Congressional votes for Nov. 27-29

In addition to roll call votes, the House this week passed the Mandatory Operational Control Reporting and Performance Measures Act of 2012 (H.R. 6025) to provide for annual reports on the status of operational control of the international land and maritime borders of the United States and unlawful entries.

The House also passed the DHS Accountability Act of 2012 (H.R. 5913) to create an independent advisory panel to comprehensively assess the management structure and capabilities related to the Department of Homeland Security and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the department; and the Clothe a Homeless Hero Act (H.R. 6328) to direct the Transportation Security Administration to transfer unclaimed clothing recovered at airport security checkpoints to local veterans organizations and other local charitable organizations.

In addition to roll call votes, the Senate this week adopted an amendment, to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254), to authorize additional Marine Corps personnel for the performance of security functions for United States embassies, consulates and other diplomatic facilities abroad.

The Senate also adopted an amendment to express the sense of the Senate on ongoing efforts to apprehend or remove Joseph Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield and end atrocities perpetuated by his Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda; an amendment to improve mental health care programs and activities for members of the Armed Forces and veterans; an amendment to expand whistle-blower protections to non-Defense contractor and grantee employees.

HOUSE VOTES:

GRANTS FOR MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS: The House has passed the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act (H.R. 5997). The bill would amend the Homeland Security Act to codify authorization of grant funding for state and urban medical programs to prepare for disasters and terrorist attacks. The vote, on Nov. 27, was 397 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Rep. W. Todd Akin R-MO (2nd), Rep. Russ Carnahan D-MO (3rd), Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr. D-MO (1st), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-MO (5th), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson R-MO (8th), Rep. Sam Graves R-MO (6th), Rep. Vicky Hartzler R-MO (4th), Rep. Billy Long R-MO (7th), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer R-MO (9th).

BORDER SECURITY: The House has agreed to the Senate amendment to the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act (H.R. 915). The bill would create a Border Enforcement Security Task Force to coordinate border policing by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The vote, on Nov. 27, was 397 yeas to 4 nays.

YEAS: Rep. W. Todd Akin R-MO (2nd), Rep. Russ Carnahan D-MO (3rd), Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr. D-MO (1st), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-MO (5th), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson R-MO (8th), Rep. Sam Graves R-MO (6th), Rep. Vicky Hartzler R-MO (4th), Rep. Billy Long R-MO (7th), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer R-MO (9th).

SENATE VOTES:

SPORTSMEN'S ACT: The Senate has rejected a motion to waive a budget point of order for the Sportsmen's Act (S. 3525). The bill would expand access to federal lands for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing, and promote the conservation of land and wildlife. The vote, on Nov. 26, was 50 yeas to 44 nays, with a three-fifths majority required to waive the point of order.

YEAS: Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

NAYS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO.

MILITARY USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS: The Senate has approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) that would remove a bill provision limiting the military's spending on biodiesel and other alternative fuels. The vote, on Nov. 28, was 62 yeas to 37 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

BENEFITS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS: The Senate has approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) that would expand the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program to cover emergency medical responders, and also make various reforms to the program. The vote, on Nov. 28, was 85 yeas to 11 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

AFGHANISTAN WAR: The Senate has approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) to express the sense of Congress that the U.S. should end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The vote, on Nov. 29, was 62 yeas to 33 nays.

NAYS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO.

NOT VOTING: Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

MILITARY AND AUTISM TREATMENT: The Senate has approved an amendment, to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) that would require the military's TRICARE health insurance program to include behavioral health treatment, including applied behavior analysis, in its coverage of autism therapies. The vote, on Nov. 29, was 66 yeas to 29 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

NAYS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO.

GUANTÁNAMO BAY DETAINEES: The Senate has approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) that would bar the transfer from the Navy's detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, 166 foreign enemy combatants now being detained at Guantánamo. The vote, on Nov. 29, was 54 yeas to 41 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO.

NAYS: Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.

DETAINING U.S. CITIZENS: The Senate has approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) that would state that declarations of war do not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. The vote, on Nov. 29, was 67 yeas to 29 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Roy Blunt R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO.