Georgia delegation congressional voting

WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at how Georgia’s members of Congress voted over the previous week.

Along with roll call votes last week, the House passed the Homeland Security for Children Act (H.R. 1372) to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security planning, and passed the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act (H.R. 534) to require the Secretary of State to take such actions as may be necessary for the United States to rejoin the Bureau of International Expositions.

HOUSE

SCREENING TSA EMPLOYEES: The House has passed the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act (H.R. 876) sponsored by Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y. The bill would increase requirements for the Transportation Security Administration to screen its potential and current employees for potential criminal wrongdoing. Katko said the tighter requirements follow investigations that found many cases of drug smuggling and potential terrorist activities at airports by TSA employees and showed the need to address “an increasingly disturbing threat to safety of the traveling public.” The vote, on April 25, was unanimous with 409 yeas.

YEAS: Full Georgia delegation

ADMINISTERING COPYRIGHT LAW: The House has passed the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695) sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. The bill would establish citizenship and copyright expertise requirements for individuals chosen to serve as the Register of Copyrights and make the position a presidential appointment subject to Senate confirmation. Goodlatte said establishing qualification standards for the Register should improve government administration of intellectual property issues, which are a vital and growing part of the U.S. economy. A bill opponent, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said the changes “might unnecessarily politicize the Copyright Office and the position of the Register and could make its work less transparent.” The vote, on April 26, was 378 yeas to 48 nays.

YEAS: Rick Allen, R-12; Buddy Carter, R-1; Doug Collins, R-9; Drew Ferguson, R-3; Tom Graves, R-14; Jody Hice, R-10; John Lewis, D-5; Barry Loudermilk, R-11; Austin Scott, R-8; Davis Scott, D-13; Rob Woodall, R-7

NAYS: Sanford Bishop, D-2; Hank Johnson, D-4

URBAN PLANNING GROUPS: The House has passed the Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform Repeal Act (S. 496) sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. The bill would repeal a Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration rule issued in December 2016 that mandated expanded size and authority for Metropolitan Planning Organization urban transportation areas across the country. A supporter, Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Minn., said reversing the rule’s move to expand the ability of unelected planning officials to shape urban transportation would return power to elected local politicians who can be held responsible by voters for their shaping of development and transportation programs. The vote, on April 27, was 417 yeas to 3 nays.

YEAS: Full delegation except Ferguson did not vote

FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC DISCLOSURES: The House has passed the Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act (H.R. 1694) sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. The bill would subject Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Freedom of Information Act requirements for responding to requests from the public for the release of agency documents that reveal details of Fannie and Freddie’s operations. A supporter, Rep. Dennis A. Ross, R-Fla., said that especially given the $187 billion financial crisis bailout of Fannie and Freddie funded by taxpayers, the public should have access to basic information about the two agencies. The vote, on April 27, was unanimous with 425 yeas.

YEAS: Full delegation

SENATE

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Sonny Perdue to serve as Agriculture Secretary. A supporter, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said that Perdue, a former two-term governor of Georgia, had substantial experience in agriculture and backing from nearly 700 agricultural stakeholder groups. Stabenow added that Perdue “has the experience, the judgment, and the commitment to lead” Agriculture.” The vote, on April 24, was 87 yeas to 11 nays.

YEAS: Johnny Isakson, R

PRESENT: David Perdue, R

DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Rod J. Rosenstein to serve as U.S. Deputy Attorney General. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Rosenstein, who had been U.S. Attorney for the Maryland district since 2005, a qualified, is a competent figure to help shape policies at the Justice Department. The vote, on April 25, was 94 yeas to 6 nays.

YEAS: Perdue, Isakson

LABOR SECRETARY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Alexander Acosta to serve as Labor Secretary. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., cited Acosta’s broad, bipartisan support from labor and business groups, and said that at Labor, Acosta would help workers by encouraging economic growth while advocating for the middle class. An opponent, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized Acosta for failing to commit to supporting reforms to overtime pay rules, measures to close the gender pay gap and ensuring that there is an adequate number of workplace safety inspectors. The vote, on April 27, was 60 yeas to 38 nays.

YEAS: Perdue, Isakson