Congressional votes for July 31

Besides roll call votes, the Senate and House also took action on legislation by voice vote. The Senate also passed the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act (S. 242), to provide medical treatment leave to any new federal government employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability.

The House also passed the Hire More Heroes Act (H.J. Res. 61), to exempt employees with the military's TRICARE health coverage or the Veterans Administration from being taken into account for the purposes of determining the employees to which the employer coverage mandate applies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; passed the Securing Expedited Screening Act (H.R. 2127), to direct the Transportation Security Administration to limit access to expedited airport security screening at security checkpoints to participants of the PreCheck program and other known low-risk passengers; and concurred in the Senate amendment to the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act (H.R. 2499), to increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs and to help create jobs.

HOUSE VOTES

STUDENT AID AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES: The House passed the Need-Based Educational Aid Act (S. 1482), sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The bill would extend through 2022 an exemption from federal anti-trust laws for private universities giving students in need financial aid from the universities' own funds. The vote, on July 27, was unanimous with 378 yeas.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

REFORMING THE SECRET SERVICE: The House passed the Secret Service Improvements Act (H.R. 1656), sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. The bill would increase training requirements for members of the Secret Service, hire 285 new officers and agents at the Secret Service, and require Senate confirmation of the director of the Secret Service. The vote, on July 27, was 365 yeas to 16 nays.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

MAINTAINING TSA SCREENING EQUIPMENT: The House passed the Keeping our Travelers Safe and Secure Act (H.R. 2770), sponsored by Rep. Kathleen M. Rice, D-N.Y. The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to adopt a preventive maintenance program for airport screening systems. The vote, on July 27, was unanimous with 380 yeas.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS: The House passed the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 675), sponsored by Rep. Ralph Lee Abraham, R-La. The bill would provide a cost-of-living increase in Veterans Affairs benefits paid to disabled veterans and surviving spouses and children of disabled veterans for 2016. The vote, on July 28, was unanimous with 409 yeas.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT RULES: The House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 427). The amendment would require government agencies to make public information about data and cost-benefit analyses used in proposing major rules. The vote, on July 28, was 250 yeas to 159 nays.

YEAS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NAYS: Clay D-MO (1st)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

HEALTH CARE REGULATIONS: The House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 427). The amendment would require congressional approval for all rules that executive agencies propose under the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare." Smith said Congress needed to limit the increases in health-care costs that have followed implementation of the Affordable Care Act and keep the law "from causing further damage to our healthcare system." An amendment opponent, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said "it would jeopardize the health and safety of Americans by substantially delaying and possibly derailing critical regulations" to improve the effectiveness of health care reform. The vote, on July 28, was 242 yeas to 167 nays.

YEAS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NAYS: Clay D-MO (1st)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

REGULATING PIPELINES: The House rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 427). The amendment would have exempted rules governing the safety of natural gas pipelines and pipelines carrying hazardous materials from congressional review requirements. The vote, on July 28, was 166 yeas to 244 nays.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st)

NAYS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

REGULATING NUCLEAR POWER: The House rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jarrold Nadler, D-N.Y., to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 427). The amendment would have exempted rules governing safety standards at nuclear power plants from the bill's requirement for congressional approval of proposed rules. The vote, on July 28, was 167 yeas to 241 nays.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

NAYS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

REVIEWING EXECUTIVE BRANCH RULES: The House passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 427), sponsored by Rep. Todd C. Young, R-Ind. The bill would require congressional approval of rules proposed by executive branch agencies that are classified as major because of having at least a $100 million annual impact on the economy. The vote, on July 28, was 243 yeas to 165 nays.

YEAS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NAYS: Clay D-MO (1st)

NOT VOTING: Cleaver D-MO (5th)

DISTRIBUTING ANTHRAX VACCINES: The House passed the First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act (H.R. 1300), sponsored by Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y. The bill would require the Homeland Security Department to establish a program for making stockpiles of surplus anthrax vaccine available to emergency responders. The vote, on July 29, was unanimous with 424 yeas.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Cleaver D-MO (5th), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

STOPGAP FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS: The House passed the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act (H.R. 3236), sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. The bill would extend through October authorization for transportation projects funded by the government's Highway Trust Fund and require the Veterans Affairs Department to develop a plan for consolidating health care programs into a single program for providing care for veterans at facilities outside the VA. The vote, on July 29, was 385 yeas to 34 nays.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Cleaver D-MO (5th), Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

ALTERNATIVE VA ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN: The House rejected a substitute amendment sponsored by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., to the VA Accountability Act (H.R. 1994). The amendment would have authorized the suspension without pay of VA workers who threaten public health or safety, provided back pay for VA whistleblower workers who were unfairly fired and cap annual administration leave payments for VA workers at 14 days. The vote, on July 29, was 191 yeas to 233 nays.

YEAS: Clay D-MO (1st), Cleaver D-MO (5th)

NAYS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

DISCIPLINING VA WORKERS: The House passed the VA Accountability Act (H.R. 1994), sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla. The bill would authorize the firing or demotion of Veterans Affairs Department employees found to have performed poorly or acted improperly, with the disciplined employee having the right to appeal the punishment. The vote, on July 29, was 256 yeas to 170 nays.

YEAS: Graves (MO) R-MO (6th), Hartzler R-MO (4th), Long R-MO (7th), Luetkemeyer R-MO (3rd), Smith (MO) R-MO (8th), Wagner R-MO (2nd)

NAYS: Clay D-MO (1st), Cleaver D-MO (5th)

SENATE VOTES

REAUTHORIZING EXPORT-IMPORT BANK: The Senate passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., to the Hire More Heroes Act (H.R. 22). The amendment would reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which provides financing for domestic companies to export goods overseas. The vote, on July 27, was 64 yeas to 29 nays.

YEAS: McCaskill D-MO

NOT VOTING: Blunt R-MO

HIGHWAY FUNDING EXTENSION: The Senate passed a substitute amendment sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to the Hire More Heroes Act (H.R. 22). The amendment would reauthorize for six years the Highway Trust Fund. The vote, on July 29, was 62 yeas to 38 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: The Senate passed the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (H.R. 22), sponsored by Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill. The bill would authorize the federal highway program through fiscal 2021, with an increase in funding for bridge repairs, and authorize a grant program for funding major new transportation projects. The vote, on July 30, was 65 yeas to 34 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

HIGHWAY EXTENSION, VETERANS HEALTH CARE: The Senate passed the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act (H.R. 3236), sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. The bill would extend through October authorization for transportation projects funded by the government's Highway Trust Fund and require the Veterans Affairs Department to develop a plan for consolidating health-care programs into a single program for providing care for veterans at facilities outside the VA. The vote, on July 30, was 91 yeas to 4 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO