Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 3-2-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Passage – Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill would include $12.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection; $6 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, including fees; $10 billion for the Coast Guard; $1.7 billion for the Secret Service; and $10.8 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $6.4 billion for emergency disaster relief. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Fiscal 2015 Homeland Department Continuing Resolution – Passage – Vote Failed (203-224, 6 Not Voting) The House rejected a joint resolution that would make further continuing appropriations for the Homeland Security Department for fiscal 2015. The measure would extend funding for the department for three weeks, through March 19, 2015. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Education Savings Plan Expansion – Passage – Vote Passed (401-20, 11 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would permanently expand the use of “529” educational savings plans by allowing tax-free distributions for students to buy computers and software. It also would eliminate the requirement that multiple 529 accounts held by a beneficiary be treated as a single account and exempt from taxation any amounts that are refunded from colleges as long as the beneficiary re-contributes the funds back into a 529 account within 60 days. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 – H.R.240 The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill that would make appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. Secret Science Reform Act of 2015 – H.R.1030 The bill would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible. Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act – H.R.294 This House bill would amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of veterans to non-Department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-17-15: Recent Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Child Pornography Victims Restitution – Passage – Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would expand restitution for victims of child pornography. The bill would expand a victim’s losses to include medical services, therapy, rehabilitation, transportation, child care and lost income. It also would allow defendants who have contributed to the same victim’s losses to spread the cost of restitution among themselves and establish minimum award levels for certain offenses. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage – Vote Passed (270-152, 10 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Small Business Tax Extenders – Passage – Vote Passed (272-142, 18 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would that would make permanent increased expensing limitations in the tax code that allow small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 of their equipment costs for a maximum of $2 million worth of property. The bill would make permanent the reduced recognition period for S corporations under which they could be taxed for sales of certain assets. It would make permanent a tax break for the charitable contributions of S corporations and allow them to qualify for the same tax exemptions that apply to individuals for charitable contributions. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-9-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Cloture – Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting) The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill also would bar the use of funds to implement the administration’s immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies. Sixty votes were required. Sen. Michael Bennet voted NO Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Healthcare Overhaul Repeal – Passage – Vote Passed (239-186, 8 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would repeal the 2010 health care overhaul. The bill would delay the repeal by 180 days after enactment and direct several House committees to submit alternative legislation with a number of provisions, including ones to increase economic growth by eliminating certain regulations; lower health care premiums through increased competition; overhaul the medical liability system; and provide states greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Small Business Regulatory Revisions – Passage – Vote Passed (260-163, 10 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would give the Small Business Administration new authority to ensure that federal agencies comply with a 1980 law requiring that they be flexible in taking regulatory actions that affect small businesses, including by getting more directly involved with an agency’s reviews of proposed rules and requiring SBA to convene panels of small entities to review rules proposals. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Botticelli Nomination – PN60 The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Michael P. Botticelli, of the District of Columbia, to be director of National Drug Control Policy. Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act – S1 The House will consider a Senate-passed bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. The measure also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. America Gives More Act – HR644 The House will consider a bill to combine four charitable tax measures. The measure makes permanent a number of tax provisions intended to provide incentives for charitable giving — including those related to food contributions, conservation property, contributions from certain retirement accounts and the treatment of private foundations. America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act – HR636 The House is expected to consider a bill to combine three small-business tax measures. The legislation makes permanent increased Section 179 expensing limitations for small businesses and farms, as well as rules for the S-corporation built-in gains tax and for S-corporation charitable contributions — all of which expired at the end of calendar year 2014.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-2-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage – Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Liquefied Natural Gas Exports – Passage – Vote Passed (277-133, 23 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would require the Energy Department to make a decision on pending applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of the bill’s enactment or at the end of the public comment period, whichever is later. Under the bill, applications would have to publicly disclose the countries that would receive the proposed exports. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted Not Voting

