In this MegaVote for Hawaii's 1st & 2nd Congressional Districts:

Recent Congressional Votes                  December 14, 2015

• Senate: K-12 Education Reauthorization -- Passage
• House: Visa Waiver Program -- Passage
• House: Red River Private Property -- Passage
• House: Trade Enforcement -- Passage

Recent Senate Votes

K-12 Education Reauthorization -- Passage - Vote Agreed to (85-12, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared the conference report on the bill that reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 for four years, through fiscal 2020, and modifies programs and policies throughout the law with the overall goal of giving states, school districts, schools, teachers and parents greater control over all aspects of elementary and secondary education. It maintains some federal oversight of state programs through the Education Department's ability to approve state plans for the use of federal funds, but it places strong restrictions on department actions and control.

• Sen. Brian Schatz voted YES
• Sen. Mazie Hirono voted YES

Recent House Votes

Visa Waiver Program -- Passage - Vote Passed (407-19, 7 Not Voting)

The chamber passed legislation that prohibits individuals who have been to specified nations such as Syria and Iraq from entering the United States unless they are interviewed by U.S. officials and get a regular visa, even if they are from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program.

• Rep. Mark Takai voted YES
• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES

Red River Private Property -- Passage - Vote Passed (253-177, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell to current and adjacent landowners the roughly 30,000 acres of federal land along the Red River, which forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

• Rep. Mark Takai voted NO
• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted NO

Trade Enforcement -- Passage - Vote Passed (256-158, 19 Not Voting)

The House agreed to the conference report on the bill that includes numerous provisions to facilitate trade and improve U.S. trade enforcement, including formally establishing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and enhancing its authority, including authorizing an automated system for the agency to process imports and exports. It also makes permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access and phases out the taxes imposed in seven states in which they were grandfathered.

• Rep. Mark Takai voted NO
• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted NO