Home
Biography
Wisconsin 6th District
Constituent Services
Legislation
Press
Students
E-mail Rep. Petri
Washington, DC Office
2462 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC, 20515
Tel: 202-225-2476
Fax: 202-225-2356

Fond du Lac
490 West Rolling Meadows Drive
Suite B
Fond du Lac, WI, 54937
Tel: 920-922-1180
Fax: 920-922-4498
Toll-free in Wisconsin: 800-242-4883

Oshkosh
2390 State Road 44
Suite B
Oshkosh, WI, 54904
Tel: 920-231-6333

Rep. Petri's Voting Record

Major Votes - 110th Congress

October 3, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. This legislation would extend unemployment benefits for an additional seven weeks.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 368 - 28.
  • The House considered an amendment to H.R. 1424. Agreeing to this amendment would enact a slightly modified version of the previously defeated Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (financial markets rescue) as well as extend several expiring tax provisions for individuals and businesses and provide tax incentives for alternative energy production.

  • This package was approved by the House by a vote of 263 - 171 and signed into law by President Bush later this day. I voted against this plan because the modifications to the financial markets rescue failed to address several significant flaws.

September 29, 2008:

  • The considered the first version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization plan to purchase distressed mortgage backed securities in an effort to bolster several financial firms and the wider U.S. financial markets. This was a vote on the proposal offered by President Bush and negotiated with congressional leaders.

  • This legislation failed to pass the House on a vote of 205 - 228. I joined the majority in rejecting this plan because I felt the Congress was being rushed into approving a hastily put together and ill-considered financial rescue plan.

September 27, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 7081, the U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act. This legislation grants Congressional approval to the U.S. - India nuclear cooperation agreement.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 298-117. This legislation is now law.

September 26, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 7060, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act of 2008, which would extend a number of expiring tax benefits for individuals and businesses, and provide tax incentives for renewable energy production. H.R. 7060 also included provisions to offset the cost of these tax reductions.

  • I voted in favor of H.R. 7060, which passed the House on a vote of 257 - 166.
  • The House considered H.R. 7110, a bill to make $60.8 billion in supplemental appropriations for several government agencies and a wide variety of policy initiatives.

  • H.R. 7110 passed the House on a vote of 264 - 158. I voted against this bill because it included ordinary spending designated as emergency spending, thus avoiding budgetary limitations.

September 24, 2008:

  • The House considered S. 3001, the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Authorizes $611.1 billion for defense of the U.S. and its interests abroad, for military construction, and for national security-related energy programs in fiscal 2009, including $68.6 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Authorizes a 3.9% pay increase for military personnel and also contains provisions to govern oversight of defense contracts.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 392-39. This legislation is now law.
  • The House considered H.R. 2638 to provide funding for federal agencies during Fiscal Year 2009. H.R. 2638 included the complete appropriations bills for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security as well as the Military Construction and Department of Veterans Affairs bill. For the remainder of the federal government, H.R. 2638 provided funding through a stop-gap continuing resolution.

  • H.R. 2638 passed the House by a vote of 370 - 58 and was signed into law on September 30, 2008. I voted against this bill because it reflected a complete breakdown of the regular appropriations process.
  • The House considered H.R. 7005, legislation to extend for one year the increased exemption amount for computing the Alternative Minimum Tax. This legislation will prevent millions of taxpayers from being impacted by the AMT. H.R. 7005 included no offset provisions.

  • H.R. 7005 was passed by the House by a vote of 393 - 30. I voted in favor of this bill which later became law as part of the financial rescue package.
  • The House considered H.R. 7006, the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008, to provide a variety of benefits to victims of natural disasters. H.R. 7006 also included a provision to increase the standard mileage rate for charitable drivers, a tax change I have long advocated.

  • I voted in favor of H.R. 7006 which passed the House by a vote of 419 - 4.

September 23, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6983, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The legislation would prohibit treatment limits or the imposition of financial requirements on mental health and substance-related disorder benefits within group health plans which are not similarly imposed on medical and surgical benefits under such plans. Unlike previous version of mental health parity legislation, H.R. 6983 reflects a balanced compromise and will provide mental health parity without resulting in significant cost increases at a time of unparalleled cost pressures on health insurance.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 376-47.
  • The House considered H.R. 5244, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008. H.R. 5244 would make several pro-consumer reforms to the regulation of consumer credit cards, including restrictions on retroactive interest rate increases and charging interest or fees on balances not included in the most recent billing cycle.

  • I voted in support of H.R. 5244 and it passed the House by a vote of 312 - 112.
  • The House considered H.R. 5352, the Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008. This legislation would establish grant programs within the U.S. Department of Justice to help local law enforcement agencies combat abuse of our nation's elderly.

  • I voted in favor of H.R. 5352, which passed the House by a vote of 376 - 47.
  • The House considered S.J.Res. 45, the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Water Resources Compact. This joint resolution would grant congressional approval of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Compact, an agreement on the rights between the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, regarding use of the waters and maintenance of the watershed of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway and River.

  • I was an original co-sponsor of this legislation and voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed by a vote of 390-25. This legislation is now law.

September 18, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6460, the Great Lakes Legacy Programs Act of 2008. This legislation would reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy programs through fiscal 2013. The measure would authorize $150 million to remediate sediment contamination and restore aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes region and $25 million for development of technologies for the programs.

  • I was an original co-sponsor of this legislation and voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed by a vote of 371-20. This legislation is now law.
  • The House considered H.R. 6604, the Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2008. This bill would address rising commodity prices, including those for crude oil, by increasing the regulatory authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over those markets.

  • H.R. 6604 passed the House by a vote of 283 - 133. I voted against H.R. 6604 because I believe that speculation in commodities is a global problem that can only be addressed through a coordinated international effort.

September 17, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6842, the District of Columbia Gun Laws Act. This legislation would repeal District of Columbia laws prohibiting firearm possession, including the possession of semiautomatic firearms. It would repeal the District's requirements for firearm registration and the requirement that firearms be disassembled or secured with trigger lock in the home. It would remove criminal penalties for possessing firearms in the home and allow the District's residents to purchase firearms in Maryland and Virginia.

  • I voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed by a vote of 266-152. This legislation is now pending before the Senate.

