at reducing losses of natural gas — due to flaring, venting and equipment leaks — in oil and gas drilling operations on Bureau of Land Management and tribal lands in the West.
A yes vote was to send HJ Res 36 to the Senate, where it was adopted and sent to President Trump for his expected signature.