WASHINGTON — Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Oct. 16.
House
Homeland security budget: Members approved, 307-114, the conference report on a bill to appropriate $44.1 billion in fiscal 2010 for the Department of Homeland Security. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 2892) that bars the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners to American soil except to face trial.
Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-1; Rick Larsen, D-2; Brian Baird, D-3; Doc Hastings, R-4; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5; Norm Dicks, D-6; Jim McDermott, D-7; Dave Reichert, R-8; Adam Smith, D-9
Voting no: None
Guantanamo prisoners: Members defeated, 193-224, a GOP bid to bar funds in HR 2892 (above) from being used to send Guantanamo inmates to the U.S. for trials or other purposes. A yes vote backed the motion over arguments U.S. prisons and courts are well qualified to handle terrorists.
Voting yes: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert
Voting no: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith
Regional airline safety: Members voted 409-11 to raise training and skill standards for pilots of the regional airlines that link smaller cities to hubs. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 3371) requiring pilots to have at least 1,500 hours flight time to fully qualify for airline jobs, up from 250 hours now.
Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith
Voting no: None
Iran investments: Members voted 414-6 to void rules that keep state and local governments from disinvesting in firms that are invested in or service Iran’s energy sector. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 1327) rebuking the State Department argument that such disinvestments meddle in foreign policy.
Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, Reichert, Smith
Voting no: McDermott
Senate
Energy, water budgets: Senators voted 80-17 to send President Obama a bill that appropriates $33.5 billion for energy, water and nuclear programs in fiscal 2010. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 3183) that provides $6.4 billion for long-term energy research and $5.4 billion for public works.
Voting yes: Maria Cantwell, D; Patty Murray, D
Key votes ahead
In the week of Oct. 19, the House will take up the Coast Guard budget and solar energy, while the Senate will debate Medicare payments to doctors, fiscal 2010 appropriations and possibly an extension of jobless benefits.
Thomas Voting Reports, Inc.
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