September 16, 2008:

  • The House approved the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 6899) by a vote of 236-189. I voted against this legislation because while the bill's authors claimed it would open up areas for oil and gas drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), it provided little incentives for states to open these areas for exploration. The Senate has indicated H.R. 6899 will not likely pass in its current form and the President has said he would veto the bill.

  • However, during consideration of H.R. 6899, I voted in support of a motion to substitute the language of H.R. 6709, the National, Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act. I am a cosponsor of this bill along with 138 of my colleagues, 39 of which are Democrats. This legislation is a truly bipartisan, comprehensive energy bill that would open up oil and gas development in the OCS and invest a majority of the revenues into conservation measures and alternative energy research. Unfortunately, the motion was defeated by a vote of 191-226.

September 15, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6889, which would extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 368-4. This legislation is now law.

September 11, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6532, the Highway Trust Fund Money Transfer. This legislation appropriated $8.2 billion to the Highway Trust Fund and restores the balance in the Trust Fund, which is drawn out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

  • I voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed by a vote of 376-29. This legislation is now law.

September 10, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 1527, the Rural Veterans' Health Care Access Act. This legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a three-year pilot program to permit veterans in rural areas to receive eligible health care from non-VA providers. Veterans who live more than 60 miles from a primary care VA facility or 120 miles from a facility providing acute hospital care would be eligible for the program.

  • I voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed under suspension of the rules 417-0. This legislation is now pending before the Senate.
  • The House considered S. 2617, the Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. This legislation will increase the rate of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans. The rate will be linked to the cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients. Passed under suspension of the rules 418-0, on September 10, 2008. TEP YES. Sent to the President to become law.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 418-0. The legislation is now law.

September 9, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6630, the Mexican Motor Carrier Restrictions. Would bar the Transportation secretary from granting authority to motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S. - Mexican border unless authorized by Congress. It also would require the secretary to end a one-year cross-border demonstration project that began in September 2007.

  • I voted in favor of this legislation as it was passed under suspension of the rules 395-18. This legislation is now pending before the Senate.

July 31, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act. The legislation would revise remedies for the enforcement of prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages.

  • I voted against H.R. 1338 because current law already prohibits an employer from paying an employee different wages, or otherwise discrimination in any term or condition of employment on the basis of sex. The legislation would do little to protect the wages and paychecks of American workers, and far more to benefit trial lawyers. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 247-148.
  • The House considered H.R. 4137, the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The legislation reauthorizes the federal law governing higher education. The legislation includes key reforms to ensure access, accountability, affordability and quality in higher education.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 380-49. The legislation is now law.

July 30, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The legislation would authorize the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products, however the agency could not ban tobacco products outright or eliminate all of the nicotine from them.

  • I voted against H.R. 1108 because it would undermine the core mission of the FDA, which is to certify the safety of our food and medicines, and could mistakenly lead the public to conclude that some tobacco products are safe. Furthermore, the FDA is already overburdened and struggling to ensure the safety of our food supply, and it is unclear how it could handle these additional duties. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 326-102.

July 24, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007. This legislation would require annual inspections of "structurally deficient" bridges and improve uniformity in state bridge inspections and evaluations and would authorize $1 billion for fiscal 2009 for the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Bridge Program.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 367-55.
  • The House considered H.Res. 1368. This legislation prevents consideration of legislation mandated by current law to reduce Medicare spending.

  • I voted against this legislation because Congress needs to start addressing Medicare's fiscal problem. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 272-152.
  • The House considered H.R. 6578, Consumer Energy Supply Act of 2008. This legislation would require the Energy Department to release 70 million barrels of light, sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in exchange for the same amount of heavier grade crude oil.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it failed to receive two-thirds majority required for passage under suspension of the rules.

July 23, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6532, the Highway Trust Fund Money Transfer. This legislation restores $8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from the General Fund.

  • I was an original cosponsor of the bill and voted for passage. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 387-37.
  • The House considered H.R. 3221, the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008. This legislation grants the Treasury Department to extend new credit and buy stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

  • I voted against this legislation because it supports most lenders and real estate speculators at taxpayers exspense and provides a government bailout of privately owned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 272-152.

July 22, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6493, an Aviation Safety bill to revise practices and procedures for FAA safety inspectors and increase oversight of airline maintenance.

  • I was an original cosponsor of the bill and voted for passage. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 392-0.

July 17, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6251 the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008. I voted against the bill because it contained provisions which would discourage oil and gas production on federal lands.

  • Under current law, oil and gas companies already are required to have a producing ground well within ten years or the lease will be lost. The legislation failed to receive two-thirds majority required for passage under suspension of the rules.

July 9, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5811, the Electronic Communication Preservation Act. This legislation would direct the National Archives and Records Administration to create regulations on the capture, management, and preservations of electronic messages that the President and all federal agencies would be required to comply with.

  • I voted against this legislation because it would require the National Archives and Records Administration to unnecessarily intrude into the activities of federal agencies and their staff, and fundamentally change the role of the Archivist from advice to oversight. Under current laws, the White House and federal agencies are required to preserve all official e-mails and electronic messages using a "print and file" records system and these laws sufficiently monitor the communications of these bodies. H.R. 5811 passed the House by a vote of 286-137.

June 26, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6052, the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 . This legislation authorized $1.7 billion for grants in fiscal 2008 and 2009 for transit agencies that reduce fares or expand public transportation services, as well as $750 million each year for urbanized area formula grants and $100 million per year for formula grants to rural areas.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 322-98.

June 25, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6275, the Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, a bill to provide a one-year adjustment to the exemption amount allowed under the Alternative Minimum Tax and prevent an additional 21 million taxpayers from paying higher income taxes under this alternative system. The bill included offsets increasing taxes on private-equity managers and domestic oil and gas production. H.R. 6275 passed the House by a vote of 233 - 189.

  • I voted against passage, because I disagree that it is necessary to raise taxes on some taxpayers in order to prevent an increase on others.
  • The House considered H.R. 6377, the Energy Markets Emergency Act of 2008, a bill to curb speculation in crude oil markets by directing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use its emergency powers to reduce the role of excessive speculation in rising oil prices. Adopted by the House (under suspension) by a vote of 402 - 19.

