HOW TEXAS VOTED

WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:

Senate 1. Sending coronavirus package to White House:

Voted, 96-1, to join the House in passing a bill (HR 6074) that would appropriate $8.3 billion for emergency funding of federal, state, local and global efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Rand Paul, R-Ky., cast the dissenting vote.

A yes vote was to send the bill to President Donald Trump, who signed it into law.

2. Starting debate on energy bill:

Voted, 90-4, to start debate on a bipartisan bill (S 2657) that would marshal government and private resources to upgrade all energy sectors of the U.S. economy. The bill would further the development of technologies for the capture and underground storage of carbon-dioxide emissions from industrial sites and coal-burning power plants; promote wind, solar, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy; boost technologies for stockpiling supplies of renewable energy including hydropower; and incentivize “smart” weatherization technologies to improve the energy efficiency of commercial and government buildings and schools.

A yes vote was to advance the bill.

House 1. Approving $8.3 billion to tackle coronavirus: Passed, 415-2, a bill

(HR 6074) that would appropriate $8.3 billion for public-health initiatives to counter the spread of the coronavirus in the United States while helping the U.S. diplomatic community cope with the epidemic overseas. As emergency spending, the outlay would be added to the national debt. In part, the bill would provide up to $4 billion for developing a vaccine and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and training caregivers; $2.2 billion for preparedness including the manufacture and delivery of test kits, ventilators and respirators; $950 million for additional state and local preparedness; and unspecified sums for building surge capacity at local hospitals and clinics including community health centers. The bill also would ensure seniors’ access to Medicare-funded telemedicine services and subsidize billions of dollars in low-interest loans to help small businesses cope with economic losses resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. Republicans Andy Biggs of Arizona and Ken Buck of Colorado were the members voting against the bill.

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

2. Adding airport security to civil service:

Passed, 230-171, a bill (HR 1140) that would include Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees in the civil service personnel system while granting them full collective bargaining rights, paid medical and family leave, the right to appeal disciplinary actions to an independent panel and other benefits and job protections available to nearly all other federal civilian employees. The TSA was established in the wake of 9/11, and most of its 45,000 employees work as passenger screeners at airports. TSA pay levels and benefits, which are set by the agency administrator rather than “Schedule 5” civil service rules, lag behind those for other federal employees, resulting in a workforce with high turnover and low morale. But defenders say current personnel rules enable the agency to adapt quickly to changing national-security threats. Although TSA workers are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), their collective-bargaining rights have been restricted by Congress.

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

3. Barring sexual predators from airport screening jobs:

Voted, 227-175, to add Republicansponsored language to HR 1140 (above) that would prohibit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from hiring workers with criminal histories including crimes related to terrorism and sexual misconduct. Critics said civil service hiring rules already would disqualify such individuals from TSA employment.

A yes vote was in support of the Republican motion.