Congressman Owens scored a 60 on this year's AAUW legislative priorities.
Updated: December 23, 2010
Congressman Owens scored a 60 on this year's AAUW legislative priorities.
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Vote Passed (215-144, 74 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this bill overhauling the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory authority. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote on December 19, 2010. The president is expected to sign the bill into law.
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 - Vote Passed (193-165, 75 Not Voting) - Congress agreed to this short-term spending bill that funds government operations at 2010 levels through March 4, 2011. The president signed the bill into law on December 22, 2010.
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act - Vote Passed (206-60, 168 Not Voting) Congress cleared this $4.2 billion measure for the president that will reopen the Victim Compensation Fund and make payments to people exposed to toxic material at Ground Zero. The Senate passed the measure by voice vote earlier in the day. The president is expected to sign the bill into law.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (250-175, 9 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill repealing a 1993 law prohibiting homosexuals from serving openly in the military. The Senate passed the bill several days later, clearing it for the president’s signature.
Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (277-148, 8 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this bill extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that were due to expire at the end of 2010 for another two years. The bill also extends unemployment benefits for 13 months. The president signed the bill into law later in the day.
Continuing Resolution - Vote Passed (212-206, 16 Not Voting) - The House passed a long-term continuing resolution to fund government operations through the end of fiscal year 2011 at fiscal year 2010 levels. The overall funding would remain $1.09 trillion, but billions of dollars in program funding would shift. The bill would also include an overhaul of food safety laws and expand Food and Drug Administration enforcement powers. It is unclear at this time whether the Senate will take up this measure. The current continuing resolution expires December 18, 2010.
DREAM Act - Vote Passed (216-198, 20 Not Voting) - The House passed this measure that would provide a path to legal status for certain undocumented children brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents. Shortly before the vote, the House voted to replace the language of a bill further along in the legislative process with the language of the DREAM Act. The Senate may take up the bill the week of December 13.
Continuing Resolution - Vote Passed (239-178, 16 Not Voting) - The House passed a continuing resolution that funds government operations through December 18, 2010. This is the second CR since the 2011 fiscal year began on October 1, 2010. None of the annual spending bills have been completed yet. The Senate gave final approval to the resolution on December 2, 2010.
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (264-157, 13 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this ten year, $4.5 billion bill that would increase spending on child nutrition programs. The bill now goes to the president.
Censure of Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) - Vote Passed (333-79, 21 Not Voting) - The House voted to censure Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) for violating House ethics rules.
Telework Improvements Act - Vote Passed (254-152, 27 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this bill that would require federal agencies to establish and implement a telework policy. The president is expected to sign the measure.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act - Vote Failed (258-154, 22 Not Voting) - The House rejected this bill that would have extended federal funding to states for long-term unemployment benefits. A two-thirds majority, or 275 votes, was needed to pass the bill under suspension. The future of the measure is unknown at this time.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Vote Passed (219-212) - In March, the House passed this bill, which would overhaul the nation's health insurance system and require most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014.
Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment; National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Agreed to (234-194, 10 Not Voting) - During the defense authorization bill debate in May, the House adopted this amendment that would repeal the "don’t ask, don’t tell" law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - Vote Passed (237-192, 4 Not Voting) - The House passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation in June.
Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - Vote Passed (247-161, 25 Not Voting) - In August, the House passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs.
NASA Authorization Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (304-118, 10 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this bill authorizing $58.4 billion in NASA spending over the next three fiscal years. The president is expected to sign the bill which largely follows the administration’s plan for NASA.
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 - Vote Passed (228-194, 10 Not Voting) - The House gave final approval to this measure funding government operations through December 3, 2010. The 2011 fiscal year began on October 1, 2010 with none of the annual spending bills completed. The president signed it into law on September 30.
Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (237-187, 9 Not Voting) - The House passed a bill that would provide for a variety of small-business tax provisions, including a revival of an expired bonus depreciation provision to allow companies to write off assets more quickly. The legislation was sent to the President, who is expected to sign it.
Rural Energy Savings Program Act - Vote Passed (240-172, 20 Not Voting) - The House passed a bill that would authorize $5 billion over five years to create two energy efficiency loan programs. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - Vote Passed (247-161, 25 Not Voting) - On Tuesday, the House passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs. The bill was then sent to the president, who signed it into law on the same day.
Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (308-114, 10 Not Voting) - The House passed this $58.8 billion bill funding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and providing for additional funding for foreign aid and disaster assistance. The bill then went to the president, who signed it into law on Thursday.
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 - Vote Passed (411-6, 15 Not Voting) - The House approved this $141.1 billion bill funding military construction projects and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 - Vote Passed (251-167, 14 Not Voting) - The House approved this $126.3 billion legislation funding the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (271-152, 9 Not Voting) - On Thursday, the House passed this bill to extend unemployment benefits through November 30, making the extension retroactive to June 2 when the last extension expired. It was then sent to the president, who signed it the same day.
Telework Improvements Act - Vote Passed (290-131, 11 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would set standards for federal employees working remotely. It would require the head of each federal agency to establish and implement a policy that would allow employees to work remotely as much as possible without diminishing agency operations or performance. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act - Vote Passed (329-90, 13 Not Voting) - The House passed this legislation that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program through September 2015. The bill heads to the Senate next.
Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act - Vote Passed (409-5, 18 Not Voting) - On Tuesday, the House passed this legislation to extend the required closing date for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, allowing individuals who have already entered a contract by April 30 to close on the purchase no later than September 30, 2010. The Senate passed the bill by a voice vote the next day, sending it to the president. The president signed it into law on Friday.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - Vote Passed (237-192, 4 Not Voting) - The House passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation. It now awaits Senate approval.
Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act - Vote Passed (270-153, 10 Not Voting) - The House approved this bill to further extend eligibility for extended federal unemployment insurance for laid-off workers through November 30. The bill, which would also make these changes retroactive to June 2, now heads to the Senate, where its future is not clear.
Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act - Vote Passed (219-206, 8 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act - Vote Passed (408-8, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting) - The House approved the conference report to this legislation that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, sending it to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill.
Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (241-182, 9 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would establish a $30 billion lending fund administered by the Treasury Department to invest in financial institutions, like community banks, with the intention of expanding the availability of credit to small businesses. The bill now goes to the Senate.
FHA Reform Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (406-4, 21 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would allow the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to raise premiums for mortgage insurance, with the intent of boosting its dwindling reserves. The bill now goes to the Senate.
To broaden access to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund - Vote Passed (410-0, 1 Present, 20 Not Voting) - This legislation would allow the Obama administration to withdraw more money from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in order to better respond to the Gulf of Mexico oil accident. The Senate approved the bill the previous day by voice vote, and the president is expected to sign it.
Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment; National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Agreed to (234-194, 10 Not Voting) - During the defense authorization bill debate, the House adopted this amendment that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. The draft of the Senate version of the authorization bill contains a similar provision.
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act - Vote Passed (262-150, 20 Not Voting) - This $85.6 billion bill would authorize a variety of science research programs over the next five years. The timetable for Senate action is unclear.
National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Passed (229-186, 17 Not Voting) - The House passed this $760 billion bill authorizing defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate could take up its version of the bill sometime during the summer.
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass; America COMPETES Reauthorization Act - Vote Failed (261-148, 22 Not Voting) - The House fell short of the 273 votes needed under suspension rules to pass this bill that would reauthorize science research programs. Republicans argue too many of the $48 billion bill’s programs are duplicative while Democrats argue the bill will increase economic competitiveness.
Motion to Recommit; America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (292-126, 12 Not Voting) - The House voted to send this bill that would reauthorize science and technology research programs back to the House Science committee with instructions to freeze funding at fiscal 2010 levels and to only fund the bill for three years, rather than the original five. House leaders are planning to bring the measure to a vote again this week.
Home Star Energy Retrofit Act - Vote Passed (246-161, 23 Not Voting) - The House passed this measure that would authorize a $6.6 billion rebate program for energy-efficient home renovations for households with incomes up to $250,000. The bill now goes to the Senate.
IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (417-3, 10 Not Voting) - The House overwhelmingly passed this measure that would require the Defense Department to develop a system with specific metrics, including targeted schedules and cost objectives, for the acquisition of weapons, information technology and services. It would also direct Defense Department officials to set up a system by 2017 to reward organizations that meet objectives and penalize those that do not. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Puerto Rico Democracy Act - Vote Passed (223-169, 1 Present, 37 Not Voting) - The House approved this bill to establish a two-stage process to determine Puerto Rico's political status. The first step would be a referendum on the question of whether to maintain or change Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth. If a majority of Puerto Ricans were to vote for a new status, then a second vote would be held to ask residents whether they favor statehood, full independence, independence with a special political association with the United States, or to retain the current commonwealth status. The legislation goes to the Senate.
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act - Vote Passed (403-11, 3 Present, 13 Not Voting) - The House voted to move forward with a bill to sanction Iran by approving this motion to appoint House members to a conference committee with the Senate. The House version of this bill focuses on imposing sanctions on multinational companies that deal with Iran's petroleum sector, while the Senate's broader version would prohibit the U.S. government from purchasing goods from companies that are subject to sanctions under existing law and expand sanctions on foreign companies investing more than $20 million in Iran’s oil and gas sector.
Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (278-128, 24 Not Voting) - The House approved this bill that would authorize $50 million annually through fiscal 2016 for the EPA's National Estuary Program and would require the EPA to evaluate estuary management plans every four years. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Continuing Extension Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (289-112, 29 Not Voting) - On Thursday, the House passed this legislation that would extend for two months federal unemployment benefits, flood insurance programs, increased payment rates to Medicare providers and COBRA health care premium assistance. It was then sent to the President, who signed it into law later that night.
Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act - Vote Passed (246-178, 5 Not Voting) - The House passed this legislation to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, extend the Build America Bonds program, and provide other infrastructure job creation tax incentives. It now goes to the Senate.
Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (239-175, 1 Present, 14 Not Voting) - The House approved this measure that would provide funding for disaster relief, summer jobs and small business programs. The bill now goes to the Senate.
FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - Vote Passed (276-145, 8 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration through FY 2011 and expedite the transition to a new air traffic control system. The bill now heads to the White House for the President’s signature.
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (220-207, 3 Not Voting) - On Thursday night, the House agreed to Senate amendments to this legislation that would make changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law and revise student loan procedures. It now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it on Tuesday.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Vote Passed (219-212) - On Sunday the House passed this bill that would overhaul the nation's health insurance system and require most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014. The President is expected to sign the legislation into law on Tuesday.
Reconciliation Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (220-211) - The House also passed this bill that would make changes to the health care overhaul measure they just passed and revise student loan procedures. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Impeaching Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. for high crimes and misdemeanors - Vote Passed (423-0, 7 Not Voting) - The House impeached Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of Louisiana with four charges: that he accepted gifts in exchange for official actions, falsified and withheld information during a bankruptcy proceeding, made false statements as part of his Senate confirmation and received money from lawyers involved in a case that he oversaw. Unless the judge resigns, the Senate will hold a trial. A conviction on any of the four counts would remove Judge Porteous from office.
Afghanistan War Powers Resolution - Vote Failed (65-356, 9 Not Voting) - The House rejected this resolution that aimed to set a withdrawal timeline for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act - Vote Passed (262-153, 16 Not Voting) - The House passed this legislation that would establish the first federal safety standards on seclusion and restraint in schools, allowing for restraints in cases when there is immediate danger to the student or others. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act - Vote Passed (217-201, 14 Not Voting) - The House approved this bill that would provide $13 billion in payroll tax relief over 10 years for employers who hire unemployed workers and extend through 2010 a law that allows small businesses to deduct up to $250,000 in qualified expenses. The bill goes to the Senate.
Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act - Vote Passed (406-19, 8 Not Voting) - The House voted to end an exemption from federal antitrust law for health insurance companies. The bill now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 - Vote Passed (235-168, 29 Not Voting) - The House passed this intelligence authorization bill after stripping out controversial language on interrogation techniques used by U.S. personnel. The bill now has to be reconciled with a Senate version (S. 1494) in conference committee.
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act - Vote Passed (233-187, 14 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would raise the federal debt limit to $13.029 trillion and enact pay-as-you-go budget enforcement rules aimed at cutting the government's deficit. It now goes to the president for his signature.
Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (240-175, 18 Not Voting) - The House passed this bill that would establish the Castle Nugent national historic site in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands and authorize the Interior Department to purchase land for the site with appropriated funds. It now goes to the Senate.