  • I voted in favor of H.R. 6377.
  • The House considered H.R. 3195 the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The bill would restore workplace protections for employees with mental or physical handicaps.

  • I was an original cosponsor of the bill and voted in support of the legislation. The House approved the bill by a vote of 402-17.

June 24, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6327 to extend through September 30 Federal Aviation Administration programs and aviation taxes collected into the Aviation Trust Fund, passed 422-0.

  • I voted in support of this bill to extend the FAA programs through the end of the fiscal year. The House passed a 4-year reauthorization in September 2007 but the Senate has not acted on it's long-term reauthorization. The Senate passed H.R. 6327 the following day and the President has signed it into law.
  • The House considered H.R. 6331 the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The bill would rescind a 10.6% reduction in Medicare physician payments that went into effect on July 1, 2008. H.R. 6331 also contains many other important Medicare provisions such as: delaying the durable medical equipment competitive acquisition program, an 18 month extension of the Medicare therapy caps exemption process, and changes to pharmacies' reimbursement under the Medicare Part D program.

  • I voted for passage of the legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 355-59. I also voted to over-ride the President's veto of the legislation. The legislation is now law.
  • The House considered H.R. 6346 the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act. The bill would authorize the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and punish motor fuels price gougers.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation, but it failed to receive two-thirds majority required for passage under suspension of the rules.

June 20, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. This legislation overhauls the foreign intelligence surveillance act, which governs electronic surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects and also includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that participated in the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 293-129.

June 19, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008. This bill would provide that four of the twelve weeks of parental leave given to Congressional and Federal employees would be paid leave. Also, it would allow the Office of Personnel Management to extend parental leave by up to eight weeks.

  • I voted against H.R. 5781 because it would create a costly, new entitlement for federal employees that is largely unnecessary given current leave policies. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 2003, federal employees are already entitled to twelve weeks of unpaid leave. Employees can bundle accrued sick leave and vacation time to continue to be paid following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. Federal employees enjoy a variety of benefits which often surpass those found in the private sector; and studies have shown that most federal employees are satisfied with their existing leave policies. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 278-146.

June 12, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5749 the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008. This bill would extend unemployment benefits for those who had exhausted their 26 weeks of coverage.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 274-137.

June 4, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. This legislation would authorize grants and loans to local educational agencies for the construction, modernization, or repair of public kindergarten, elementary, and secondary educational facilities.

  • I voted against this legislation because I believe the primary responsibility for school construction should remain at the State and local school and school district levels. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 250-164.
  • The House considered H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act. This bill would permanently reauthorize a program that awards grants to parks, volunteer groups, and other establishments in the Chesapeake Bay area.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 321-86.

May 1, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. This was a motion to concur with the Senate version of the bill. The bill would make it possible for individuals to learn about their genetic vulnerabilities through new medical technology without fearing that employers or insurers will use the information against them.

  • I voted for passage of the legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 414-1.
  • The House considered H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008. This was a motion to concur with the Senate version of the bill.

  • I voted for this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 388-21.

April 30, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5522, the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act of 2008. This bill would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to regulate combustible dusts.

  • While I am committed to protecting the health and safety of workers, I felt that the legislation would fail to take into account important information obtained from the federal government's investigation of the tragic dust explosion in Georgia. This haste could result in the creation of an ineffective and unenforceable safety standard. That is why, during consideration of the bill, I supported an amendment by Rep. Wilson that would require OSHA to issue regulations concerning combustible dusts once all pertinent information was gathered by federal investigators. H.R. 5522 passed the House by a vote of 247-165.

April 23, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. This bill would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

  • I voted against this legislation because many studies have demonstrated that some states are inappropriately billing Medicaid for either non-Medicaid Services or for services that were not provided. I strongly believe that these financial practices need to be addressed to ensure the integrity of the Medicaid program now and so that it can continue in the future. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 349-62.

April 17, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008. This bill would increase the limit on Federal college loans and works ensure student loan availability.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 383-27. During the consideration of the bill, the House agreed to an amendment which I offered to ensure that guaranty agencies do not engage in improper inducements as lenders of last resort.

April 9, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act. This bill established the National Landscape Conservation System as a subsidiary to the Bureau of Land Management. The system includes 15 National Monuments, 17 National Conservation Areas, over 6.5 million acres of wilderness in 161 areas, over 15.5 million acres of BLM-administered wilderness study areas, 12 National Historic Trails, 2 National Scenic Trails, and 38 Wild and Scenic Rivers.

  • I voted for passage of this legislation and it passed the House by a vote of 278-140.
  • The House considered an amendment to H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act. This vote was on an amendment which clarified that nothing in this bill would impede border security.

  • I voted for passage of this amendment and it passed the House by a vote of 414-0.

March 14, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 3773, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This was a motion to concur with the Senate amendments to the bill. These amendments included striking retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies and allowing federal courts to hear classified information in cases against these companies.

  • This legislation was passed by a vote of 213-197 . I voted no because it did not include retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies.

March 13, 2008:

  • The House considered H.Con. Res. 312, a resolution proposing a budget for Fiscal Year 2009. H.Con. Res. 312 was adopted in the House by a vote of 212 - 207 and referred to the Senate for further consideration.

  • I voted against this congressional budget resolution because it would increase domestic discretionary spending over the amount requested by the President and makes no attempt to control escalating spending on federal entitlement programs.

March 11, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 2082, the FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization. This was an attempt to override the President's veto.

  • This legislation was passed by a vote of 222-199. I voted no because it included Army Field Manual Interrogation prohibitions. I also voted to sustain the President's veto on this bill on March 13, 2008.
  • The House considered H.Res. 895, a resolution to change the ethics rules of the House of Representatives and establish an Office of Congressional Ethics. This office would consider allegations of rules violations and to make referrals to the House Committeee on Standards of Official Conduct. This resolution was adopted on a vote of 229 - 182.

  • While I'm supportive of enhanced ethics rules, I voted against H.Res. 895 because the closed process was partisan and allowed no input from the House minority.

March 5, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. This would prohibit employers and insurance companies from using genetic information while making employment of insurance premium decisions. It would also require insurers to provide benefits for a wide array of mental diseases.

