May 18, 2015
In this MegaVote for Hawaii's 1st & 2nd Congressional Districts:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Trade Promotion Authority - Cloture
- House: Waters of the United States – Passage
- House: Twenty-Week Abortion Ban – Passage
- House: Iran Nuclear Agreement Congressional Review – Passage
- House: Fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization – Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills
- Senate: Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act
- House: Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015
- House: Fiscal 2016 Legislative Branch Appropriations
- House: American Research and Competitiveness Act
Recent Senate Votes
Trade Promotion Authority - Cloture - Vote Rejected (52-45, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on a bill that would set specific conditions on the president of the United States when negotiating foreign trade agreements and grant Congress final approval on any agreement reached by the participating parties without amendment in an up or down vote.
Sen. Brian Schatz voted NO
Sen. Mazie Hirono voted NO
Recent House Votes
Waters of the United States – Passage - Vote Passed (261-155, 16 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would effectively block the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing or implementing a proposed rule regarding the definition of the "Waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The bill would require the agencies to withdraw the proposal and develop a new rule with consultation from state and local officials and stakeholders.
Rep. Mark Takai voted NO
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted NO
Twenty-Week Abortion Ban – Passage - Vote Passed (242-184, 1 Present, 5 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman's life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape if, as amended, for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion.
Rep. Mark Takai voted NO
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted NO
Iran Nuclear Agreement Congressional Review – Passage - Vote Passed (400-25, 7 Not Voting)
The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill that would require that Congress be given an opportunity to review any final international agreement on Iran's nuclear program before the president could waive or suspend any sanctions on Iran that were imposed by Congress. Under the bill, Congress would have an initial 30 days to review any final nuclear pact with Iran, during which time the president could waive executive branch sanctions against Tehran - but could not use his authority to grant national security waivers for sanctions enacted into law by Congress.
Rep. Mark Takai voted YES
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization – Passage - Vote Passed (269-151, 12 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would authorize $604.2 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2016, including $89.2 billion for overseas contingency operations, of which $38.3 billion would be authorized for non-war base budget operations and maintenance. Excluding the war funding, the bill would authorize roughly: $136.6 billion for operations and maintenance, $109.7 billion for procurement, $136.4 billion for military personnel, $7.3 billion for military construction and family housing, $68.4 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation, and $31.7 billion for the Defense Health Program.
Rep. Mark Takai voted YES
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Upcoming Votes
Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act - H.R.1314
The Senate is set to work on this bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a right to an administrative appeal relating to adverse determinations of tax-exempt status of certain organizations.
Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 - H.R.2353
This House bill would provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
Fiscal 2016 Legislative Branch Appropriations - HR2250
The bill would make appropriations for the Legislative Branch for fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
American Research and Competitiveness Act - H.R.880
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify and make permanent the research credit.