Dec 4, 2024
Press
My Votes – Week of February 28th
Mar 08, 2022
Votes
RULE BILLS
A rule bill is a bill passed through a full House vote under a rule that has been voted and agreed upon by the Rules Committee. Rule bills require a simple majority of the House to pass (218 votes) through a recorded vote.
3/3/2022
H.R. 3967
Honoring our PACT Act of 2021
Passed | 256-174
My Vote | NO (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
I am committed to expanding VA benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. I believe this is the Agent Orange crisis of our time, and we need to act quickly to ensure veterans are getting the services they need. I opposed this bill because I do not think it’s the best approach to addressing toxic exposure. We’ve seen what happens when the federal government throws money at problems and requires no accountability. This is why I am leading on the bipartisan, bicameral Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act (H.R. 6659). This bill will put in motion a 3-phased approach to help toxic-exposed veterans gain better access to care and benefits from the VA by putting $1B dollars toward identifying and caring for toxic-exposed veterans. It would also establish a one year open enrollment period for post-9/11 combat veterans to access VA services, increase the time period in which post-9/11 combat veterans can enroll in the VA health care system from 5 years to 10 years following their separation from service, and more. The bill has already passed the Senate, and I urge Speaker Pelosi to bring it to the House floor so that President Biden can sign it into law immediately.
SUSPENSION BILLS
A suspension bill is a bill passed by the House through suspending the rules to move quickly, circumventing the House Rules Committee. Suspension bills are typically less controversial pieces of legislation, and as the rules are being suspended, they require a higher threshold, two-thirds of those voting in the House, to pass. Additionally, these bills are often passed by a voice vote, without a formal roll call vote.
2/28/2022
S. 3706
To provide for the application of certain provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 for fiscal year 2021
Passed | VOICE
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
This legislation fixes a technical error in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to preserve rural counties’ Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payment allocations, which provides for schools, roads, and essential services in rural communities across the country.
2/28/2022
S. 1543
STANDUP Act of 2021
Passed | VOICE
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
The STANDUP Act of 2021 requires states, schools, and Tribes to implement proven policies to prevent suicides in order to receive Project AWARE grants, which promote youth mental health awareness among schools and communities.
2/28/2022
S. 1662
Supporting the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration Act
Passed | VOICE
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
Under current law, NIH and FDA may transfer funding to their respective foundations, within statutory limits, but these limits have not increased since 2007. This bill provides increases in transfer authority, which will help advance collaborative innovation with the FNIH and Reagan-Udall Foundation to address cutting-edge regulatory science challenges, including advancing research on COVID-19.
2/28/2022
H.R. 2142
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 170 Manhattan Avenue in Buffalo, New York, as the Indiana Hunt-Martin Post Office Building
Passed | VOICE
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
This bill names a United States Postal Service facility in Buffalo, New York after Indiana Hunt-Martin, who was part of the first African American WAC unit – the “Six Triple Eight.” Their unit was the only one to serve in Europe during WWII, working to connect soldiers fighting for freedom with their families back home.
2/28/2022
S. 321
Six Triple Eight’ Congressional Gold Medal Act
Passed | 422-0
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Women’s Army Corps who were assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the “Six Triple Eight” – during World War II. The unit served at home and in Europe where they sorted and routed mail for millions of American servicemembers and civilians. The Six Triple Eight was a trailblazing group of heroes who were the only all-Black, Women Army Corps Battalion to serve overseas during World War II.
2/28/2022
H.R. 55
Emmett Till Antilynching Act
Passed | 422-3
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
This bill will provide funding for a public and provider awareness campaign to promote maternal and child This legislation designates lynching as a federal hate crime.
2/28/2022
H.R. 2116
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act
Passed | 235-188
My Vote | NO (the Congressional record reflects my opposition to this bill)
Discrimination on the basis of hair texture is already illegal under the Civil Rights Act, which I strongly support. I am concerned that the bill may impede race-neutral policies. Courts have long recognized that a race-neutral policy may legitimately require individuals to meet certain appearance standards, such as when hair would impede the use of job-critical tools like a firefighter’s respirator.
3/2/2022
H. Res. 956
Supporting the People of Ukraine
Passed | 426-3
My Vote | YES (the Congressional record reflects my support for this bill)
This Resolution outlines the US plan to provide as much support to Ukraine as possible and sheds an indisputable light on the atrocities the Putin regime and the Russian military are committing. It demands an immediate ceasefire and full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, backs additional coordinated economic measures to hold Putin accountable, reaffirms our NATO Article 5 commitments, and reaffirms Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea and Donbas.