  • I voted against the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. During the committee markup of this bill, I voted in favor of an amendment that would have substituted the Senate version of this bill in place of the House version. I believe the Senate bill reflects a more balanced compromise and will provide mental health parity without resulting in significant cost increases at a time of unparalleled cost pressures on health insurance.

February 27, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. This legislation would expand tax credits for wind and solar energy and offset the cost by eliminating other credits for oil and natural gas companies. H.R. 5361 passed the House by a of vote of 236 - 182.

  • I voted against this bill because I was concerned that some of its new taxes would reduce oil and gas production jobs within the U.S. as well as increase our dependence on foreign energy sources.

February 13, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5349, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act extension. This act would have allowed the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence to conduct surveillance of suspected terrorists without a court warrant.

  • I voted no on this legislation and it failed by a recorded vote of 191 - 229. I voted no because it was a democratic political move to extend the Protect America Act, and not vote on the Senate passed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

February 7, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 4137, a bill that authorizes funding and sets policy for higher education in the United States.

  • I supported this legislation and offered two amendments when the House considered the bill, and I am happy to say that both were passed.

    The first amendment required an already existing entity to research and recommend to Congress an alternative market-based reform to the Federal Family Education Loan Program (or guaranteed student loan program) that would reduce costs to taxpayers for federal student aid while simultaneously increasing need-based grant aid to low-income students.

    The second amendment would mandate that new auditing standards are applied to federal loan programs equally, ensuring a level playing field between the two primary loan programs.
  • The House considered a motion concerning H.R. 5140, agreeing to Senate changes to the Economic Stimulus Package and sending the bill to the President for his signature.

  • The motion was adopted by the House by a vote of 380 - 34 and provided for stimulus payments of up to $600 per taxpayer and $300 per dependent child. I voted in favor of passage of this legislation.

January 29, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 . This legislation provided most taxpayers with economic stimulus payments of $600.

  • H.R. 5140 overwhelmingly passed in the House by a vote of 385 - 35 and the final version was signed by President Bush on February 13, 2008. I voted with the majority to pass this legislation because an economic stimulus can be a useful tool during a period of slowing economic growth.

January 23, 2008:

  • On January 23, 2008 the House considered the veto override of H.R. 3963, the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization (SCHIP) of 2007. The legislation would have reauthorized the SCHIP Program, or BadgerCare as it is called in Wisconsin.

  • I voted to override the President's veto because this legislation was a bipartisan compromise that would provide health care coverage to more than four million children who are currently eligible for SCHIP, but not enrolled.

January 17, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Housing Reauthorization Act. This Act would authorize $5.6 billion to be spent on public housing through 2015. The bill passed the House on a vote of 271 - 130.

  • I voted against H.R. 3424 because it would reverse several policies designed to improve and revitalize public housing projects.

January 16, 2008:

  • The House considered H.R. 2768, the Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007. This legislation would shorten deadlines for mines to enforce new safety requirements.

  • At the end of the last Congress, the MINER Act became law. Passed in a bipartisan basis, the MINER Act was the first significant mine safety reform legislation in generations. I voted against the S-MINER Act, because I believe this new legislation was flawed in many ways and could, in fact, undermine many of the needed reforms just put in place by the MINER Act.

  • The House considered H.R. 4986, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. This legislation authorizes $696.4 billion for defense programs for fiscal year 2008.

  • I voted against this legislation because of a provision in the bill that repealed the prohibition of Foreign Military Financing for countries that refuse to sign an agreement not to prosecute U.S. military personnel under the International Criminal Court. I believe that this is ambiguous and premature to remove the prohibition on financing for countries that refuse to sign.

December 11, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 4343, The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act.

  • I voted in support of this legislation because the current mandatory age 60 retirement age for commercial pilots should be increased to age 65, with adequate medical screening and training precautions to modernize the retirement standard and to be consistent with international standards.

December 6, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. On December 19, 2007, the President signed the legislation into law.

  • This law increases the mandatory fleet-wide Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for all new cars and light trucks. The law also requires an increase in production of renewable motor fuels and provides incentives to boost production of biofuels and vehicles that can run on alternative fuels. The law provides for new and updated energy efficiency and conservation standards.

  • I voted in support of this legislation because I believe it will help make the United States more energy independent and, at the same time, put in place measures to protect and preserve our environment.

November 14, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 4156, the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • This legislation is two-fold.: First, its intent was to set arbitrary deadlines and restrictions on troops in the field, and secondly, it would appropriate $50 billion in emergency funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, based on a withdrawal date of December 15, 2008.

  • I voted against this legislation because I believe that holding captive the necessary funding for our troops on the field by arbitrary deadlines and restrictions is unjust to our overall mission.

November 9, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3996, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007.

  • This legislation would have provided for a one-year extension of the increased exemption amount used in calculating the Alternative Minimum Tax, provide for the extension of various expiring tax provisions, and offset the cost of these extensions by raising taxes for other American taxpayers.

  • I voted against this bill, which passed the House by a vote of 216 - 193, because preventing an unplanned tax increase should not be offset with new taxes.

  • On December 19, 2007, the House reconsidered this measure as amended by the Senate to provide only a one-year extension of the AMT without revenue offsets, and passed the bill on a vote of 352 - 64. I voted with the majority to prevent a tax increase for 21 million American taxpayers.

November 7, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007.

  • This legislation would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation by covered entities, which include employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees. The bill would not apply to most religious organizations and the United States Armed Services. In 1982, Wisconsin became the first state to add sexual orientation to its discrimination statutes.

  • I certainly oppose intentional workplace discrimination; however, I voted against this legislation because I had concerns about how it would impact certain employers and whether it would encroach on employee privacy.

October 31, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Act of 2007.

  • This legislation would reauthorize and expand the Trade Readjustment Assistance (TAA) program to continue benefits provided to workers losing their jobs due to foreign trade and to extend these benefits to workers in the service sector.

  • The House adopted this legislation by a vote of 264 - 157. I voted with the majority in favor of this bill.

October 18, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.

  • I voted in support of this legislation and voted to override the Presidents veto. I voted this way because it would provide health care coverage to more than four million low income children who are currently eligible for the States Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Wisconsin uses federal SCHIP dollars to fund BadgerCare.

September 26, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act.

  • This legislation approves the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into with the government of Peru, and makes changes in U.S. law to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement. I voted in favor of H.R. 3688.

