WASHINGTON -- Here's how North Carolina members of Congress voted in the week ending Oct. 23.
HOUSE
COAST GUARD BUDGET: Voting 385 for and 11 against, the House on Oct. 23 passed a bill (HR 3619) authorizing $10 billion for the Coast Guard in fiscal 2010, about two-thirds of which would fund core missions such as conducting searches and rescues, combating drug smugglers and defending the U.S. coast against terrorist threats. The bill, which increases Coast Guard personnel by 1,500 positions to a force of 47,000, awaits Senate action.
The bill requires the 125-to-150 cruise ships that enter U.S. ports to do a better job of preventing or responding to sexual assaults on passengers. Cruise operators would be required to report alleged crimes to the FBI and Coast Guard, publish crime data online, establish procedures to assist victims and have at least one crew member trained to investigate crime scenes.
The bill sets tougher safety rules for commercial fishing vessels that operate beyond three nautical miles of the U.S. coast, including a requirement for crew training every five years in preventing and surviving collisions. Additionally, the bill authorizes $70 million over five years for Arctic-shipping programs in areas such as icebreaking, navigation, and preventing oil spills.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: G.K. Butterfield, D-1, Bob Etheridge, D-2, David Price, D-4, Virginia Foxx, R-5, Howard Coble, R-6, Mike McIntyre, D-7, Larry Kissell, D-8, Sue Myrick, R-9, Patrick McHenry, R-10, Heath Shuler , D-11, Melvin Watt, D-12, Brad Miller, D-13
Not voting: Walter Jones, R-3
SOLAR ENERGY: Voting 310 for and 106 against, the House on Oct. 22 authorized $2.18 billion between fiscal 2011-2015 for Department of Energy programs to develop solar-energy technologies. The bill (HR 3585) establishes a long-term partnership among the federal government, the private sector and universities to develop and market solar technologies, in the same way that federal funds and policies have been used to nurture the U.S. semi-conductor industry in recent decades.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Butterfield, Etheridge, Price, McIntyre, Kissell, Shuler, Watt, Miller
Voting no: Jones, Foxx, Coble, Myrick, McHenry
SENATE
MEDICARE DOCTOR PAYMENTS: Voting 47 for and 53 against, the Senate on Oct. 21 failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill (S 1776) that would avert a 21 percent cut next year in Medicare payments to doctors and 5 percent cuts in following years. The bill was opposed mainly because its cost of $247 billion over ten years would be added to the national debt. The bill also sought to permanently change the formula for calculating Medicare payments to doctors.
A yes vote was to advance the bill.
Voting yes: Kay Hagan, D
Voting no: Richard Burr, R
2010 MILITARY BUDGET: Voting 68 for and 29 against, the Senate on Oct. 22 sent President Obama the final version of a $680 billion defense budget (HR 2647) for fiscal 2010 that includes $130 billion for war in Iraq and Afghanistan and $27.9 billion for military health care. The bill was opposed mainly over its expansion of the federal hate-crimes law to cover offenses based on sexual orientation, gender or disability. The bill recommends a 3.4 percent military pay raise, increases active-duty personnel by 40,200 troops to 1.41 million troops, caps procurement of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and ends the over-budget VH-71 White House helicopter program.
The bill makes changes requested by President Obama in rules for trying terrorist suspects before military commissions, adding due- process protections in areas such as the admissibility of coerced testimony, hearsay evidence and exculpatory evidence.
A yes vote was to adopt the conference report.
Voting yes: Hagan
Voting no: Burr
HOMELAND-SECURITY BUDGET: Voting 79 for 19 against, the Senate on Oct. 20 sent President Obama the conference report on a $44.1 billion Department of Homeland Security budget for fiscal 2010. The bill (HR 2892) funds agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard. The bill prevents Guantanamo Bay prisoners from being transferred to U.S. soil except for court proceedings, and bars the release of photos and videos showing U.S. mistreatment of prisoners overseas since 9/11.
The bill appropriates $16 billion for combating illegal immigration, including $800 million for physical and electronic fencing on the Mexican border and funding for 41,000 Border Patrol and Customs agents and 33,400 detention beds.
Additionally, the bill provides $1 billion for installing explosive- detection units at airports; $950 million for protecting cities against attacks; $810 million for firefighters; $400 million to protect government computer systems against cyber attacks and $122 million for air-cargo screening.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Voting no: Burr
Not voting: Hagan
