Keeping tabs on 2nd Congressional lawmakers

Among the recent issues that Congress addressed in recent weeks were human trafficking, firefighters healthcare, EPA rule-making guidelines and case representation procedures. Following, is how Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio and House Representative Gwen Graham, of the 2nd Congressional District, voted on the various issues. On the Senate side: Human Trafficking Restitution Fund: Senators voted 56 to 42 (with two abstentions) to reject a motion to invoke cloture, and thus limit debate, on a bill that would use fines and penalties against sex-trafficking perpetrators for more restitution and assistance funds for victims. Nelson voted no and Rubio voted yes. Fiscal 2016 Budget Resolution: By a vote of 52 to 46, with two abstentions, the Senate adopted a concurrent resolution that would set broad spending and revenue targets over the next 10 years. The measure would allow $523 billion for defense discretionary spending and $493.5 billion for non-defense spending in fiscal 2016, the statutory level set by the 2011 budget law. Nelson voted no; Rubio voted yes. On the House side: Volunteer Firefighters Healthcare: The House voted 415 to 0 (with 17 abstentions) to suspend the rules and pass a bill that would clarify that qualified services rendered as a bona-fide volunteer to an eligible employer do not count as employee hours of service for the purposes of the employer mandate under the 2010 healthcare overhaul. Graham voted yes. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Rule-Making Guidelines: The House voted 241 to 175 (with 16 abstentions) to pass a bill that would prohibit the EPA from proposing, finalizing or disseminating a rule or other covered action unless all scientific and technical information used to decide upon the rule is made available to the public so that the research can be independently analyzed and reproduced. Graham voted no. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Case Representation Procedures: The House voted 232 to 186 (with 14 abstentions) to pass a joint resolution that would provide for congressional disapproval and nullification of the NLRB rule relating to case representation procedures. Graham voted no. Ukraine Military Assistance: The House voted 348 to 48 (with 36 abstentions) to suspend the rules and adopt a resolution stating that the House of Representatives “strongly urges” the president to fully and immediately exercise authorities provided by Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons systems in order to enhance the ability of the Ukrainian people to defend their sovereign territory from the “unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation.” Graham voted yes. Veterans Affairs Future Budget Planning: The House voted 420 to 0 (with 12 abstentions) to suspend the rules and pass a bill, as amended, that would direct the Veterans Affairs Department annually to submit to Congress a future-years veterans program with its budget request. The program would reflect estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for that fiscal year and succeeding four fiscal years, and would include a five-year plan for the department to meet its commitment to veterans, including the resources needed to do so. Graham voted yes. The 2nd Congressional District encompasses 13 counties in whole or part in the Panhandle. The district extends from Washington County on the west to Taylor County and the western part of Madison County on the east.