Saturday, December 13, CapeCodToday posted the article at the bottom.
The first uninformed comment appears to come from one of those Phony Flamethrowers who lack FACTS, but simply targets an elected official with meaningless comments.
Have we had enough of the Phony Flamethrowers who add nothing to the debate and can't even provide FACTS?
This is what the GOP did to prevent Veteran Suicide .... did ya even here them whimper?
RSN: Outgoing GOP Senator Tom Coburn Now Singlehandedly Responsible for Every Veteran Suicide
Where are you Mr. Retired Veteran in protesting the GOP SLASHING of Veterans' Programs?
What our Washington reps did this week
Congress passes bill to fund government programs in fiscal 2015
Nine key votes in the House, four in the Senate
At the last minute they prevent another government shutdown
There were nine key votes in the House this week; the House held a total of 13 roll call votes in the week ending Thursday. There were four key votes in the Senate, which held a total of seven roll call votes. The most important House vote was to pass a bill to fund discretionary government programs in fiscal 2015; the most important Senate vote was to approve an end to debate on the fiscal 2015 military spending bill.In addition to roll call votes, the House and Senate also took action on several measures by voice vote. The Senate also passed the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 4681), sponsored by Rep. Mike J. Rogers, R-Mich., to authorize appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015; passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 130), sponsored by Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., to make continuing appropriations for discretionary government spending until Dec. 13; passed the FOIA Improvement Act (S. 2520), sponsored by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., to improve the Freedom of Information Act; and passed the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (S. 2521), sponsored by Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., to provide for reforms of federal information security.
The House passed the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act (H.R. 2901), sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to improve the U.S. government's ability to improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to the world's poorest individuals; passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (H.R. 5059), sponsored by Rep. Timothy J. Walz, D-Minn., to require annual evaluations of the military's mental health care and suicide prevention programs; passed the Feed the Future Global Food Security Act (H.R. 5656), sponsored by Rep. Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J., to authorize the Feed the Future Initiative to sustainably reduce global poverty and hunger in developing countries; and passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016 (S. 2444), sponsored by Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, to authorize Coast Guard appropriations.
How our members of Congress voted over the previous week
HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:CALIFORNIA WATER SUPPLIES: The House has passed the California Emergency Drought Relief Act (H.R. 5781), sponsored by Rep. David G. Valadao, R-Calif. The bill would direct the Commerce Secretary and Interior Secretary to allow California's Central Valley Project and State Water Project to provide maximum possible levels of water to businesses and municipalities in the state's Central Valley, without threatening the region's endangered species. Valadao said the measure was necessary because, given the state's historic drought, people in the Central Valley are facing a severe water shortage, and increasing water supplies would relieve some of those shortage. A bill opponent, Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., called it an effort by a small number of Central Valley farmers to override the open process of allocating water supplies, with resulting risks for California's fisheries and cities that also rely on the water supplies. The vote, on Dec. 9, was 230 yeas to 182 nays.
NAYS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 2:
CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION EFFORTS: The House has passed the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act (S. 1000), sponsored by Sen. Mark R. Warner. The bill would require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to prepare a crosscut budget for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by various federal government agencies. A supporter, Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Va., said the budget would "ensure federal dollars currently spent on bay restoration activities produce results and ensure that we are coordinating how restoration dollars are being spent." The vote, on Dec. 10, was unanimous with 416 yeas.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 3:
INSURANCE AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS: The House has passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (S. 2244), sponsored by Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. The bill would extend the government's Terrorism Insurance Program through 2021 and decrease the government's share of compensation that would be paid out for losses incurred by an insurer due to a terrorist attack, in stages, to 80 percent of the portion of the amount of losses that exceeds the insurer's deductible. It would also exempt end-users of commodities from a provision of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law that imposes margin requirements for swap transactions involving the future price of commodities. A supporter, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said the terrorism risk program added stability and certainty to the insurance and construction markets, while the end-user exemption would help businesses and family farmers manage price risks for commodities they use. The vote, on Dec. 10, was 417 yeas to 7 nays.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 4:
FUNDING INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 4681), sponsored by Rep. Mike J. Rogers, R-Mich., to authorize appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, with most details of the appropriations classified. Rogers said the range of growing threats to the U.S., including the Islamic State group and countries such as Russia and China that seek to change the international order at the expense of the U.S., led to the bill's small increase in spending to more effectively counter those threats and preserve national security. The vote, on Dec. 10, was 325 yeas to 100 nays.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NAYS: Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 5:
TSA TECHNOLOGY, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 2719), sponsored by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C. The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to develop a long-term plan for managing its inventory, deploying technology systems, and increasing the transparency of the agency's spending. Hudson said the bill "will save significant tax dollars by forcing TSA to make thoughtful, informed decisions about what kinds of technology to deploy in our nation's airports. We simply cannot afford to see TSA repeat the mistakes of the past which have resulted in technologies such as 'puffer machines' and body scanners being pulled out of airports prematurely and others sitting idle in warehouses, never to see the light of day." The vote, on Dec. 10, was unanimous with 425 yeas.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 6:
AIR TRAVEL SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act (H.R. 1204), sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss. The bill would order the establishment of an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, made up of various representatives from the aviation industry, to give input to the Transportation Security Administration on the design of air travel security programs. Thompson said the amendment improved upon the bill's effort to give industry stakeholders a venue for working with the TSA to adopt appropriate security strategies, ensuring that the TSA considers stakeholders it proposes security changes for the aviation industry. The vote, on Dec. 10, was 416 yeas to 5 nays.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 7:
TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING: The House has rejected the Supporting America's Charities Act (H.R. 5806), sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich. The bill would make permanent the tax deduction for property given to conservation groups by individuals and corporations and increase the allowed tax deduction for food donations to 15 percent of a taxpayer's annual income. Camp said the measure sought to increase charitable giving an help charities better serve those in need, including the hungry and disabled. An opponent, Rep. Sander M. Levin, D-Mich., said expanding the tax deductions without paying for them would add $11 billion to the government's debt. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 275 yeas to 149 nays, with a two-thirds majority required for approval.
