2005 Congressional Report Card: Voting Guide

Congressional Report Card Voting Guide

KEY SENATE ISSUES

#	Name	Congress and Roll Call	Weight
1	UN Arrears	107-1 <> 10	3
2	ICC - War Criminal Prosecution	107-2 <> 139	3
3	AIDS Funding	107-2 <> 141	1
4	Climate Change	108-1 <> 420	2
5	Nuclear Weapons Development	108-2 <> 113	2
6	Interrogation/Transfer of Prisoners	108-2 <> 118	2
7	Missile Defense Program	108-2 <> 124	2
8	Treatment of Detainees	108-2 <> 144	3
9	Gonzales Confirmation	109-1 <> 3	2
10	UN Peacekeeping Assessment	109-1 <> 84	2

107th Congress – 1st Session 2001
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

1) S 10 Amending Helms-Biden (1) / UN Arrears. [RC #10, W=3] Helms, R-NC, Biden, D-DE

Passage of the Helms-Biden bill would allow the release of $582 million in back dues to the UN and amend a federal law that sets the US Assessment rate for UN peacekeeping operations. The new rate would be no more than 28.15%.

The bill was agreed to 99 – 0 (R 49 – 0; D 49 – 0; I 1-0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR this bill.

107th Congress – 2nd Session 2002
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

2) HR 4775 Fiscal 2002 Supplemental Appropriations / ICC – War Criminal Prosecution. [RC #139, W = 3] Warner, R-VA, motion to table (kill) a Dodd, D-CT, amendment.

The Dodd amendment would add language to the underlying amendment that would allow the United States to assist the International Criminal Court in cases involving Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic, Osama bin Laden, Islamic Jihad, and the al Qaeda terrorist network or any nationals accused of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity

The Warner motion to kill Dodd's amendment was adopted 55 – 40 (R 45 – 2; D 10 – 37; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST Warner’s motion.

3) HR 4775 Fiscal 2002 Supplemental Appropriations / AIDS Funding [RC #141, W = 1] Durbin, D-IL, motion to oppose the point of order raised by Byrd, D-WV.

With regard to restrictions imposed by the Budget Act, the Durbin motion would increase the amount of emergency supplemental appropriations in the bill from $100 million to $500 million for funds available as a U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Durbin’s motion was rejected 46 – 49 (R 5 – 42; D 40 – 7; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Durbin's motion.

108th Congress – 1st Session 2003
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

4) S 139 Climate Change / Substitute [RC #420, W = 2] McCain, R-AZ; Lieberman, D-CT

The McCain-Lieberman amendment would strike the text of the bill and replace it with provisions that would require greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 2000 levels by 2010. Greenhouse gases would be defined as carbon monoxide, ethane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. It would provide a program of scientific research on climate change, establish a national greenhouse gas database, and create a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradable allowances.

McCain and Lieberman's substitute amendment was rejected 43 – 55 (R 6 – 45; D 36 – 10; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR McCain and Lieberman’s substitute amendment.

108th Congress – 2nd Session 2004
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

5) S 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Nuclear Weapons Development.
[RC #113, W = 2] Kennedy, D-MA

The Kennedy amendment would prohibit the use of funds by the Department of Defense (DOD) for activities relating to the development of new nuclear weapons. It would repeal authorization of funds earmarked for two DOD programs, the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), and the Stockpile Services Advanced Concepts Initiative (SSACI), to develop a 100-kiloton nuclear bunker buster and a $9 million 5-kiloton mini-nuke.

Kennedy’s amendment was rejected 42 – 55 (R 0 – 50; D 42 – 5). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Kennedy’s amendment.

6) S 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Interrogation and Transfer of Prisoners [RC #118, W = 2] Warner, R-VA, motion to table (kill) the Dodd, D-CT, amendment.

The Dodd amendment would prohibit the Department of Defense from using private contractors in the interrogation of prisoners, detainees or combatants. It would also require the Secretary of Defense to record any transfer of a prisoner, detainee or combatant from U.S. custody to another country and report this information to Congress.

