March 10, 2014 – In this MegaVote for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
Senate: Adegbile Nomination – Cloture
Senate: Military Prosecutions – Cloture
House: Environmental Reviews – Passage
House: Ukrainian Loan Guarantees – Passage
House: Flood Insurance Premiums – Passage
House: Individual Health Insurance Mandate – Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills
Senate: Sexual Assault in the Military
House: Religious Conscience Health Coverage Exemption
House: Hire More Heroes Act
House: Water Rights Protection
Recent Senate Votes
Adegbile Nomination – Cloture – Vote Rejected (47-52, 1 Not Voting)
Senators rejected invoking cloture on the nomination of Debo P. Adegbile to be assistant attorney general for civil rights.
Sen. Brian Schatz voted YES
Sen. Mazie Hirono voted YES
Military Prosecutions – Cloture – Vote Rejected (55-45)
On Thursday, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on a bill that would require decisions to prosecute felony-level crimes in the military, except those unique to the armed forces, be made by experienced commissioned officers who are not in the alleged perpetrator’s chain of command.
Sen. Brian Schatz voted YES
Sen. Mazie Hirono voted YES
Recent House Votes
Environmental Reviews – Passage – Vote Passed (229-179, 22 Not Voting)
On Thursday, the House passed a bill that would expedite the environmental review process for federally funded projects and limit grounds for legal action against the review or permit approval process by outside groups. Agencies would have up to two years to complete environmental reviews. Only groups whose public comments on the review or permitting process that provide adequate notice of the issue being used to bring a civil action would be allowed legal standing in a lawsuit.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted NO
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted NO
Ukrainian Loan Guarantees – Passage – Vote Passed (385-23, 22 Not Voting)
The House passed a measure on Thursday to make Ukraine eligible for U.S. loan guarantees using previously-appropriated State Department program funds to cover funding. The vote required a two-thirds majority under a suspension of House rules.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted YES
Flood Insurance Premiums – Passage – Vote Passed (306-91, 33 Not Voting)
The House approved a bill on Tuesday to slow National Flood Insurance Program premium increases that are needed to achieve the program’s full actuarial rates. Passed under a suspension of House rules, the bill received 40 votes more than the required two-thirds majority. The measure would also require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to certify its flood mapping approach before raising insurance rates in the future.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted YES
Individual Health Insurance Mandate – Passage – Vote Passed (250-160, 20 Not Voting)
House members voted on Wednesday to postpone until 2015 the tax penalty for individuals who fail to purchase health insurance under the 2010 health care reform package. The current deadline for health insurance enrollment is March 31, 2014.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted NO
Upcoming Votes
Sexual Assault in the Military – S.1917
The Senate is scheduled to consider a military sexual assault victims’ rights bill and several U.S. district judge nominations this week.
Religious Conscience Health Coverage Exemption – H.R.1814
Among the items it is scheduled to consider Tuesday, the House is expected to vote on a bill extending additional religious exemptions under the health care coverage mandate.
Hire More Heroes Act – H.R.3474
On Tuesday the House will also consider a measure that exempts veteran employees from employer mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Water Rights Protection – H.R.3189
Later in the week, the House is scheduled to consider a water rights bill concerning the Department of the Interior.