How area members of Congress voted
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted the week of Jan. 12 to Jan. 18:
Along with roll call votes this week, the House also passed the American Innovation $1 Coin Act (H.R. 770), to require the Treasury Department to mint coins in recognition of American innovation and significant innovation and pioneering efforts of Americans; the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act (H.R. 3445), to enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of programs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Millennium Challenge Corporation; and the Cyber Diplomacy Act (H.R. 3776), to support United States international cyber diplomacy.
House
House Vote 1:
IMPORT TARIFFS: The House has passed the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318), sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, to temporarily reduce or suspend tariffs on a range of imported products that are not also made by U.S. manufacturers. A supporter, Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Mich., said that by cutting costs for U.S. companies that use the imports as inputs for their own manufacturing, the lower tariffs would strengthen the domestic economy. The vote, on Jan. 16, was unanimous with 402 yeas.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Kaptur D-OH (9th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 2:
HUD FAMILY ASSISTANCE: The House has passed the Family Self-Sufficiency Act (H.R. 4258), sponsored by Rep. Sean P. Duffy, R-Wis. The bill would modify Housing and Urban Development's Family Self-Sufficiency program, including by increasing educational services to families receiving benefits from HUD. Duffy said the changes would help heads of families increase their employability and wage-earning potential to become less dependent on government aid and more able to become homeowners. The vote, on Jan. 17, was 412 yeas to 5 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Kaptur D-OH (9th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 3:
WORLD BANK OVERSIGHT: The House has passed the World Bank Accountability Act (H.R. 3326), sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., to condition U.S. funding for the World Bank on the Bank meeting various management requirements, including poverty reduction efforts and implementing anti-corruption reforms. Barr said the conditions would help ensure that the World Bank's interests and the interests of poor people in developing countries are aligned. An opponent, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said: "Withholding funds is not an effective approach to reform. The only way to achieve the reforms we are seeking at the World Bank is through our participation and commitment." The vote, on Jan. 17, was 237 yeas to 184 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th)
NAYS: Kaptur D-OH (9th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 4:
REGULATING MUTUAL FUNDS: The House has passed the Expanding Investment Opportunities Act (H.R. 4279), sponsored by Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind. The bill would order the Securities and Exchange Commission to adopt the same rules for offerings and communications with investors by closed-end mutual funds as the SEC applies to other publicly traded companies. Hollingsworth said easing regulations on closed-end funds that seek investor funding will "enhance the ability of closed-end funds to act as a source of financing for the economy." The vote, on Jan. 17, was 418 yeas to 2 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Kaptur D-OH (9th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 5:
MORTGAGE REPORTING RULES: The House has passed the Home Mortgage Disclosure Adjustment Act (H.R. 2954), sponsored by Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., to exempt banks and credit unions that have issued fewer than 2,000 mortgages in the last two years from various disclosure and reporting requirements. Emmer said small lenders needed relief from onerous and costly regulations that threaten their capacity to extend loans. An opponent, Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., said the government needed the data to ensure fair access to mortgages and stop people from being "victimized by redlining and unequal access to credit." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 243 yeas to 184 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
NAYS: Kaptur D-OH (9th)
House Vote 6:
CONTINUED GOVERNMENT FUNDING: The House has passed the Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 195), sponsored by Rep. Steve Russell, R-Okla., which would extend temporary funding for the federal government through Feb. 16 and authorize the Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal 2023. A supporter, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., called the temporary extension "absolutely necessary to avoid a costly, destabilizing government shutdown" and provide time for Congress to complete its appropriations work for fiscal 2018. An opponent, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said Congress should, instead of passing another temporary extension, "demand action for a final, full-year funding plan." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 230 yeas to 197 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
NAYS: Kaptur D-OH (9th)
House Vote 7:
REPORTS ON GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS: The House has passed the Global Health Innovation Act (H.R. 1660), sponsored by Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., to require the U.S. Agency for International Development to annually send to Congress a report on the agency's activities to promote innovations in global health. Sires said the reports, by giving Congress more substantial oversight of USAID's global health research and development efforts, would contribute to more effective U.S. spending on global health research. The vote, on Jan. 18, was 423 yeas to 3 nays.
YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th), Kaptur D-OH (9th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
Senate
Senate Vote 1:
FOREIGN SURVEILLANCE: The Senate has agreed to the House amendment to the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act (S. 139), to reauthorize and modify section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, which authorizes government surveillance of phone and other communications by suspected foreign adversaries. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called section 702 "one of the most important tools that our national security professionals use to combat terrorism and to keep Americans safe," without targeting the communications of American residents. An opponent, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said the bill did not respect Fourth Amendment rights "against warrantless, backdoor searches by the government about U.S. citizens on U.S. soil." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 65 yeas to 34 nays.
NAYS: Brown D-OH
YEAS: Portman R-OH