Congressional votes for May 29

Besides roll call votes, the Senate also took action on legislation by voice vote. The Senate passed the Access to Community Care for Veterans Act (S. 1463), to modify the distance requirement for increasing the availability of medical care provided to veterans outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (H.R. 2496), to extend the authorization for replacing a VA medical center in Denver. It passed the Highway and Transportation Funding Act (H.R. 2353), to extend various federal transportation programs funded by the Highway Trust Fund. It also passed the Girls Count Act (S. 802), to authorize foreign aid to support the rights of women and girls in developing countries.

There were no key votes in the House this week.

SENATE VOTES

TRADE AND CURRENCY MANIPULATION: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to the Trade Act (H.R. 1314). The amendment would have defined currency manipulation as a key issue for U.S. trade negotiators to take into account during trade talks with other countries. The vote, on May 22, was 48 yeas to 51 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

FUTURE MEMBERS OF PACIFIC TRADE TREATY: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, to the Trade Act (H.R. 1314). The amendment would have required the president to notify Congress of plans to enter talks with countries that seek to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the U.S. and Asian countries, and congressional approval of any application by a country to join the TPP. The vote, on May 22, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.

NAYS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

PASSING FAST-TRACK TRADE TALKS: The Senate passed the Trade Act (H.R. 1314), sponsored by Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa. The bill would authorize fast-track trade promotion authority for presidents to negotiate the terms of trade treaties, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 other nations bordering the Pacific Ocean. The vote, on May 22, was 62 yeas to 37 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

SETTLING INVESTOR-STATE DISPUTES: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to the Trade Act (H.R. 1314). The amendment would have revoked fast-track trade negotiation authority for the president for trade talks that include investor-state dispute settlement provisions for disputes between corporations and sovereign nations. The vote, on May 22, was 39 yeas to 60 nays.

NAYS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., to the Trade Act (H.R. 1314). The amendment would have struck from the bill an extension of the trade adjustment assistance program for retraining workers who have lost their jobs because of imports from overseas. The vote, on May 22, was 36 yeas to 62 nays.

NAYS: Blunt R-MO, McCaskill D-MO

FISA REFORMS: The Senate rejected a motion to end debate on the motion to consider the USA FREEDOM Act (H.R. 2048), sponsored by Rep. James F. Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis. The bill would establish new evidence requirements for the FBI to present to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court when seeking approval of electronic surveillance for national security purposes or of suspected terrorists or criminals, and make a variety of changes to FBI electronic surveillance programs and the oversight of those programs. The vote, on May 23, was 57 yeas to 42 nays, with a three-fifths majority required to end debate.

YEAS: McCaskill D-MO

NAYS: Blunt R-MO

FOREIGN SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITIES: The Senate rejected a motion to end debate on the motion to consider the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (S. 1357), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The bill would extend surveillance authorities covered by FISA until the end of July. The vote, on May 23, was 45 yeas to 54 nays.

YEAS: Blunt R-MO

NAYS: McCaskill D-MO