Area Votes in Congress
WASHINGTON - Here is how Philadelphia-area members of Congress voted on major roll calls last week. House Iraq funds, withdrawal. Members approved, 218-208, the conference report on a bill (HR 1591) that requires a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq to start by Oct. 1, but sets no date for completing the pullout of all but a residual force. The bill (HR 1591) appropriates about $90 billion through September for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; $5.1 billion for military health care, including veterans' care; $3.1 billion for base closures; and $1.7 billion for military construction. The bill also provides nearly $25 billion for domestic programs.
WASHINGTON - Here is how Philadelphia-area members of Congress voted on major roll calls last week.
House
Iraq funds, withdrawal.
Members approved, 218-208, the conference report on a bill (HR 1591) that requires a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq to start by Oct. 1, but sets no date for completing the pullout of all but a residual force. The bill (HR 1591) appropriates about $90 billion through September for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; $5.1 billion for military health care, including veterans' care; $3.1 billion for base closures; and $1.7 billion for military construction. The bill also provides nearly $25 billion for domestic programs.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.), Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.), Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), Tim Holden (D., Pa.), Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.), Allyson Schwartz (D., Pa.) and Joe Sestak (D., Pa.).
Voting no: Michael N. Castle (R., Del.), Charles W. Dent (R., Pa.), Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.), Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.), Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.), H. James Saxton (R., N.J.) and Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.).
Horse slaughter. The House passed, 277-137, and sent to the Senate a bill to ban the Interior Department from selling wild horses or burros that roam public lands in the West. The bill (HR 249) is designed to stop the slaughter of those animals for human consumption abroad.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Andrews, Brady, Castle, Dent, Gerlach, Holden, LoBiondo, Murphy, Pitts, Saxton, Schwartz, Sestak and Smith.
Not voting: Fattah.
Senate
Iraq funds, withdrawal.
The Senate approved, 51-46, and sent to President Bush the conference report on a bill (HR 1591, above) to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to require that U.S. troops begin leaving Iraq by Oct. 1. The president has said he will veto the bill.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Voting yes: Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D., Del.), Thomas Carper (D., Del.), Bob Casey (D., Pa.), Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.).
Voting no: Arlen Specter (R., Pa.).
Math, science skills. Senators passed, 88-8, and sent to the House a bill focusing federal departments on the objective of keeping America a global leader in technology and innovation. The bill (S 761) would use new funds and programs to elevate U.S. math and science skills at work and in all school levels.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Carper, Casey, Lautenberg, Menendez and Specter.
Not voting: Biden.
This week. Both chambers are likely to vote on President Bush's expected veto of the Iraq funding and troop-withdrawal bill. The House will take up hate crime legislation and Head Start and National Science Foundation funding. The Senate will debate the Food and Drug Administration budget.