Rep. Petri's Voting Record

Major Votes - 110th Congress

January 16, 2008:

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I voted against this legislation because of a provision in the bill that repealed the prohibition of Foreign Military Financing for countries that refuse to sign an agreement not to prosecute U.S. military personnel under the International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.

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