September 25, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 976, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.

  • This is the legislation that funds Badgercare. I voted in support of this bill, which was championed by Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, both good conservatives. It will provide much-needed health insurance for the nation's low-income children, and do so at a reasonable cost.

September 20, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2881, The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007.

  • This bill provides for major improvements to our nation's aviation capacity, increasing our ability to handle more traffic both on the ground and in the air. It also increases spending on airport facilities and infrastructure and provides for the modernization of our air traffic control system by moving from a ground based to satellite based radar system. A total of $68 billion is authorized over four years, funded primarily from the Aviation Trust Fund. It also funds FAA operations, including air traffic controllers.

  • While I supported most of this legislation, labor provisions added by the committee compelled me to vote against this bill. One of these provisions would have reopened the negotiation of contracts for air traffic controllers, including the mandating of back pay which could cost as much as $1.9 billion over five years. The provisions have drawn a veto threat from the President.

September 18, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 1852, a bill to modernize the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

  • While I agree with the goals of this legislation, I voted against it because I felt certain provisions would have the effect of changing a successful government insurance program into a grant program.

September 7, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act as negotiated with the Senate.

  • While I was disappointed that the final version was not closer to the original House bill which I helped draft, I voted "yes."

  • The House considered H.R. 1908, the Patent Reform Act.

  • This bill modifies conditions under which a patent may be obtained for an invention or discovery. I opposed the bill. While it is a move in the right direction, it left much important work undone. My vote was in support of a more comprehensive reform package.

August 5, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R.3222, the Defense Appropriations Bill.

  • I voted in favor of the bill.

August 4, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act.

  • This bill incorporates various legislative initiatives for energy conservation, independence, and security. I voted "yes."

  • I opposed an amendment to require many electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity using renewable energy resources by the year 2020. I support Wisconsin's 10 percent renewable energy target, but am concerned that 15 percent is unobtainable without tremendous disruption to our economy and environment. The amendment was approved.

August 1, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act, as negotiated with the Senate.

  • I supported the bill, and it passed the House. Senate action is pending. (See the article above, "Funds for the 6th District.")

  • The House considered H.R. 3182, the Children's Health Insurance and Medicare Programs (CHAMP) Act.

  • Although I support the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the CHAMP Act would expand the program beyond what is necessary through higher taxes and Medicare cuts. I hope that when a final bill is negotiated with the Senate, it will reflect a reasonable compromise.

  • The bill passed, but I voted "no."

July 26, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007.

  • I supported a substitute proposal with reforms advocated by Rep. Ron Kind. The amendment was rejected.

  • I opposed final passage of the bill, but the House approved it.

  • The House considered H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • I supported an amendment to bar the use of funds to enforce electioneering communications provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act . The amendment was approved.

July 25, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2929, a bill to limit the use of funds to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq or to exercise United States economic control of the oil resources of Iraq.

  • I supported the bill, and it was approved by the House.

July 23, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3074, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • I supported an amendment to bar the use of funds for working groups on a proposed U.S.-Mexico freeway (I-35). The House adopted the amendment.

  • I voted for the bill, which passed the House.

July 20, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2831, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

  • This bill would make sweeping changes to a host of federal civil rights laws without properly assessing the consequences. The House approved the bill, but I voted "no."

July 19, 2007:

  • During continued consideration of H.R.3043, I supported an amendment to bar the use of funds to implement the U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement, which would harmonize Social Security with the Mexican national retirement system. The House adopted the amendment.

July 18, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 3043, the Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • I opposed an amendment to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The amendment failed.

July 12, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 1851, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007.

  • I supported an amendment to require that all adults in a household receiving Section 8 tenant assistance for more than 7 consecutive years must perform 20 hours per week of approved `work activities,' with exemptions for senior citizens, the disabled, those already exempt from welfare work requirements, and those who cannot access child care. The amendment was rejected.

  • I opposed the bill on final passage, but the House approved it.

  • The House considered H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act.

  • I opposed this bill, which would require redeployment of U.S. troops within 120 days, finalized by April 1, 2008. It was approved by the House.

July 11, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007.

  • I supported the bill, and it was approved by the House.

  • The House considered H.R. 2900, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 - a bill to reauthorize the FDA program that approves new drugs.

  • I supported the bill, and it was approved by the House.

June 27, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2829, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • I voted against the procedures for debating this bill because they did not allow consideration of an amendment to stop a congressional pay raise. The bill was approved.

June 26, 2007:

  • The House considered H.R. 2643, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008.

  • I opposed an amendment to strike a Sense of the Congress resolution regarding global warming. The amendment failed.

  • I supported an amendment to prohibit funding for roads in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The amendment was approved.

  • I supported an amendment to prohibit the use of funds for new off-reservation casinos. The amendment was rejected.

June 21, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 355 to 69, the House approved an amendment to H.R. 2764, the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill, to add $1 million for the United States Institute of Peace to re-establish the Iraq Study Group, offset by a reduction of the same amount for the State Department's diplomatic and consular programs.

  • By a vote of 200 to 226, the House rejected an amendment to H.R. 2764 to strike a provision within the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account eliminating an abstinence education funding mandate of 33 percent for fiscal 2006-08. I voted for the amendment, i.e., for continued abstinence education.

  • By a vote of 223 to 201, the House approved an amendment to H.R. 2764 to clarify that no contract or grant to provide donated contraceptives in developing countries would be denied to any non-governmental organization solely on the basis of the Mexico City policy, which bars U.S. aid to international family planning organizations that perform or promote abortions, even if they use their own funds to do so. I voted "no."

  • By a vote of 203 to 214, the House rejected an amendment to bar the use of funds to recruit and send students to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning, GA. Many questions have been raised about human rights abuses committed by Latin American military personnel trained at the Institute, so I voted in favor of the amendment.

  • By a vote of 241 to 178, the House voted for H.R. 2764, to appropriate $34.4 billion in fiscal 2008 for foreign diplomatic operations and economic assistance. I voted "no."

June 20, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 80 to 351, the House rejected an amendment to H.R. 2641, the Energy-Water appropriations bill, that would have reduced funding for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 157 to 274, the House rejected an amendment to H.R. 2641 that would have barred the use of funds to breach hydropower dams to save fish species.

