Congressional votes for March 31

Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the last week.

Along with roll call votes, the House also passed the Disaster Simplified Assistance Value Enhancement Act (H.R. 1214), to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a program to use simplified procedures to issue public assistance for certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and passed the Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act (H.R. 1302), to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign fighter travel.

The Senate passed the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act (H.R. 353), to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research capabilities.

HOUSE VOTES

HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITIONS: The House passed the Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Innovation Act (H.R. 1365), sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa, D-Calif., to require the Homeland Security Department to develop efforts to test and develop innovative acquisition practices. The vote, on March 24, 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)

DISASTER RESPONSE PLANNING: The House passed a bill (H.R. 1117), sponsored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on FEMA's plans for programs to provide assistance to recipients of FEMA aid in disaster response efforts. Hartzler said by spurring FEMA to improve its response planning efforts, the required report would "help those recovering from a disaster feel supported and assured relief will come in a timely, efficient manner." The vote, on March 27, was unanimous with 408 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)

NORTHWEST EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS: The House passed the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act (H.R. 654), sponsored by Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore. The bill would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop measures, including an earthquake early-warning system, to prepare the Northwest states for a subduction zone earthquake and tsunami. The vote, on March 27, was 395 yeas to 11 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)

INTERNET PRIVACY: The House passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 34), sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., disapproving of a Federal Communications Commission rule governing privacy and broadband internet providers. The vote, on March 28, was 215 yeas to 205 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)

BASIS FOR EPA REGULATIONS: The House passed the Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act (H.R. 1430), sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to use reproducible and publicly released scientific studies as the basis for its proposed regulations and regulatory studies. The vote, on March 29, was 228 yeas to 194 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)

EPA SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD: The House passed the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act (H.R. 1431), sponsored by Rep. Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla. The bill would change procedures at the EPA's Science Advisory Board by requiring the EPA to include risk assessments in regulatory proposals it makes to the board, add transparency and public comment requirements, and direct the board to avoid making policy determinations or recommendations. The vote, on March 30, was 229 yeas to 193 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

MONTENEGRO JOINING NATO: The Senate agreed to a resolution giving consent to Montenegro joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The vote, on March 28, was 97 yeas to 2 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

WORKER RETIREMENT PLANS RULE: The Senate passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 67), sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., disapproving of a Labor Department rule authorizing state governments to enroll non-government employees in payroll deduction retirement savings plans. The vote, on March 30, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO

NAYS: McCaskill D-MO

FAMILY PLANNING GRANTS: The Senate passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 43), sponsored by Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., disapproving of a Health and Human Services Department rule for issuing family-planning grants that limited the scope of eligibility reviews to an applicant's ability to provide family planning services. The vote, on March 30, was 50 yeas to 50 nays, with Vice President Mike Pence casting a tie-breaking yea vote.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO

NAYS: McCaskill D-MO