Roll Call

WASHINGTON - Here's how area members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Nov. 6.

HOUSE
Chemical-Plant Security: Voting 230 for and 193 against, the House on Nov. 6 passed a bill (HR 2868) to permanently extend chemical-plant security requirements that otherwise would expire in October 2010. In part, the rules require some 6,000 facilities that manufacture or store chemicals to establish plans to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks, conduct background checks on employees and allow Department of Homeland Security inspections. The bill also requires public and private sewage-treatment facilities to put in place similar anti-terrorism measures.

Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said the bill "closes a major security gap identified by both the Bush and Obama administrations. Specifically, (it would) authorize EPA to establish a security program for drinking-water and wastewater facilities."

Peter King, R-N.Y., said that a year ahead of its expiration, Democrats were rushing a bill that would cost jobs and raise taxes. "We're not just talking about large chemical plant facilities, but we're also talking about institutions such as colleges and hospitals which will have to incur these costs."

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

VOTE H-1 slugged CHEMICAL



Voting yes:John Spratt, D-5, and James Clyburn, D-6

Voting no: Henry Brown, R-1, Joe Wilson, R-2, Gresham Barrett, R-3, and Bob Inglis, R-4

Not voting: None



Israel, United Nations: Voting 344 for and 36 against, the House on Nov. 3 denounced a United Nations report that charges Israel committed war crimes by inflicting heavy civilian casualties during war in Gaza last December and January. Prepared by South African jurist Richard Goldstone for the U.N. Human Rights Council, the report also charges Hamas with war crimes in its launching of rockets against Israeli civilians. The vote adopted H Res 867, a non-binding measure.

Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Israel encountered "a ruthless enemy hiding in civilian areas" of Gaza. "Hamas committed blatant war crimes by using the Palestinian people as human shields. But the one-sided and biased Goldstone Commission isn't concerned with any of this."

John Dingell, D-Mich., said the U.S. must be "a fair, honest, respected broker" in the Middle East. "This does not do this. It leaves the United States in real danger of losing the ability to (facilitate) a lasting peace of benefit to both Israel and to the Palestinians."

A yes vote backed the resolution.

VOTE H-2 slugged ISRAEL



Voting yes: Brown, Wilson, Inglis, Spratt and Clyburn

Voting no: None

Not voting: Barrett

SENATE
Justice Department Budget: Voting 71 for and 28 against, the Senate on Nov. 5 sent to conference with the House a bill (HR 2847) appropriating $64.4 billion for the fiscal 2010 budgets of the Justice and Commerce departments, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency and several other agencies. The bill represents a 12 percent spending increase over 2009.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

VOTE S-1 slugged JUSTICE



Voting yes: None

Voting no: Lindsey Graham, R, and Jim DeMint, R

Not voting: None



9/11 Prisoner Trials: Voting 54 for and 45 against, the Senate on Nov. 5 tabled (killed) an amendment to HR 2847 (above) to prohibit the government from prosecuting 9/11 terrorist suspects in federal civilian courts. The amendment sought to require suspects such as Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/ll architect, to be tried before military commissions. The administration wants the option of either civilian or military trials for 9/11 suspects.

Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said: "The idea that we cannot try a terrorist and mass murderer in our courts is beneath the dignity of this great country....Our federal courts have a long and distinguished history of successfully prosecuting even the most atrocious violent acts, and they are respected throughout the world."

Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said military commissions strike the right balance between protecting both national security and the rights of the accused. "It is a system built around war, a system built around the rules of military law, a system that recognizes the difference between a common criminal and a warrior...."

A yes vote was to kill the amendment.

VOTE S-2 slugged TRIALS



Voting yes: None

Voting no: Graham and DeMint

Not voting: None



© 2009, Thomas Voting Reports