June 15, 2007

  • By a vote of 268 to 150, the House approved H.R. 2638, a bill to provide $37.4 billion in fiscal 2008 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. Because the funding was excessive and more than the President requested, I voted "no."

  • With my support, and by a vote of 409 to 2, the House approved H.R. 2642, a bill to provide $109.2 billion in fiscal 2008 for the Department of Veteran Affairs, military construction and military housing.

June 7, 2007

  • By a vote of 247 to 176, the House approved S. 5, a bill to allow for the use of federal funds in research on embryonic stem cell lines derived from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics. I voted "no." On June 20, the bill was vetoed by the President.

June 6, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 408 to 8, the House approved H.R. 632, a bill to authorize $54 million for the Energy Department to create a program of competitive cash prizes for technological advances in the commercial use of hydrogen energy.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 368 to 48, the House approved H.R. 964, a bill to prohibit the use or installation of software known as "spyware" without the computer owner's consent.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 406 to 10, the House approved H.R. 2446, a bill to authorize $6.4 billion in aid to Afghanistan for programs including counter-narcotics efforts, assistance for women and girls, and funds for emergency energy resources.

  • By a vote of 204 to 213, the House rejected H.R. 2560. While promoted for its ban of human cloning, concerns were raised that it would have encouraged research leading to the exploitation and destruction of human embryos. I voted "no."

May 24, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 382 to 37, the House approved H.R. 2317, a bill to require lobbyists to provide quarterly reports to the House clerk and secretary of the Senate regarding "bundled" contributions totaling more than $5,000 in a quarter that they forward to federal candidates, leadership political action committees or political party committees.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 396 to 22, the House approved H.R. 2316, a bill to require lobbyists to file quarterly electronic reports that would be available to the public. Lobbyists and their employees would have to certify that they have not provided, requested or directed any gift, including travel, to a member of Congress, or an officer or employee of either chamber.

May 23, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 284 to 141, the House approved H.R. 1252, a bill to prohibit and set civil and criminal penalties for price gouging for fuels in areas experiencing an "energy emergency."

  • With my support, and by a vote of 421 to 0, the House approved H.R. 67, a bill to establish a Veterans Affairs Department program to provide assistance to states for outreach to veterans and their families.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 419 to 0, the House approved H.R. 612, a bill to extend from two to six years the eligibility period for veterans to receive VA hospital care, medical services or nursing home care after their discharge or release.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 421 to 1, the House approved H.R. 1470, a bill to require that chiropractic care be available at no fewer than 75 veterans medical centers by Dec. 31, 2009.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 421 to 0, the House approved H.R. 2199, a bill to authorize new research centers for traumatic brain injuries and require the establishment of a comprehensive program to treat traumatic brain injuries at VA health centers.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 414 to 0, the House approved H.R. 2239, a bill to extend eligibility for VA vocational rehabilitation benefits to current members of the armed forces who are hospitalized or are receiving outpatient medical care.

May 22, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 345 to 72, the House approved H.R. 2264, a bill to subject foreign oil producers to U.S. antitrust laws and allow the Justice Department to sue members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for setting quotas to manage global oil prices.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 412 to 8, the House approved S. 1104, a bill to permit up to 500 Iraqis or Afghans who have worked with the U.S. military as translators to be eligible for admittance to the U.S.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 412 to 0, the House approved H.R. 2399, a bill to increase penalties for knowingly bringing an illegal immigrant into the country or harboring an illegal immigrant and create new penalties for vessels in U.S. jurisdiction that fail to comply with law enforcement officers.

May 17, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 397 to 2, the House approved H.R. 1585, a bill to authorize $648.6 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2008.

May 10, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 409 to 13, the House approved H.R. 1873, a bill to increase the federal government's small-business procurement goal to 30 percent from 23 percent under current law.

  • By a vote of 171 to 255, the House rejected H.R. 2237, a bill to require the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq within 90 to 180 days of the bill's enactment. I voted "no".

  • By a vote of 221 to 205, the House approved H.R. 2206, a bill to provide $42.8 billion in fiscal 2007 emergency spending for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and require another congressional vote in late July to release $52.8 billion. The bill included restrictions on the war effort which I thought unwise. I voted "no."

  • By a vote of 225 to 197, the House approved H.R. 2082, a bill to authorize classified amounts in fiscal 2008 for U.S. intelligence activities and agencies. I voted "no."

May 9, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 414 to 3, the House approved H.R. 890, a bill to set restrictions on the relationship between educational institutions and lending companies that offer loans to students. It would require schools to adapt codes of conduct governing their relationships with private lenders.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 296 to 126, the House approved H.R. 1684, a bill to authorize $39.9 billion in fiscal 2008 for the Department of Homeland Security.

May 8, 2007

  • By a vote of 212 to 207, the House approved S. Con. Res. 21, a resolution to allow up to $955.8 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2008. I think that's too much money, and voted "no."

  • With my support, and by a vote of 364 to 57, the House approved a motion to instruct conferees who will negotiate with Senate counterparts on Con. Res. 21 to support lower spending levels.

May 3, 2007

  • By a vote of 237 to 180, the House approved H.R. 1592, a bill to expand federal hate-crimes law to make certain violent crimes against an individual because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability stand-alone hate-crime offenses. I have concerns about punishing people for their thoughts in addition to their actions, so I voted "no."

May 2, 2007

  • The House failed to override President Bush's May 1 veto of a bill to provide military funding with the goal of redeploying most American troops in Iraq by March 2008. With a 2/3rds majority required to override the veto, the motion failed by a 222 to 203 vote. I voted against the resolution and in support of the President.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 365 to 48, the House approved H.R. 1429, a bill to authorize $7.4 billion in fiscal 2008 and such sums as necessary from fiscal 2009 through 2012 for the Head Start program.

April 26, 2007

  • By a vote of 277 to 137, the House approved H.R. 249, a bill to prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from selling or transferring wild horses or burros or their remains for processing into commercial products. I voted "no."

