My Votes – Week of March 18th
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.
3/20/24
H.R. 1121
Protecting American Energy Production Act
Passed | 229-188
My Vote | YES
I led this legislation through the Energy & Commerce Committee to ensure no president has the unilateral power to shut down fracking. This legislation also makes it clear that no president should have the power to stop any of our domestic energy production.
3/20/24
H.R. 6009
Restoring American Energy Dominance Act
Passed | 216-200
My Vote | YES
This legislation prohibits the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from locking up land that could be used for responsible oil and gas production. The United States is blessed with tremendous energy resources — and we need a bold, comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy that embraces American energy dominance and innovation to win the future.
3/21/24
H.RES. 987
Passed | 217-200
My Vote | YES
Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes.
President Biden’s energy policies have been detrimental to families in Eastern Washington and all across the United States. His war on drilling and American petroleum, closed-door negotiations to remove our Lower Snake River dams, and attempts to ban Liquid Natural Gas has made our country less energy secure than ever before. What’s worse is that individuals and families are paying the price for it with gas and energy prices at an all-time high. It’s time to end the Biden administration’s war on American energy.
3/21/24
H. CON. RES. 86
Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.
Passed | 222-196
My Vote | YES
The carbon tax is just another example of how the Biden administration and Democrats are catering to radical environmental extremists, driving up energy costs, and forcing Americans to become more reliant on China to meet our energy needs. With inflation and the cost of living already at a record high, Eastern Washington families can’t afford to pay more for energy just to meet the demands of Biden’s rush-to-green agenda.
3/21/24
H.R. 7023
Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act
Passed | 213-205
My Vote | YES
This legislation amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to codify certain provisions relating to permits for dredged or fill material. This bill ensures that projects are on time and on budget while maintaining our nation’s clean water infrastructure. By improving the permitting process under the Clean Water Act, we can provide greater clarity for energy producers, farmers, builders, water utilities, and many others. Just as significant, we can make America energy independent again and lower costs for Eastern Washington families.
3/22/24
H.R. 1023
To repeal section 134 of the Clean Air Act, relating to the greenhouse gas reduction fund.
Passed | 209-204
My Vote | YES
While America’s deficit and debt crisis is worse than ever, the greenhouse gas reduction fund is nothing more than $27 billion to help President Biden pursue his war on American energy. We need a bold, comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy to win the future and secure cleaner American energy. This must include real, workable solutions that unleash innovation in hydropower, nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas to reduce emissions, prioritize energy security, and keep energy costs low.
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.
3/19/24
H.R. 6306
Embassy Construction Integrity Act of 2023
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
This bill will prohibit the Department of State from investing and purchasing diplomatic posts or consulars that have Chinese Communist Party ties to protect American interests and personnel. This is necessary to protect American ideals and our national security from the CCP.
3/19/24
H.R. 4723
Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act
Passed | 365-30
My Vote | YES
This bill imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that are involved in certain actions that threaten the peace, stability, or democracy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Accords are a symbol of American leadership and commitment. If we let them collapse, then we risk seeing violence return to Bosnia. Adversaries like Russia and China would welcome these upheavals and solidify a stronger economic and security foothold.
3/19/24
H.R. 6610
Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
This bill helps address the problems that create passport backlogs while bolstering the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs’ processing capabilities to streamline the application and processing experience for American travelers. If you or a loved one is experiencing passport delays, my office is happy to help! Please call my district office at (509)-353-2374.
3/19/24
H. RES. 149
Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
Passed | 390-9
My Vote | YES
This resolution states that the House of Representatives holds the Russian government responsible for the illegal kidnapping of children from Ukraine and condemns these actions. We must continue to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked attack on Ukraine and Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian civilians.
3/19/24
H.R. 6602
To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 relating to the review of the interagency dispute resolution process.
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
Washington state is the most trade dependent state in the nation. This bill ensures that the trade and export process is better streamlined and adheres to U.S. policy.
3/19/24
H.R. 766
Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
This legislation provides the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) with the ability to analyze the long-term benefits of preventive health care measures while ensuring that we make informed decisions on future health care policy. With chronic diseases accounting for over seventy percent of health care spending, this bill will ensure the CBO has access to the necessary tools to calculate the long-term cost saving potentials of preventive health care initiatives.
3/19/24
H.R. 6260
FOCUS Act
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
This bill includes provisions that reform federal real estate practices to save taxpayer dollars. Congress must restore fiscal responsibility and find ways to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary spending. Since office space utilization has decreased dramatically across government agencies, the logical next step is to consolidate if possible and save taxpayer dollars.
3/19/24
H.R. 6261
Impact of Crime on Public Building Usage Act of 2023
Passed | Passed by Voice
My Vote | YES
The fentanyl and homelessness crises pose unique public safety concerns to federal workers in cities across the country. To make more informed spending decisions on federal real estate moving forward, Congress needs to understand how factors like crime contribute to building costs and employee decisions. This bill will rein in spending while improving safety for our federal workforce.
3/20/24
H.R. 7520
Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024
Passed | 414-0
My Vote | YES
I was proud to be the lead sponsor of this legislation that sends a clear message – we will not allow our adversaries to undermine American national security and individual privacy by purchasing people’s personally identifiable sensitive information from data brokers.
3/21/24
H.R. 1836
Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023
Passed | 393-24
My Vote | YES
The bill prohibits U.S. ports from using Chinese state-sponsored software, and it allows the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to investigate foreign shipping exchanges to preempt improper business practices. This will help secure our oceans from foreign adversaries that hope to take advantage of the current shipping practices.
3/22/24
H.RES 1102
Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2882, with an amendment
Passed | 286-134
My Vote | NO
Rather than deliver on the individual spending bills we promised, this bill was the second of two massive packages totaling nearly $3 trillion that failed to rein in the Biden administration’s reckless spending. Our growing national debt is one of the greatest challenges we face as a nation today, and the worst of it will fall to our children and grandchildren. It is unfortunate that Congress was unable to meet this moment with the sense of fiscal responsibility it required.