My Votes – Week of June 13
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.
6/14/2022
H.R. 2773
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021
Passed | 231-190
My Vote | NO
This bill provides funding for the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need, including endangered or threatened species. While I support the goal of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, putting another $1.4 billion on the federal credit card with no plans to pay for it is irresponsible at this time and will only make our economic crisis worse.
6/15/2022
H.R. 2543
Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act
Passed | 215-207
My Vote | NO
This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board to report on disparities in labor force trends regarding racial and ethnic disparities in employment, income, wealth, and access to affordable credit, as well as on plans and activities of the board to minimize and eliminate these disparities. I voted against this bill because it politicizes monetary policy and financial regulation when the Fed’s focus should be fixing inflation and avoiding a recession.
6/16/2022
H.R. 7606
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022
Passed | 221-204
My Vote | NO
This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters. Specifically, the office must use all available tools to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. I opposed this bill because I believe it is duplicative to create a new federal office to investigate these matters as the USDA already investigates and addresses them. Additionally, this bill would do nothing to address the current supply chain and inflation crises.
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.
6/13/2022
H.R. 6270
AAIM Act
Passed | 338-73
My Vote | YES
This bill establishes a pilot grant program to support advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure. AAM infrastructure refers to an air transportation system that transports individuals and property between points in the United States in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace using certain aircraft, including remotely piloted, autonomous, or vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
6/13/2022
S.516
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
Passed | 380-30
My Vote | YES
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) interagency working group to plan and coordinate efforts related to the safety, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity, and federal investment necessary to bolster the AAM ecosystem, particularly passenger-carrying aircraft, in the United States. Advanced Air Mobility refers to an air transportation system that moves people and cargo between places using new aircraft designs that are integrated into existing airspace operations as well as operated in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments.
6/13/2022
H.R. 7211
Small State and Rural Rescue Act
Passed | 396-14
My Vote | YES
This bill addresses requests for, and other matters pertaining to, disaster assistance provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with a focus on small states and rural communities. The bill expands the duties of FEMA’s Small State and Rural Advocate to include assistance for states in the collection and presentation of material in the disaster or emergency declaration request relevant to demonstrate severe localized impacts within the state for a specific incident.
6/13/2022
S.3580
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022
Passed | 369-42
My Vote | YES
This bill revises requirements governing ocean shipping to increase the authority of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to promote the growth and development of U.S. exports through an ocean transportation system that is competitive, efficient, and economical. For example, the bill requires the FMC to (1) investigate complaints about detention and demurrage charges (i.e., late fees) charged by common ocean carriers, (2) determine whether those charges are reasonable, and (3) order refunds for unreasonable charges. It also prohibits common ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, or ocean transportation intermediaries from unreasonably refusing cargo space when available or resorting to other unfair or unjustly discriminatory methods.
6/14/2022
S.4160
Supreme Court Police Parity Act of 2022
Passed | 396-27
My Vote | YES
This bill grants the Marshal of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Police the authority to protect any member of the immediate family of the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice, or any officer of the Supreme Court if the Marshal determines that such protection is necessary.