April 25, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 418 to 7, the House approved H.R. 1678, a bill to authorize $49 million per year in fiscal 2008 and 2009 for specified domestic and foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 420 to 3, the House approved H.R. 493, a bill to prohibit insurance companies, employers, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating on the basis of genetic information. It would bar health plans from requiring genetic testing. The prohibitions against genetic discrimination would include genetic information on the fetus of a pregnant woman.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 380 to 45, the House approved HR 1332, a bill to authorize the Small Business Administration to create four new loan programs which would provide long- term loans for business start-ups or business expansions, and expand the number of certified development companies eligible to issue SBA guaranteed loans.

  • By a vote of 218 to 208, the House approved H.R. 1591, the Fiscal 2007 Supplemental/Conference Report. This bill, since vetoed by President Bush, would have provide $124.2 billion in fiscal 2007 emergency funding, as well as set a goal of redeploying most U.S. combat troops in Iraq by the end of March 2008, if the President can certify the Iraq government is meeting benchmarks, and by the end of 2007 if he cannot. Despite my doubts and concerns about the war, I felt it unwise for Congress to try to micromanage the war, and accordingly I voted "no."

April 20, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 269 to 134, the House approved H.R. 1257, a bill to require publicly traded corporations to allow shareholders to cast non-binding votes on compensation packages for top executives. It would require companies to disclose executive severance pay plans in the event of any acquisition, merger, consolidation, proposed sale or other disposition of substantially all of a company's assets.

April 18, 2007

  • By a vote of 267 to 158, the House approved H.R. 1361, a bill to overhaul the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program and create a disaster planning position within the agency. The SBA would be required to develop and implement a disaster response plan and maintain a 1,000-person "disaster reserve corps." Individual disaster loan limits would be doubled to $3 million. The agency would be required to create a centralized application tracking system and revise repayment and disbursement timetables. I voted "no" because this bill would raise taxpayer costs by creating new grant programs, allowing individual businesses to receive both grants and subsidized loans in response to a single event.

April 17, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 407 to 7, the House approved H.R. 1677, a bill to require the IRS to notify a taxpayer if it suspected unauthorized use of the taxpayer's identity, permit the IRS to withhold information from lenders it deemed predatory and require the IRS to expand its outreach to people who might be eligible for the earned-income tax credit, even if they did not file a tax return, among other provisions.

March 28, 2007

  • With my support, and a vote of 426 to 0, the House approved H.R. 1538, a bill to create a new system of case managers, advocates and counselors for wounded servicemembers returning from combat overseas. It would establish a toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies in medical facilities and create a new system to transfer soldiers' medical records from the Defense Department to the Veterans Affairs Department more efficiently.

March 27, 2007

  • By a vote of 299 to 124, the House approved H.R. 1401, a bill to authorize $6.2 billion for the next four years for rail, mass transit and bus security. I voted "No" due to concerns about how the funds would be distributed.

March 26, 2007

  • With my support, and a vote of 359 to 48, the House approved H.R. 802, a bill to require the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency to establish regulations concerning the air emissions of U.S. vessels and for vessels operating in U.S. waters.

  • With my support, and a vote of 368 to 39, the House approved H.R. 137, a bill to make it a felony to knowingly buy, sell, transport, deliver or receive any animal in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of participation in a fighting venture. It would increase the maximum prison sentence to three years.

  • With my support, and a vote of 329 to 78, the House approved H.R. 580, a bill to allow the attorney general to appoint interim U.S. attorneys for a period of no more than 120 days in the event of a vacancy.

March 23, 2007

  • By a vote of 218 to 212, the House approved H.R. 1591, a bill to appropriate $124.3 billion in fiscal 2007 emergency funding, as well as set in motion a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by August 2008. I voted "No" because the bill would have tied the President's hands in Iraq, and included a large amount of non-emergency domestic spending which was added to win a few additional votes in the House.

March 22, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 423 to 0, the House approved H.R. 545, a bill to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to clarify that territories and Indian tribes are eligible to receive grants for preventing the use of methamphetamines.

March 21, 2007

  • By a vote of 302 to 125, the House approved H.R. 1227, a bill to block the demolition of New Orleans public housing units until a plan is developed to replace them. I voted "No."

  • With my support, and by a vote of 423 to 0, the House approved H.R. 327, a bill to require the Veterans Affairs Department to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 424 to 0, the House approved H.R. 797, a bill to provide veterans who receive disability compensation because of blindness in one eye additional benefits if they become visually impaired in the second eye, rather than when full blindness occurs.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 418 to 0, the House approved H.R. 1284, a bill to increase the rate of compensation for disabled veterans and the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation for their families, effective Dec. 1, 2007.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 413 to 1, the House approved H.R. 740, a bill to make it a crime to knowingly modify caller ID information with the intent of misleading the recipient of a call, a practice known as "spoofing."

March 19, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 390 to 10, the House approved H.R. 658, a bill to allow the Park Service to enter into cooperative agreements with other federal agencies and non-federal entities to protect natural resources on park lands and in surrounding areas.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 394 to 1, the House approved H.R. 839, a bill to authorize the Interior Department to conduct a feasibility study and environmental evaluation on raising the height of the Arthur V. Watkins Dam for the development of additional storage to meet water supply needs within the Weber Basin Project area.

March 15, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 347 to 73, the House approved H.R. 1362, a bill that would limit the time on federal no-bid contracts, require certain agencies to create plans for increasing competition in contract bidding and set up disclosure and oversight requirements for contracts.

March 14, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 390 to 34, the House approved H.R. 1254, a bill to require organizations that raise money for presidential libraries to disclose on a quarterly basis the identities of donors who contribute $200 or more.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 333 to 93, the House approved H.R. 1255, a bill to repeal a 2001 executive order restricting access to presidential records and establish a statutory process under which current and former presidents could claim executive privilege over records.

  • By a vote of 308 to 117, the House approved H.R. 1309, a bill to clarify that the 20-day time limit for responding to Freedom of Information requests begins on the date the request is received. I voted "No."

  • With my support, and by a vote of 331 to 94, the House approved H.R. 985, a bill to provide protection to federal employees who lawfully disclose evidence of waste, abuse or gross mismanagement that they believe is credible.

March 12, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 395 to 1, the House approved H.R. 85, a bill to set more detailed requirements for an existing Energy Department grant program that aims to encourage the use of energy efficiency through the transfer of information from the research sector to businesses and governments.

