WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted Sept. 23 through Sept. 29.
Along with the week’s roll call votes, the Senate also passed, by voice vote, a resolution (S. Res. 753) urging the government of Brazil to ensure that the October 2022 elections are conducted in a free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful manner; and the Technological Hazards Preparedness and Training Act (S. 4166), to authorize preparedness programs to support communities containing technological hazards and emerging threats.
House Vote 1:AVIATION CENTER: The House has passed the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act (H.R. 3482), sponsored by Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., to create the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation, which would be an enterprise for improving partnerships between military and civil aviation and aerospace parties. Carson said the Center was intended to address the problem that “innovation and lessons learned in various aviation sectors have not been shared in a collaborative or even a timely manner, especially considering rapid developments in new technology.” The vote, on Sept. 28, was 369 yeas to 56 nays.YEAS: Bob Gibbs R-OH (7th), Troy Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Jim Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 2:MENTAL HEALTH SPENDING: The House has passed the Mental Health Matters Act (H.R. 7780), sponsored by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., to create federal grant programs to fund schools’ provision of mental health services and bar certain provisions in employer-sponsored benefit plans that restrict mental health care coverage. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 220 yeas to 205 nays.NAYS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 3:MERGER FILINGS: The House has passed the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act (H.R. 3843), sponsored by Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., to increase the fees for companies filing applications for approval by federal regulators of proposed large mergers and index the fees to the rate of inflation. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 242 yeas to 184 nays.NAYS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 4:INFECTIOUS DISEASE PLANNING: The House has passed the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act (H.R. 8466), sponsored by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va. The bill would establish a requirement for all federal government agencies to make plans for infectious diseases that prompt a nationwide public health emergency. Connolly said: “Federal agencies must place the health and safety of federal employees at the forefront of their plans and operations while continuing to provide vital services to the public, ensuring continuity of operations.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 351 yeas to 73 nays.YEAS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 5:FOREIGN TOURISTS: The House has passed the Visit America Act (H.R. 6965), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev. The bill would require the Commerce Department to make a 10-year plan for increasing the amount of foreign tourism into the U.S. and create an assistant secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, with duties that include promoting such tourism. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 325 yeas to 93 nays.YEAS: Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 6:FOREIGN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE: The House has passed the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 7321), sponsored by Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore. The bill would establish Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) worker certification and reporting and inspection requirements for foreign facilities that repair U.S. aircraft. A supporter, Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., said the bill “will correct the FAA’s unacceptably lax oversight of foreign aeronautical repair stations that work on U.S. airline fleets and help increase the safety of our global aviation system.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 374 yeas to 52 nays.YEAS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 7:FOOD AID AND VETERANS: The House has passed the Food Security for All Veterans Act (H.R. 8888), sponsored by Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola, D-Alaska, to establish an Office of Food Security at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Office would give veterans information about possible enrollment in federal nutrition assistance programs. Peltola said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring our veterans and their families can enjoy a safe and healthy life after their service for our country.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 376 yeas to 49 nays.YEAS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 8:GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY: The House has passed the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8446), sponsored by Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., to reauthorize through fiscal 2028 the federal government’s Global Food Security Strategy effort to improve food availability overseas. McCollum said the effort helped “millions of people in the world’s poorest countries become self-sufficient in feeding themselves.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 331 yeas to 95 nays.NAYS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Jordan R-OH (4th)YEAS: Balderson R-OH (12th)
House Vote 9:FOREIGN AID: The House has passed the Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act (H.R. 8463), sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas. The bill would expand the number of countries eligible for receiving aid from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent federal agency that sends grant money to developing countries. Castro said the expanded eligibility would “ensure that the MCC will continue its important work and maximize its impact fighting poverty and promoting development.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 334 yeas to 87 nays.YEAS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th)NAYS: Jordan R-OH (4th)
House Vote 10:PASSING LEGISLATION: The House has passed a motion sponsored by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., to pass en bloc, without a separate roll call vote on each bill, 12 different bills, and also agree to the Senate amendment to the Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster Recovery Act (H.R. 5641). The vote, on Sept. 29, was 296 yeas to 127 nays.NAYS: Gibbs R-OH (7th), Balderson R-OH (12th), Jordan R-OH (4th)
Senate Vote 1:APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate has approved, upon reconsideration, the nomination of Arianna Freeman to be a judge on the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Freeman has been a federal community defender attorney in Philadelphia since 2009. A supporter, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., cited Freeman’s “extensive legal experience, keen intellect, and dedication to the principles of fairness and equal justice.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 50 yeas to 47 nays.YEAS: Sherrod Brown D-OHNOT VOTING: Rob Portman R-OH
Senate Vote 2:CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate has passed the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6833), sponsored by Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., to provide continuing appropriations for government spending through Dec. 16, and add $12.3 billion of aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, as well as increase funding for disaster response programs. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 72 yeas to 25 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNOT VOTING: Portman R-OH
Senate Vote 3:WORKER BENEFITS: The Senate has approved, upon reconsideration, the nomination of Lisa M. Gomez to be the Labor Department’s assistant secretary for Employee Benefits Security. Gomez has, since 1994, been an employee benefits lawyer, most recently as a partner at a New York City law firm. A supporter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Gomez would “fight to hold employers accountable to the law, ensure workers get the benefits they are owed, and protect families’ financial security.” The vote, on Sept. 29, was 49 yeas to 36 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNOT VOTING: Portman R-OH
