Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, speaks during a news conference Tuesday after a Democratic Party policy luncheon on Capitol Hill.
AP
WASHINGTON
Here’s a look at how Pennsylvania congressmen voted this past week.
In addition to roll-call votes this week, the House of Representatives also passed the following bills: the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act (HR 259) to create an online repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients of federal disaster relief; the Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act (HR 388) to eliminate the SEC’s leasing authority; and the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act (HR 449) to amend the Small Business Act to increase transparency.
HOUSE
EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS TO THE GOVERNMENT: The House of Representatives passed the Chance to Compete Act (HR 159), sponsored by Rep. Virginia Foxx, RN.C., to change the hiring system for federal government civil service jobs by introducing competency-based assessments of an applicant’s qualifications priority is given. Foxx said that by overemphasizing academic qualifications, the current system “seriously undermines the ability of federal employees to serve the American people both appropriately and efficiently.” The vote on Jan. 24 was 422 yes to 2 no.
YES: Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Bucks; Mike Kelly, R-Butler; Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Chester; Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery; Scott Perry, R-York; Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia; Matt Cartwright, D-Lackawanna; Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster; John Joyce, R-Blair; Guy Reschenthaler, R-Washington; Glenn Thompson, R-Howard; Dan Meuser, R-Lucerne; Susan Wild, D-Lehigh; Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Delaware; Summer Lee, D-Allegheny; Chris Deluzio, D-Allegheny
DISCLOSURE OF LAW SETTLEMENTS: The House of Representatives passed the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act (HR 300), sponsored by Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., to require federal agencies to release information about consent decrees and settlement agreements they have with litigants to the public to make accessible. Palmer said, “Citizens have the right to access federal government records and operations to facilitate oversight of public affairs.” The Jan. 24 vote was unanimous, with 425 votes in favour.
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
AIRSPACE SURVEILLANCE: The House passed the NOTAM Improvement Act (HR 346), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn. The bill would create a task force at the Federal Aviation Administration to propose improvements to the agency’s Notam (Notices to Air Missions) system. Stauber said the ban on all domestic airlines weeks ago due to a NOTAM outage underscored the need for the FAA to improve its complicated, outdated system for communicating safety and traffic alerts to pilots. The January 25 vote was 424 yes to 4 no.
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESS: The House of Representatives passed the Investing in Main Street Act (HR 400) by Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif. was sponsored to increase the amount a bank can invest in small business investment companies from 5% to 15% of bank capital and surplus. Chu said, “Raising this cap will dramatically increase the amount of investment capital available to our country’s small businesses, for which even small investments can mean so much.” The Jan. 25 vote was 411 yes to 13 no .
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
IRAN PROTESTS: The House passed a resolution (H Con Res 7) sponsored by MP Claudia Tenney, RN.Y., to commend Iranians protesting against their government and Iran for the violent crackdown on protests and to condemn the killing of some protesters. Tenney said the resolution reiterated “our overwhelming support for the courageous Iranians who continue to risk their lives to secure their fundamental rights and freedoms.” The vote on Jan. 25 was 420 yes to 1 no.
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION ON THE ATLANTIC COAST: The House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Strategic Production Response Act (HR 21) sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace, RS.C., that would maintain a moratorium on oil and natural gas production leases off the Southeast Coast. Mace said the moratorium “protects the South Carolina coast that every South Carolina resident and visitor to our state knows is vital to our livelihood and economy.” The vote on Jan. 26 was 389 yes to 42 no.
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
NO: perry
OIL AND GAS RENTAL: The House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Strategic Production Response Act (HR 21) sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo would use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve from 10% to 15%. Boebert said the increase “allows responsible contingency use of strategic petroleum reserves while enabling responsible American energy production on federal land.” An opponent of the change, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., DN.J., said it would affect the ability to release supplies from the reserve in response to emergencies. The vote on Jan. 26 was 220 yes to 212 no.
YES: Kelly, Perry, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, Thompsoncraftsman
NO: Fitzpatrick, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Boyle, Cartwright, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio
OIL SALES TO RIVAL NATIONS: The House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Strategic Production Response Act (HR 21) sponsored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, RN.J., that would require the Department of Energy to ensure that oil sold from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is not sold to Iran . China, Russia or North Korea. Gottheimer said the restriction was necessary to “provide adequate protection against the daunting prospect of oil from our strategic petroleum reserve falling into the wrong hands.” The vote on January 26 was 418 yes to 12 no.
YES: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, ThompsonMeuser, Wild, Scanlon, Deluzio
NO: lee
SENATE
MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY BUILDINGS: The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Brendan Owens as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Facilities and Environment. Owens, a consultant at Black Vest Strategy, was an officer with the US Green Building Council for 19 years and before that was the Energy Manager for the Army’s Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The January 23 vote was 60 yes to 35 no.
YES: Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and John Fetterman, D-Pa.