March 9, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 303 to 108, the House approved H.R. 720, a bill to authorize $14 billion in fiscal 2008 through 2011 for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $2 billion in fiscal 2008 through 2012 for three other EPA clean-water programs.

March 8, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 368 to 59, the House approved H.R. 700, a bill to authorize $125 million for an EPA pilot program that funds projects intended to provide water from alternative sources in an environmentally sustainable manner.

March 7, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 367 to 58, the House approved H.R. 569, a bill to authorize $1.7 billion in fiscal 2008 through 2012 for sewer overflow control EPA grants.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 422 to 0, the House approved H.R. 710, a bill to make paired kidney donations legal and bar criminal penalties against such donations. It would provide $30 million during 2009 and $470 million after 2013 to reimburse physicians under the Medicare program.

March 1, 2007

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 241 to 185, the House approved H.R. 800, a bill to allow union organizers to bypass secret-ballot elections if a majority of eligible employees sign a petition in support of union formation.

February 28, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 423 to 0, the House approved H.R. 556, a bill to strengthen federal review of all national-security-related business transactions.

February 27, 2007

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 396 to 16, the House approved H.R. 884, a bill to create a new International Cooperative Programs Office within the Homeland Security Department's Science and Technology Directorate.

February 16, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 246 to 182, the House adopted H. Con. Res. 63, a resolution disapproving of the President's decision to deploy more than 20,000 additional U.S. combat troops to Iraq.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 360 to 45, the House approved H.R. 976, a bill to provide $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small businesses.

February 8, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 400 to 3, the House approved H.R. 547, a bill to authorize $10 billion for research on biofuels and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels.

January 31, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 286 to 140, the House approved H.J. Res. 20, a joint resolution to provide $463.5 billion in continuing appropriations through Sept. 30, 2007, for all federal departments and agencies whose fiscal 2007 bills had not been enacted.

January 24, 2007

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 226 to 191, the House adopted H. Res. 78, a resolution amending House rules to provide limited voting rights in the Committee of the Whole to the delegates from the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

January 23, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 427 to 0, the House approved H.R. 599, a bill to require the Homeland Security secretary to ensure that there is a sufficient number of fulltime personnel involved in the review and prioritization of anti-terrorism technologies to determine if they qualify for liability protection under the 2002 Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 431 to 0, the House approved H.R. 476, a bill to prevent Members of Congress who are convicted of certain felonies related to their official duties from receiving their congressional pensions.

January 22, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 414 to 1, the House approved H.R. 390, a bill to require the National Archives to create an electronically searchable database of historic records of servitude, emancipation and post-Civil War reconstruction within federal agencies to be used for genealogical and historical research.

January 19, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 416 to 0, the House approved H.R. 475, a bill to expand the House Page Board from five to eight members. It would add one member from the minority party for partisan balance, along with a former page and a parent of a current page. The page board would be required to meet regularly.

January 18, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 264 to 163, the House approved H.R. 6, a bill to limit tax benefits and require royalty payments from certain oil and gas companies. The resulting revenue would be deposited into a new renewable energy account that could be used to offset the cost of research into alternative energy sources and conservation measures contained in future legislation.

January 17, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 413 to 2, the House approved H.R. 434, a bill to authorize, until Dec. 31, 2007, all programs, authority and provisions including pilot programs implemented before Sept. 30, 2006, by the Small Business Administration.

  • With my support, and by a vote of 356 to 71, the House approved H.R. 5, a bill to cut interest rates in half over a five-year period for undergraduates with subsidized student loans, beginning July 2007. Additional cuts would become effective on July 1 each year for the next four years.

January 12, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 255 to 170, the House approved H.R. 4, a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug companies the prices of drugs covered under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The bill specifies that it should not be construed to authorize HHS to establish or require a particular formulary.

January 11, 2007

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 253 to 174, the House approved H.R. 3, a bill to allow the use of federal funds in research on embryonic stem cell lines derived from surplus embryos at in-vitro fertilization clinics.

January 10, 2007

  • With my support, and by a vote of 315 to 116, the House approved a bill to increase the federal minimum wage by $2.10 over two years to $7.25 an hour.

January 9, 2007

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 239 to 188, the House adopted H. Res. 35, a resolution to create a new Select Intelligence Oversight Panel within the House Appropriations Committee.

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 299 to 128, the House approved H.R. 1, a bill to implement recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission. Unfortunately, we haven't yet figured out how to implement some of the recommendations without doing tremendous harm to the economy, which would itself be a major victory for our enemies.

On January 5, 2007

  • With my support and a vote of 430 to 5, the House approved Title 3 of H. Res. 6. The title amends House rules to prohibit a recorded vote from being kept open for the sole purpose of reversing the outcome of a vote, and to prevent consideration of negotiated House-Senate conference reports if the text differs in any way, other than clerical, from the text that was signed by the conferees.

  • With my support and a vote of 280 to 152, the House approved Title 4 of H. Res. 6. This title amends House rules to improve the transparency of the earmark process by requiring legislation to list the names of members sponsoring provisions providing for earmarked spending, limited tax cuts, or targeted tariff reductions. The title also restores PAYGO, by House rule, to prevent the consideration of legislation which would increase direct spending or reduce revenues unless the legislation provides offsetting spending cuts or revenue increases. This latter change implements by rule a statute which expired in 2002.

  • Despite my opposition, and by a vote of 232 to 200, the House adopted Title V of H. Res. 6, a resolution to set a part of the rules of the 110th Congress. The title provided special rules limiting debate during floor consideration of bills regarding the Sept. 11 commission recommendations, the minimum wage, stem cell research funding and Medicare prescription drugs.

On January 4, 2007

  • With my support and a vote of 426 to 0, the House approved Title 1 of H. Res. 6, a resolution to set the rules for the 110th Congress. The title extends the rules of the 109th Congress.

  • With my support and a vote of 430 to 1, the House approved Title 2 of H. Res. 6. The title bans Members of the House from accepting gifts from lobbyists or organizations employing lobbyists. It requires Members to obtain pre-approval from the ethics committee for travel paid by outside sponsors and ban the use of official or campaign funds for travel on corporate jets. It also prevents Members from taking or withholding actions to influence outside groups' hiring on a partisan basis and requires annual ethics training for officers and employees of the House.