The Warner motion to kill Dodd’s amendment was agreed to 54 – 43 (R 51 – 0; D 3 – 42; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST Warner’s motion.

7) S 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Missile Defense Program [RC #124, W = 2] Boxer, D-CA

The Boxer amendment would require the Department of Defense to perform operational testing of its $10 billion interceptor-missile defense system. And it would require the Secretary of Defense to confirm the ‘missile-defense’ program’s capabilities prior to its use in defensive operations. Under the Defense department’s initial plan the interceptor-missiles would be deployed without operational testing.

Boxer’s amendment was rejected 42 – 57 (R 1 – 50; D 40 – 6; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Boxer’s amendment.

8) S 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Treatment of Detainees [RC #144, W = 3] Leahy, D-VT

The Leahy amendment would compel the Attorney General to submit to Congress all documents in the possession of the Department of Justice relating to the treatment and interrogation of individuals held in the custody of the United States or an agent of the United States Government.

Leahy’s amendment was rejected 46 – 50 (R 0 – 49; D 45 – 1; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Leahy’s amendment.

109th Congress – 1st Session 2005
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

9) Gonzales Confirmation [RC #3, W = 2] Confirmed February 3rd, 2005.

Citizens for Global Solutions opposed the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales to be Attorney General. Gonzales has argued that the war on terror is a special circumstance which renders torture permissible, directly contradicting international law.

Gonzales’ confirmation was agreed to 60 – 36 (R 54 – 0; D 6 – 35; I 0 –1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST Gonzales’ confirmation.

10) S 600 Foreign Affairs Authorization Act / UN Peacekeeping Assessments [RC #84, W = 2] Biden, D-DE

The Biden Amendment would raise the U.S share of assessments for United Nations Peacekeeping operations from 25% to 27.1%. The amendment was a second-degree provision offered in compromise to Senator Lugar who had previously offered an amendment to keep a 25% cap on U.S. assessments, which would have put the U.S. further in arrears to the UN.

Biden’s amendment was rejected 40-57 (R 0-54; D 39-3; I 1-0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Biden’s amendment.

#	Name	Congress and Roll Call	Weight
1	UN Population Fund	108-1 <> 362	2
2	Cap on UN Contributions	108-1 <> 365	2
3	Humane Treatment	108-2 <> 150	2
4	Nuclear Weapons	108-2 <> 203	1
5	UN Democracy Caucus	108-2 <> 289	3
6	UNESCO Funding	108-2 <> 333	3
7	UN Funding	108-2 <> 335	3
8	Millennium Challenge Account	108-2 <> 383	2
9	International Criminal Court	108-2 <> 387	3
10	Declaring Genocide in Darfur	108-2 <> 420	3

108th Congress – 1st Session 2003
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

1) HR 1950 State Department Authorization / U.N. Population Fund [RC #362, W = 2] Smith, R-NJ

The Smith amendment would strike a provision that would ease statutory requirements for U.S. contributions to the U.N. Population Fund and that would authorize an additional $25 million for the fund in both 2004 and 2005 fiscal years.

The Smith amendment was adopted 216-211 (R 194-31; D 22-179; I 0-1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST Smith’s amendment.

2) HR 1950 State Department Authorization / Cap on U.N. Contributions [RC #365, W = 2] King, R-IA

The King amendment would cap the U.S. contribution to the UN regular budget to no more than the amount paid by any other permanent member of the Security Council.

The King amendment was rejected 187-237 (R 173-50; D 14-186; I 0-1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST King’s amendment.

108th Congress – 2nd Session 2004
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Weight

3) HRES 627 Condemning Iraq Abuse of Prisoners / Humane Treatment [RC #150, W = 2] Duncan, R-CA

The Duncan resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the abuse of persons in United States custody in Iraq, regardless of the circumstances of their detention, is deplorable. It urges the Secretary of the Army to bring to justice any member of the Armed Forces who has violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice and reaffirms the American principle that any and all individuals under U.S. custody and care shall be afforded proper and humane treatment.
The Duncan resolution was agreed to 365 – 50 (R 213 – 1; D 151 – 49; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Duncan’s amendment.

