April 14, 2013

Summary of how Cornyn, Cruz and Poe voted last week:
Senate

Advance of Gun Legislation: Voted, 68-31, to silence a Republican filibuster and start floor debate on gun legislation. The underlying bill (S 649) would require universal background checks, crack down on straw purchases of guns for criminals and fund measures to protect schools against gun violence. The bill will be subjected to numerous amendments, starting with votes on the so-called Manchin-Toomey expansion of background checks and on bids to limit the size of magazines and reinstate the assaultweapons ban. The Senate also will consider several pro-gun-rights amendments during this first round of debate on new federal firearms policies. A yes vote was to advance the bill. Cornyn No, Cruz No

Interior Secretary Jewell: Confirmed, 87-11, Sally Jewell as secretary of the Interior. Jewell, 57, had been chief executive of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a nationwide retailer of recreational gear, sporting goods and clothing. She replaces Ken Salazar, who resigned from the Interior Department in January. A yes vote was to confirm Jewell. Cornyn Yes, Cruz Yes

House

National Labor Relations Board: Passed, 219-209, a GOP bill (HR 1120) to halt actions by the National Labor Relations Board, the agency that oversees collective bargaining and other areas of labor-management relations. NLRB operations already have been slowed by a court ruling that President Obama wrongly used recess appointments in January 2012 to fill three vacancies on the five-member board. The administration is appealing that ruling. This bill would put on ice hundreds of NLRB actions over the past 15 months and bar future actions until the board can establish a legal quorum or meet certain other conditions. The president has submitted nominations to bring the NLRB to full strength. A yes vote was to pass the bill. Poe Yes

Exemption for Veterans: Defeated. 197-229,a Democratic motion to exempt from HR 1120 (above) any National Labor Relations Board action involving parties such as veterans, workers alleging sexual harassment or workplace bias and firms that send jobs abroad to avoid union hiring. A yes vote backed the Democratic motion. Poe No

Hydropower, Environmental Rules: Approved, 416-7, and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 678) that would loosen environmental rules in order to speed the placement of generators in Bureau of Reclamation water conduits such as canals, aqueducts and pipelines. The generators would produce large amounts of electricity for residential, industrial and agricultural use. The bill allows waivers of the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act for these projects if the underlying facility already has received NEPA approval. That law requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of their construction projects. The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates in 17 western states, has built more than 600 dams and reservoirs and nearly 60 power plants and is the nation’s largest water wholesaler. This bill only affects the bureau’s conduits for delivering water to customers, not its reservoir or river projects. A yes vote was to pass the bill. Poe Yes


Active Legislation

113th Congress (2013-2014)
Updated April 11, 2013

Reference: The Library of Congress Thomas

Details of bills can be found at:

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm

Categories
Appropriations / Agency Authorizations / Public Laws, 113th Congress (selected)
Popular Documents / Program Authorizations
Currently Active
Bills that may receive floor action this week.
Senate chamber
Gun legislation / S.649
House chamber
Popular Titles and Subjects
A — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Assault weapons / S.150 / H.R.437
B — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Background checks for firearm sales
(SEE: Gun legislation) / S.374 / H.R.21, H.R.137
Balanced budget amendment / S.J.Res.1, S.J.Res.6, S.J.Res.7 / H.J.Res.1, H.J.Res.2, H.J.Res.4, H.J.Res.5, H.J.Res.6, H.J.Res.10, H.J.Res.11, H.J.Res.17, H.J.Res.18
C — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Campaign finance, disclosure requirements / H.R.148
D — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Debt limit, suspend until May 19, 2013 / H.R.325 / P.L.113-3
G — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Gun legislation / S.649
H — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Hurricane Sandy, increase Flood Insurance borrowing authority / H.R.41 / P.L.113-1
M — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Minimum wage, increase the Federal minimum wage / S.460 / H.R.1010
P — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Pay freeze for Federal and Congressional employees, extend through December 31, 2013 / H.R.273
Pay of Members of Congress, eliminate automatic adjustment / S.65 / H.R.134, H.R.196
Pay of Members of Congress, hold in escrow if budget resolution not adopted by April 15, 2013 / H.R.325 / P.L.113-3
S — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Sequester, replace / S.388, S.16
Senate rules, changes related to bipartisan cloture motions and conference motions / S.Res.16
Senate rules, changes related to motions to proceed, amendments and nominations / S.Res.15
Senate rules, cloture invoked with less than a three-fifths majority / S.Res.5
Stolen Valor / S.210 / H.R.258
Straw purchases of firearms
(SEE: Gun legislation) / S.54 / H.R.404
T — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
TANF, extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program through December 31, 2013 / Sec. 3, H.R.890
W — Active Legislation / Key / Return to top of page
Welfare waivers, prohibit HHS from granting a waiver relating to compliance with the work requirements / Sec. 2, H.R.890


Sources: Library of Congress, Houston Chronicle