The issues that Congress addressed in recent weeks were Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization, Fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations, Establishing a Select Investigative Panel Under the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Homebuyers Assistance Act,
Native American Energy Act and Repeal Oil Export Ban. Following are the corresponding votes from Senators Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio and House Representative Gwen Graham, of the 2nd Congressional District and Congressman Ted Yoho, of the 3rd Congressional District.
In the Senate:
Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization – With a vote of 70-27 and three not voting, the Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany the bill that would reauthorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. Nelson voted no. Rubio voted not voting.
Fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations – With a vote of 49-47 and four not voting, the Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $35.4 billion in discretionary funding in fiscal 2016 for the Energy Department, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation and several regional authorities. Nelson voted no. Rubio voted not voting.
In the House:
Establishing a Select Investigative Panel Under the House Energy and Commerce Committee – With a vote of 242-184 and eight not voting, the House adopted a resolution, which created the Select Investigative Panel on Abortion and Fetal Tissue Donation under the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This select panel will be allowed to investigate and report on all issues related to medical procedures and practices involving fetal tissue donation and procurement, federal funding and support for abortion providers and late-term abortions. Yoho voted yes. Graham voted no.
Homebuyers Assistance Act – With a vote of 303-121 and 10 not voting, the House passed legislation which effectively delays until Feb. 1, 2016, implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's integrated rules regarding lender disclosures to consumers applying for home mortgage loans, prohibiting enforcement of the rules and lawsuits against lenders until then as long as the lender makes a good-faith effort to comply with the rules. Yoho and Graham voted yes.
Native American Energy Act – With a vote of 254-173 and seven not voting, the House passed a bill that provides for the expedited review and consideration of energy projects on Native American lands, and it limits participation in required environmental reviews of such projects and requires that judicial reviews of all energy projects involving Indian tribes be considered by the D.C. District and Circuit courts. Yoho voted yes. Graham voted no.
Repeal Oil Export Ban – With a vote of 261-159 and 14 not voting, the House passed legislation that allows the export of crude oil produced in the United States by removing the export ban imposed by the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act (PL 94-163), and it prohibits U.S. officials from imposing or enforcing restrictions on U.S. crude oil exports. Yoho and Graham voted yes.