HOW TEXAS VOTED
WASHINGTON — Here’s how U.S. House members from Texas voted on major issues during the legislative week ending Jan. 4.There were no Senate votes during the week. 1. Bill to reopen cabinet departments:
Passed, 241-190, and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 21) that would provide regular budgets through September for eight cabinet departments and numerous agencies that have been closed since Dec. 22 in a dispute over President Trump’s request for up to $5.7 billion to build a wall on the southwest border.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. 2. Dispute over abortion c ounseling:
Defeated, 199-232, a Republican bid to ensure that HR 21 (above) complies with President Trump’s executive order expanding the so-called “Mexico City Policy,” a Reagan-era directive to deny U.S. familyplanning aid to foreign organizations that provide abortion counseling or perform abortions overseas.
A yes vote was to adopt the GOP motion. 3. Stopgap Homeland Security f unding: Passed, 239-192, a continuing resolution (HJ Res 1) that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8, giving Congress and President Trump more time to negotiate his request for up to $5.7 billion this year for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. 4. 116th Congress House r ules:
Adopted, 234-197, House rules changing how the chamber processes legislation, oversees its members’ conduct and addresses issues during the two-year span of the newly convened 116th Congress.
The rules package establishes a select committee on climate change; authorizes the House to join in court actions in defense of the Affordable Care Act; reinstates “paygo” rules requiring spending increases not add to the deficit; and includes several steps to tighten ethical standards.
A yes vote was to adopt House rules for the new Congress. 5. Coverage of preexisting c onditions: Voted, 233-197, to block a Republican attempt to marshal H Res 6 (above) in support of the Affordable Care Act requirement that health policies cover preexisting conditions. The Democratic-drafted rules package already gave the House authority join lawsuits defending the health law against a federal court ruling in Texas that it is unconstitutional.
A yes vote was to block the Republican motion.