Here’s how WNC’s members of Congress voted the week of Dec. 3-9
WASHINGTON – Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.
House votes
House Vote 1: MEDICARE, DEBT CEILING: The House has passed the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (S. 610), sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Bill provisions include a change in procedural rules to make it easier to approve an increase in the federal government’s debt ceiling, changes in Medicare’s conversion factor formula for payments to health care providers, and reducing the size of cuts to Medicare payments. A supporter, Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., said: “This bill is about important and responsible measures to deliver for the American people.” An opponent, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said it was a mistake to tie a debt ceiling increase to changes in Medicare policies. The vote, on Dec. 7, was 222 yeas to 212 nays. NAYS: Cawthorn R-NC (11th).
House Vote 2: MILITARY SPENDING: The House has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1605), sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to authorize fiscal 2022 spending on the military, military construction projects, and military-related programs at the Energy Department. A supporter, Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said the bill “will adequately fund our defense needs and set clear priorities for our armed forces,” including a 2.7 percent pay increase for servicemembers and spending on new ships and weapons systems. The vote, on Dec. 7, was 363 yeas to 70 nays. YEAS: Cawthorn R-NC (11th).
House Vote 3: OCEAN SHIPPING: The House has passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (H.R. 4996), sponsored by Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., to change the regulation of U.S. and foreign-flagged ocean shippers by the Federal Maritime Commission. Garamendi said: “This legislation would ensure reciprocal trade to help reduce the United States’ longstanding trade imbalance with export-driven countries like China.” The vote, on Dec. 8, was 364 yeas to 60 nays. YEAS: Cawthorn R-NC (11th).
House Vote 4: CATTLE SALES: The House has passed the Cattle Contract Library Act (H.R. 5609), sponsored by Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., to require the Agriculture Department to develop a catalog of the various types of purchase contracts offered by packers to ranchers of beef cattle. Johnson said that with fewer cattle sales taking place on the open market, the catalog would help ranchers keep track of market changes and increase price transparency. The vote, on Dec. 8, was 411 yeas to 13 nays. YEAS: Cawthorn R-NC (11th).
House Vote 5: FOREST MANAGEMENT: The House has passed the National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act (H.R. 4489), sponsored by Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., to require the U.S. Forest Service to place the proceeds from enforcement settlements into interest-bearing accounts. Schrier said the bill “will ensure that when we hold bad actors accountable for negligent behavior, the Forest Service can fully use the fines and the interest to rehabilitate the land.” The vote, on Dec. 8, was 385 yeas to 42 nays. YEAS: Cawthorn R-NC (11th).
House Vote 6: XINJIANG IMPORT BAN: The House has passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R. 1155), sponsored by Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Mass., to bar…
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