Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted January 9, 2026

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted January 9, 2026
By GovTrack .us @ 3:16 PM :: 219 Views :: Congressional Delegation

Still The President's Congress

by Amy West, GovTrack.us Jan. 9, 2026

This week was the beginning of the Second Session of the 119th Congress. This session will last until January 3, 2027.

There weren't a lot of votes this week, but while two indicated Congress standing up for its own powers a little, two others showed just how limited that effort is. No bills became law this week.

Venezuela War Powers

The Senate held a procedural vote on a Joint Resolution to end hostilities with Venezuela which passed 52-47 due to support from five Republicans. The odds that the actual Joint Resolution passes the Senate next week have increased. The odds it ever passes the House have not increased.

Health Insurance Premium Subsidies

The House passed a three year extension of the health insurance premium subsidies that lapsed at the end of 2025 by 230-196. Seventeen Republicans voted with all Democrats in this case. That's not a lot compared to the 196 who voted against, but it was unusual to get even this many Republicans to vote for anything related to Obamacare. The bill will go to the Senate next and the expectation is that if it comes to the floor there, it will have been amended. The likelihood even an amended version passes in the Senate is unclear.

House Fails to Override Two Vetoes

Last week, when he issued them, President Trump said cost concerns were behind his veto of the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, but the veto of the Miccosukee bill was due to their opposition to the Everglades detention center built last year. Both of these bills had been sponsored by Republicans in the House, so the vetoes were to the detriment to fellow Republicans.

Veto overrides almost always fail. On the one hand, it's not surprising that this week's two override votes did too. On the other, the bills in question passed both chambers of Congress by voice vote (House) and unanimous consent (Senate) which generally means both chambers are overwhelmingly in favor of the bills.

Even though successful overrides are rare, these are usually the kinds of circumstances that lead to that success. But not this time. This time, the House gave in to the President. Neither override vote met or exceeded the 2/3rds majority needed.

H.R. 504: Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act failed to override the veto by 236-188.
H.R. 131: Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act failed to override the veto by 248-177.

Funding the Government

Another funding bill is in the pipeline in advance of the January 30, 2026 end of the current continuing resolution funding the government. This bill, containing appropriations for multiple agencies, will still have to pass the Senate and it's expected to do so.

H.R. 6938: Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 passed 397-28.

Weekly Updates

Jan. 5, 2026, 5:31 p.m. — Vote

On the Nomination PN12-1: Keith Bass, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

Nomination Confirmed 50/35

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay

Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay

Trackers: Roll Call Votes.

Jan. 6, 2026, 11:33 a.m. — Vote

On the Nomination PN499-11: Joshua Simmons, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency

Nomination Confirmed 53/47

Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay