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| Congressional Report Card Voting Guide |
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KEY SENATE ISSUES
1.) S.A. 286 to S. 600 Fiscal 2006 Foreign Affairs Authorization / U.N. Peacekeeping Assessments [RC #84, W = 2] Biden, D-DE The Biden amendment would have raised the U.S. share of assessments for U.N. 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 U.N. Biden’s amendment was rejected 40-57 (R 0 – 54; D 39 – 3; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 2.) 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 U.N. and allow an up or down vote in the Senate. If this motion had received the 60 voted it needed to passed it would have limited consideration of the nomination to 30 additional hours. 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 the motion. 3.) S.A. 826 to H.R. 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 / Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act [RC #148, W = 3] McCain R-AZ, Lieberman, I-CT The McCain-Lieberman amendment would have set standards for reducing global warming by mandating a 25 percent reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2010. The amendment would have established a market-based emissions cap and trade system and encouraged the transfer of greenhouse gas reducing technologies to developing countries. The amendment would have also created a public sector fund to develop climate-friendly technologies. The McCain-Lieberman amendment was rejected 38-60 (R 6 – 49; D 31 – 11; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 4.) S.A. 844 to H.R. 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 / Global Warming [RC #151, W = 2] Kerry, D-MA The Kerry amendment 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 acknowledged the problem of global warming and called on the U.S. to negotiate international commitments 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 the amendment. 5.) S.A. 1085 to 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 the amendment. 6.) S.A. 1977 to 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. It provided uniform standards for the interrogation of persons under the detention of the Department of Defense by prohibiting any individual from being treated in ways not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation. The amendment bolstered U.S. adherence to the U.N. 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 the amendment.
7.) S.A. 2430 to S.1042 Fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization / Treatment of Detainees Commission [RC #309, W = 2] Levin, D-MI 8.)S.A. 2427 to S.1042 Fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization/ Reducing Nuclear Threats [RC #311, W = 1] Reed D-RI, Levin D-MI The Reed-Levin amendment would have transferred $50 million from the Missile Defense Program to the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. This amendment would have reallocated funds from missile defense programs to combating the proliferation of nuclear materials and nuclear weapons.
The Reed-Levin amendment was rejected 37-60 (R 2 – 52; D 34 – 8; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 9.) S.A. 3039 to S.Con.Res.83 Fiscal 2007 Budget Resolution / Alternative Energy [RC #42, W = 2] Bingaman, D-NM The Bingaman amendment would have provided additional funds in the Senate budget resolution to support the introduction of new energy efficient technology and practices into the market. The amendment included the advancement of hybrid vehicle technologies, the development of engines that run on biodiesel, hydrogen research, energy saving insulation for buildings, rebate programs for energy-efficient appliances, an expansion of renewable production fiscal incentives and the production of ethanol from cellulose. Bingaman’s amendment was rejected 46-54 (R 3 – 53: D 42 – 1; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 10.) S.A. 5088 to S. 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 / Geneva Conventions [RC #258, W = 2] Kennedy, D-MA The Kennedy amendment emphasized U.S. commitment to Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits cruel and degrading interrogation techniques and demonstrates to other countries U.S. intolerance of such abuses by declaring an act a violation of the Geneva Conventions if inhumane interrogation techniques were inflicted upon American personnel involved in the war on terror. Kennedy’s amendment was rejected 46-53 (R 2 – 52; D 43 – 1; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 11.) S. 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 / Treatment of Detainees [RC #259, W = 2] McConnell, R-KY The Military Commissions Act of 2006 amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice to codify and define procedures governing the use and establishment of commissions to try enemy combatants and removed habeas corpus rights from detainees classified as enemy combatants. The Act circumvented the Supreme Court’s decision in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld which ruled that the military commissions established by the administration to try detainees violated the Geneva Conventions and military law. The Military Commissions Act of 2006 passed 65-34 (R 53 – 1; D 12 – 32; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions supporters voted AGAINST the bill.
