H.R. 5749 --Unemployment Insurance (5 minutes)– NO Would temporarily extend unemployment benefits for up to 13 weeks in all States and for up to 26 weeks in certain “high unemployment States”, on top of the 26 weeks of benefits provided under current law. The “minimum of 20 weeks of work” requirement is NOT included in this bill - which Congress included in the 2002 temporary extended benefits program that was 100% federally funded, as is this bill. So, workers who qualify for 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits – and could have an attachment to the workforce of as little as two weeks before being laid off – could qualify for up to 52 weeks of regular and extended benefits in some States under this bill. Prior extended benefits programs have never begun when the national unemployment rate was at today’s modest 5.5% (compared to the most recent program, enacted in March 2002, of 5.7%) This bill also violates PAYGO-the fifth time the Majority has violated PAYGO in the past 6 months. Cost: $14 billion over two years and will operate through March 31, 2009

Republican Motion to Recommit (15 minutes) YES Targeting extended benefits to high unemployment States; restoring long-standing 20-week work requirement for Federal extended benefits; and providing one extra week of benefits for those who return to work early, to incentive their early return to work and to help alleviate the high gas prices for unemployed individuals who return to work

H.R. 6028 --Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008– NO This bill authorizes $1.59 Billion over 3 years for assistance to Mexico and Central America to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and narcotics related violence. I voted against this legislation because it does not provide funding for our local law enforcement on the border. Sheriffs and police put their lives on the line daily to fight drug and human traffickers and it is essential that we provide them basic equipment before sending funds to other nations.

Sessions Amendment to Amtrak Reauthorization (15 minutes) YES I supported this amendment because it prohibits funds from being used by Amtrak for the long distance route that has the highest cost per passenger. The most expensive Amtrak route is the Sunset Limited, which runs from Los Angeles to New Orleans. A Heritage Foundation report states that it would be cheaper for the federal government to fly every passenger on the Sunset Limited than to keep subsidizing this route. You can read this Heritage report here.

Passage H.R. 6003 --Amtrak (5 minutes) – NO I voted against this bill. Amtrak currently receives 2% of ALL federal transportation spending, but carries less that one-half of 1% of all intercity passengers. This bill will increase the federal subsidy to Amtrak from $1.35 billion to $2.6 billion per year (a 52% increase) and cost $14.9 billion over 5 years. Since 1970, Amtrak has received more than $30 billion in taxpayer money for the benefit of a tiny fraction of the traveling public and its overpaid workforce.

Motion to Refer Kucinich Privileged Resolution Regarding Articles of Impeachment against the President to Committee on the Judiciary YES I supported this resolution to refer Rep. Kucinich’s impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee and take it off the House floor so that Congress can continue to focus on priorities like funding for our troops and veterans, reauthorizing FISA, and passing an energy bill that reduces gas prices.