4) HR 4200 Authorization Bill FY2005 / Nuclear Weapons [RC #203, W = 1] Tauscher, D-CA

The Tauscher amendment redirects funds in the defense authorization bill from new nuclear weapons to conventional programs that meet the same threat. It would transfer funds bound for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) and Advanced Concepts Initiative to improve conventional capabilities and intelligence required to defeat hardened targets.

The Tauscher amendment was rejected 204 - 214 (R 11 – 207; D 192 – 7; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR Tauscher’s amendment.

5) HR 4053 US International Leadership Act / UN Democracy Caucus [RC #289, W = 3] Dreier, R-CA; Lantos, D-CA

The Dreier-Lantos bill calls on the United States to actively improve the workings of international organizations and multilateral institutions through the establishment of a caucus of democratic countries at the UN and other international bodies and multilateral institutions. It would set up a rotational leadership at the democracy caucus which would provide every member an opportunity to serve as the voice of the caucus for a period of time. The bill calls for the use of U.S. influence to reform the criteria for leadership, and in appropriate cases membership, at all UN bodies and at other international organizations and multilateral institutions so as to exclude any nations that violate organizational principles, or are subject to organizational sanctions. Finally, the US Leadership Act would provide funds to train foreign diplomats and civil servants to participate better in multilateral institutions such as the UN.

The Dreier-Lantos bill was agreed to 365 - 56 (R 166 – 56; D 198 – 0; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR the US Leadership Act.

6) HR 4754 Appropriations bill FY2005 / UNESCO Funding [RC #333, W = 3] Paul, R-TX

The Paul amendment would withhold all US funds to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The Paul amendment was rejected 135 – 283 (R 132 – 90; D 3 – 192; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST the Paul amendment.

7) HR 4754 Appropriations bill FY2005 / UN Funding [RC #335, W = 3] Paul, R-TX

The Paul amendment prohibits funds made available in this act to pay any United States contribution to the United Nations or any affiliated agency of the United Nations. In effect this would mean the U.S. would withdraw from the United Nations.

The Paul amendment was rejected 83 - 335 (R 80 – 142; D 3 – 192; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST the Paul amendment.

8) HR 4818 Consolidated Appropriations Act 2005 / Millennium Challenge Corporation [RC #383, W = 2] Paul R-TX

The Paul amendment would delete funding in the appropriations bill to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The MCC is a foreign aid program which offers development assistance to states which rule justly, tackle corruption, encourage economic freedom, and invest in their people.

The Paul amendment was rejected 41 - 379 (R 37 – 184; D 4 – 194; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST the Paul amendment.

9) HR 4818 Consolidated Appropriations Act 2005 / International Criminal Court [RC #387, W = 3] Nethercutt R-WA

The Nethercutt amendment prohibits Economic Support Fund aid from going to the government of any country that is a party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has not signed a Bilateral Immunity Agreement (BIA) with the United States. A BIA is a de-facto immunity of U.S. citizens from ICC prosecution through bilateral agreements with signatory states of the ICC.

The Nethercutt amendment was agreed to 241 - 166 (R 201 – 11; D 40 – 154; I 0 – 1). Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST the Nethercutt amendment.

10) H CON RES 467 Declaring Genocide in Darfur [RC #420, W = 3] Payne, D-NJ

This resolution declares that genocide is occurring in Darfur, Sudan. It calls on the Administration to continue to lead an international effort to stop this genocide and even consider unilateral intervention, should the UN Security Council fail to act. It also calls on the Administration to impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and freezing assets of the Sudanese National Congress and affiliated businesses and individuals directly responsible for the atrocities in Darfur. Finally, this resolution calls on USAID to establish a Darfur Resettlement, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Fund.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required) (R 221 – 0; D 200 – 0; I 1 – 0). Global Solutions supporters voted FOR the Payne resolution.

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