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

1) S. 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization
/ Nuclear Weapons Development [RC #113, W = 1] Kennedy, D-MA

The Kennedy amendment would have prohibited the use of funds for Department of Defense (DOD) activities related to the development of new nuclear weapons. It would have also repealed authorization of funds earmarked for two DOD programs, the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, and the Stockpile Services Advanced Concepts Initiative, to develop a 100-kiloton nuclear bunker buster and $9 million mini-nuke totaling 5 kilotons.

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

2) S. 2400 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Interrogation and Transfer of Prisoners [RC #118, W = 1] Warner,
R-VA

The Warner motion tabled (killed) the Dodd amendment which would have prohibited the DOD from using private contractors in the interrogation of prisoners, detainees or combatants. It would have also required 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.

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

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

3) S. 600 Fiscal 2006 Foreign Affairs Authorization / UN Peacekeeping Assessments [RC #84, W = 2] Biden, D-DE

The Biden amendment would have raised the U.S. share of assessments for United Nations Peacekeeping operations from 25 percent to 27.1 percent for calendar years 2005 to 2007, which is the amount the U.S. had agreed to pay. The amendment was offered following the introduction of an amendment by Senator Lugar to preserve a 25 percent cap on U.S. assessments, which passed. This put the U.S. in further arrears to the UN.

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

4) P.N. 326 Cloture Motion on the Nomination of John R. Bolton to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations / Bolton [RC #142, W = 3]

The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the nomination of John Bolton to be U.S. Ambassador to the UN and allow an up or down vote in the Senate. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by a vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes. Those who opposed cloture did so because they wanted additional time to debate Bolton’s nomination and obtain requested documents from the administration regarding Bolton’s record.

The Cloture Motion was rejected 54-38 (R 51 – 1; D 3 – 36; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST this motion.

5) H.R. 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 / Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act [RC #148, W = 3] McCain R-AZ, Lieberman, D-CT

The McCain-Lieberman amendment would have set standards for reducing global warming by mandating a reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by the year 2010. The amendment would have established a market-based emissions cap, a trade system and encourage the transfer of greenhouse gas reducing technologies to developing countries. If implemented, U.S. emissions would fall 25 percent by the end of the decade. The amendment would have also created a public sector fund to develop climate-friendly technologies including biofuels, clean coal technology, nuclear and solar power.

The McCain-Lieberman amendment was rejected 38-60 (R 6 – 49; D 31 – 11; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this amendment.

6) H.R. 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 / Global Warming [RC #151, W = 2] Kerry, D-MA

The Kerry amendment would have expressed the opinion of the Senate that the United States should act to reduce the health, environmental and economic risks posed by global climate change. It would have acknowledged the problem of global warming and called on the U.S. to negotiate international commitments, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to mitigate the effects of global warming.

Kerry’s amendment was rejected 46-49 (R 7 – 47; D 39 – 2).Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this amendment.

7) H.R. 2419 Fiscal 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations/ New Nuclear Weapons [RC #171, W = 2] Feinstein, D-CA

The Feinstein amendment would have deleted $4 million in the FY06 Energy Appropriations Bill set aside for the study and development of a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, a new form of nuclear weapon. The funds would have been redirected for debt reduction.

Feinstein’s amendment was rejected 43-53 (R 3 – 50; D 39 – 3; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this amendment.

8) H.R. 2863 Fiscal 2006 Defense Appropriations / Ban Torture [RC #249, W = 3] McCain, R-AZ

The McCain amendment’s intent was to prohibit cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners under the custody or control of the U.S. government and provides uniform standards for the interrogation of persons under the detention of the DOD by prohibiting any individual from being treated in ways not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation. The amendment bolsters U.S. adherence to the UN Convention on Torture.

McCain’s amendment was agreed to 90-9 (R 46 – 9; D 43 – 0; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this amendment.

9) S. 1462 Darfur Peace and Accountability Act / Genocide [UC, W = 1] Brownback, R-KS

The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act urged the Bush Administration to actively work to end the violence in Sudan. It called for the President to penalize those responsible for acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It authorized him to provide assistance to reinforce and expand the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). It advocates for NATO reinforcement of AMIS, sanctions the Sudanese oil and arms industries and prohibits U.S. assistance to countries in violation of the UN’s embargo on military assistance to Sudan. Finally, the bill directs the U.S. Ambassador to the UN to work for a Security Council resolution supporting AMIS's expansion. The House did not pass this legislation.

