In this MegaVote for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
Senate: Confirmation of Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense
House: Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011
House: America Invents Act
House: Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya
House: To limit the use of funds to support NATO Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya
Upcoming Congressional Bills
Senate: Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011
Editor’s Note: The House is in recess this week.
Recent Senate Votes
Confirmation of Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense – Vote Confirmed (100-0)
Current CIA Director Leon E. Panetta was confirmed to be the next Secretary of Defense. Panetta succeeds Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of June.
- Sen. Daniel Inouye voted YES
- Sen. Daniel Akaka voted YES
Recent House Votes
Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011 – Vote Passed (253-166, 12 Not Voting)
This House bill would require the EPA to complete action within six months on air pollution permit applications for offshore oil and gas drilling. A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate but its future is unclear. The administration opposes the bill.
- Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted NO
- Rep. Mazie Hirono voted NO
America Invents Act – Vote Passed (304-117, 10 Not Voting)
The House passed this bill that would make changes to the patent system. The Senate passed its version of the bill in March 2011. Negotiators will likely meet this summer to work out a compromise bill. The administration has expressed support for the House bill.
- Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted YES
- Rep. Mazie Hirono voted NO
Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya – Vote Failed (123-295, 13 Not Voting)
The House rejected a resolution that would have authorized the use of U.S. military force in Libya for one year.
- Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted NO
- Rep. Mazie Hirono voted YES
To limit the use of funds to support NATO Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya – Vote Failed (180-238, 13 Not Voting)
The House rejected this bill that would have defunded U.S. military involvement in NATO activities in Libya. U.S. participation would have been restricted to support operations such as intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue.
- Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted NO
- Rep. Mazie Hirono voted NO.
Upcoming Votes
Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 – S.679
The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill to reduce the number of executive branch appointments that require Senate confirmation.