109th Congress – 1st Session 2005 1.) H.A. 285 to H.R. 2862 Fiscal 2006 State Appropriations / Cut U.S. Funds to U.N. [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. 2.) H.A. 293 to H.R. 2862 Fiscal 2006 State Appropriations / U.N. Population Fund [RC # 266, W = 2] Maloney, D-NY The Maloney amendment would have prevented the State Department from withholding funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). For three years, the Bush administration had withheld $34 million annually from UNFPA, even though the House and Senate approved the funding. UNFPA is the only multilateral agency devoted to helping developing countries combat female genital mutilation and obstetric fistula, while also providing access to family planning and quality reproductive health care and promoting HIV/AIDS education and prevention. Maloney’s amendment was rejected 192-233 (R 19 – 209; D 172 – 24; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.
3.) H.R. 2745 Henry J. Hyde U.N. Reform Act / Withholding of U.N. Funds The Henry J. Hyde U.N. Reform Act mandated withholding 50 percent of U.S. funding for the U.N. unless at least 32 out of 39 demands detailed in the bill are adopted by 2007. This would have created new U.S. arrears to the U.N. The bill authorized Congress to withhold funds for new peacekeeping missions until the demands have been implemented, redirected funds within the U.N. and mandated a shift in funding for many U.N. 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. 4.) H.A. 391 to 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 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. 5.) 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 Department of Defense Appropriations bill to accept a Senate amendment (introduced by Senator McCain) that prohibited cruel, inhumane, 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.
109th Congress – 2nd Session 2006 6.) H.A. 709 to H.R. 4939 Fiscal 2006 Supplemental / Darfur Peacekeeping Funds [RC # 46, W = 3] Capuano, D-MA The Capuano amendment increased funding provided in the Fiscal 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill for the Peacekeeping Operations account by $50 million. This funding was used to bolster the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), the only peacekeeping force on the ground in Darfur. Capuano’s amendment was agreed to 213-208 (R 25 – 201; D 187 – 7; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 7.) H.A. 917 to H.R. 5427 Fiscal 2007 Energy Appropriations / Nuclear Weapons Reduction [RC # 199, W = 2] Andrews, D-NJ The Andrews amendment increased funding for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) by $27.8 million. The mission of GTRI is to remove and/or secure high-risk nuclear and radiological materials and equipment around the world by directing the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to consolidate and accelerate the Department of Energy’s nuclear materials removal efforts, and complete a comprehensive inventory of research reactors and vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. Andrews’s amendment was agreed to 227-195 (R 39 – 186; 187 – 9; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 8.) H.A. 980 to H.R. 5522 Fiscal 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations / Health and Development [RC # 236, W = 1] Obey, D-WI The Obey amendment would have increased funding for International Disaster and Famine Assistance for Sudan by $50 million; increased funding for the Department of State Global HIV/AIDS Initiative by $50 million; and reduced funding for Egypt by $100 million. Obey’s amendment was rejected 198-225 (R 45 – 179; D 152 – 46; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment. 9.) H.A. 979 to H.R. 5522 Fiscal 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations / Development Aid [RC # 249, W = 1] Blumenauer, D-OR The Blumenauer amendment would have increased funding for the Development Assistance account by $250 million in order to fund clean water and other anti-poverty programs. Blumenauer’s amendment was rejected 182-224 (R 23 – 191; D 158 – 33; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.
10.) H.RES.723 Darfur Resolution [RC # 481, W = 2] Lantos, D-CA Lantos’s resolution was agreed to 412-7 (R 221 – 5; D 190 – 2; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the resolution. 11.) S. 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 / Treatment of Detainees [RC #508, W = 2] McConnell, R-KY The Military Commissions Act of 2006 amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice to codify and define procedures governing the use and establishment of commissions to try enemy combatants and removed habeas corpus rights from detainees classified as enemy combatants. The Act circumvented the Supreme Court’s decision in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld which ruled that the military commissions established by the administration to try detainees violated the Geneva Conventions and military law.
The Military Commissions Act of 2006 passed 250-170 (R 218- |