The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act was agreed to by a Unanimous Consent agreement. Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this Act.

KEY HOUSE ISSUES

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

1) H.R. 4200 Fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization / Nuclear Weapons [RC #203, W = 2] Tauscher, D-CA

The Tauscher amendment would have redirected funds in the defense authorization bill from new nuclear weapons to conventional programs that meet the same threat. Specifically, funds bound for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator and Advanced Concepts Initiative would have gone to improve conventional weapons’ capabilities and intelligence gathering.

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

2) H.R. 4053 U.S. International Leadership Act / UN Democracy Caucus [RC #289, W = 3] Dreier, R-CA and Lantos, D-CA

The Dreier-Lantos bill called on the U.S. to actively improve the workings of international and multilateral organizations through the establishment of a caucus of democratic countries at the UN and other international bodies. This bill called on the U.S. to use its 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 U.S. Leadership Act would provide funds to train foreign diplomats and civil servants to participate more efficiently and effectively in multilateral institutions.

The motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution (2/3 required) was agreed to 365-56 (R 166 – 56; D 198 – 0; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the U.S. Leadership Act.

3) H.R. 4754 Fiscal 2005 State Appropriations / UNESCO Funding [RC #333, W = 2] Paul, R-TX

The Paul amendment would have withheld all U.S. funds to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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

4)H.R. 4818 Fiscal 2005 Foreign Appropriations / 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 restricts transfer of U.S. citizens and certain other foreign nationals to the ICC.

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

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

The Payne resolution declares that genocide is occurring in Darfur, Sudan, and calls on the Bush Administration to lead an international effort to stop this genocide going so far as to 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 the freezing of assets of the Sudanese National Congress and affiliated business and individuals directly responsible for the atrocities in Darfur. Finally, this resolution calls on USAID to establish a Darfur Resettlement, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Fund.

The motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended, (2/3 required) was agreed to 422-0 (R 221 – 0; D 200 – 0; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the Payne resolution.

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

6) H.R. 2862 Fiscal 2006 State Appropriations / Cut U.S. Funds to UN [RC #259, W = 3] Paul, R-TX

The Paul amendment would have cut all funding in the State Department Appropriations bill to pay any U.S. contribution to the United Nations, or any of its affiliated agencies. In effect, this amendment’s intention was for the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations.

Paul’s amendment was rejected 65-357 (R 64 – 160; D 1 – 196; I 0 - 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

7) H.R. 2745 Henry J. Hyde UN Reform Act / Withholding of UN Funds [RC #282, W = 3] Hyde, R-IL

The Henry J. Hyde UN Reform Act mandates withholding 50 percent of U.S. funding for the UN unless at least 32 out of 39 demands detailed in the bill are adopted by 2007. This would create new U.S. arrears to the UN. The bill authorizes Congress to withhold funds for new peacekeeping missions until the demands have been implemented, redirects funds within the UN and mandates a shift in funding for many UN programs from an assessed to a voluntary basis.

Hyde’s bill was agreed to 221-184 (R 213 – 7; D 8 – 176; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the Act.

8) H.R. 3057 Fiscal 2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations / Reduce Total Funds [RC #334, W = 1] Hefley, R-CO

The Hefley amendment would have reduced total funding in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, already $2.5 billion less than what the administration requested, by one percent. The proposed cut totaled $202.7 million.

Hefley’s amendment was rejected 117-309 (R 105 – 122; D 12 – 186; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST this amendment.

9) H.R. 1973 Water for the Poor Act / Health and Development [RC #571, W = 2] Blumenauer, D-OR

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act makes access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a specific policy objective of U.S. foreign assistance programs. It called for the U.S. to increase the amount of funds available for water and sanitation, support innovative funding mechanisms, greater international coordination, and better integration of water and sanitation into other development efforts.

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act was agreed to 319-34 (R 170 – 34; D 148 – 0; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the bill.

10) H.R. 2863 Fiscal 2006 Defense Appropriations / Ban On Torture [RC #630, W = 3] Murtha, D-PA

This motion instructed House lawmakers working on the DOD Appropriations bill to accept a Senate amendment (introduced by Senator McCain) that prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under custody or control of the U.S. government.

The motion to instruct conferees was agreed to 308-122 (R 107 – 121; D 200 – 1; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the motion.