YEAS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st)
NAYS: Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 8:
OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL: The House has concurred in the Senate amendment to the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 83), sponsored by Del. Donna M. Christensen, D-Virgin Islands. The bill would provide $1.013 trillion of appropriations for the military and other discretionary government programs in fiscal 2015, while funding the Homeland Security Department until Feb. 27, 2015. A supporter, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said it "prevents a costly and damaging government shutdown while making good government funding and policy decisions and reining in regulatory overreach." An opponent, Rep. David E. Price, D-N.C., criticized the bill for allowing the wealthy to contribute more to political campaigns, encouraging dangerous activity in the financial sector by erasing reforms adopted in the Dodd-Frank law, and failing to adequately fund immigration enforcement agencies and also creating the risk of a funding lapse at Homeland Security in February. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 219 yeas to 206 nays.
NAYS: Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th), Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th)
House Vote 9:
EXPANDING JOHN MUIR HISTORIC SITE: The House has passed the John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act (H.R. 5699), sponsored by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. The bill would authorize the Interior Secretary's purchase of 44 acres of land in Martinez, Calif., in order to expand the John Muir Historic Site. Miller said the acquisition would improve the site by creating new recreational opportunities for visitors, without any cost to the government, because the funds to buy the 44 acres have been raised from local donors. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 361 yeas to 39 nays.
YEAS: Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy D-MA (4th), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA (8th), Rep. James P. McGovern D-MA (2nd), Rep. Richard E. Neal D-MA (1st), Rep. John F. Tierney D-MA (6th), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA (3rd)
NOT VOTING: Rep. Michael E. Capuano D-MA (7th), Rep. William R. Keating D-MA (9th)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:REGULATING NUCLEAR POWER: The Senate has confirmed the renomination of Jeffery Martin Baran to serve as a commissioner on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a term ending in mid-2018. Baran, who joined the NRC in October, had served as a senior Democratic staffer on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A supporter, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., called Baran a "very qualified individual" who had shown his ability to successfully work with Democrats and Republicans in his time on the House committee. The vote, on Dec. 8, was 52 yeas to 40 nays.
YEAS: Sen. Edward J. Markey D-MA, Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-MA
Senate Vote 2:
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD MEMBER: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lauren McGarity McFerran to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board for a five-year term. A supporter, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, cited McFerran's experience as a senior staffer on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Harkin praised McFerran for her "deep knowledge of labor law. She is an incredibly talented lawyer. She is a person of sterling integrity and strong character. She will be a great asset to the Board." The vote, on Dec. 8, was 54 yeas to 40 nays.
YEAS: Sen. Edward J. Markey D-MA, Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-MA
Senate Vote 3:
TVA BOARD MEMBER: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Virginia Tyler Lodge to serve as a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority's board of directors for a term ending in May, 2019. Lodge, a business consultant, previously served as a commissioner on the Tennessee Department of Human Service. A supporter, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., noted that Lodge has promised to recuse herself from any decisions at TVA that involve a potential conflict of interest with the proposal by a Democratic real estate developer to complete TVA's partly-built Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Alabama. The vote, on Dec. 9, was 86 yeas to 12 nays.
YEAS: Sen. Edward J. Markey D-MA, Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-MA
Senate Vote 4:
DEBATING MILITARY SPENDING BILL: The Senate has approved a cloture motion to end debate on the House amendment to the Carl Levin and Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 3979), sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa. The bill would authorize $577.1 billion of funding for the Defense Department in fiscal 2015, including $63.7 billion for combat efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. It would also fund programs to prevent sexual assault in the military and introduce a prescription drugs copayment in health insurance plans for military members. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said along with providing necessary funding for the military, a package of land legislation included in the bill would protect wild, scenic, and historic places while opening up other federal lands for beneficial development. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 85 yeas to 14 nays.
YEAS: Sen. Edward J. Markey D-MA, Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-MA
http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2014/12/13/28192-what-our-washington-reps-did-week
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