Upcoming Votes

Clay Hunt SAV Act – HR203 The Senate will consider a bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Repeal – HR596 The House will consider a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill would require four House committees to develop health care legislation to replace the law.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 1-26-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Climate Change – Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting) The Senate rejected a Schatz, D-Hawaii, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the amendment to 60 votes. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted NO Keystone XL Pipeline – Climate Change – Vote Agreed to (56-42, 2 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to table (kill) a Sanders, I-Vt., amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and caused by human activities. It also would urge the U.S. to overhaul its energy system away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy. Sen. Michael Bennet voted NO Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES Keystone XL Pipeline – Energy Efficiency Standards – Vote Agreed to (94-5, 1 Not Voting) The Senate adopted a Portman, R-Ohio, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would would direct the General Services Administration to establish best practices regarding energy-efficiency in commercial real estate buildings, including those that house federal agencies. It would require the GSA to incorporate energy-efficiency standards into its building leasing program for federal agencies. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage – Vote Passed (253-169, 11 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny a natural gas pipeline project within one year after receiving a completed application. Federal agencies responsible for issuing permits would have to issue a ruling within 90 days of when FERC issues its final environmental statement for the project. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted Not Voting Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage – Vote Passed (242-179, 12 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds, facilities or staff to provide abortion coverage and services, except in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the woman. It also would prohibit individuals and small business from receiving federal subsidies and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase plans that cover abortions. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted Not Voting

Upcoming Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – S1 The Senate will consider a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. Human Trafficking Prioritization Act – HR514 The House will consider a bill to prioritize the fight against human trafficking within the Department of State according to congressional intent in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 without increasing the size of the Federal Government. LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act – HR351 The House will consider a bill to provide for expedited approval of exportation of natural gas.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 1-20-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Cloture – Vote Agreed to (63-32, 5 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Rulemaking Process Overhaul – Passage – Vote Passed (250-175, 8 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rulemaking process by requiring agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider new criteria, including potential costs and benefits of alternatives. The bill would create additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing major rules with annual costs of more than $100 million, or high-impact rules with annual costs of more than $1 billion, including an advanced-notice comment period to determine whether the rule-making process should proceed. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted Not Voting Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations – Passage – Vote Passed (236-191, 6 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. As amended the bill would bar the use of funds to implement the administration’s immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Financial Regulatory Revisions – Passage – Vote Passed (271-154, 8 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would modify numerous requirements under the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul. It would delay until July 2019 a requirement under the Volcker rule that banks sell off collateralized loan obligations, the complex securitization vehicles that are backed predominantly by commercial loans and exempt non-financial companies from margin requirements under the law. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline Act – S1 The Senate will consider a bill to immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act – HR161 The House will consider a bill to provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and approvals required under Federal law with respect to the sitting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – HR36 The House will consider a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children, and for other purposes.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 1-12-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization – Passage – Vote Passed (93-4, 3 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would extend the Terrorism Insurance Act for six years, through 2020, and raise the threshold of insured losses at which federal assistance kicks in, reducing the share of losses that federal assistance will cover and increasing the amounts that the government recoups from the insurance industry. It also would clarify that certain entities, or so-called “end users”, who trade in derivatives are not subject to margin requirements for those derivatives. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Healthcare Employer Mandate – Passage – Vote Passed (252-172, 5 Not Voting) This bill would modify who is covered as a full-time employee under the employer mandate in the 2010 health care law by replacing the 30 hour-a-week threshold with 40 hours per week. It also would change how companies calculate how many of their employees can be counted under the employer mandates’ 50-employee threshold. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage – Vote Passed (266-153, 1 Present, 9 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline Act – S.1 The bill would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act – H.R.37 The bill would make technical corrections to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to enhance the ability of small and emerging growth companies to access capital through public and private markets, to reduce regulatory burdens, and for other purposes. Regulatory Accountability Act – H.R.185 The bill would reform the process by which Federal agencies analyze and formulate new regulations and guidance documents.

Bennet and Udall Watch 12-22-14: Recent Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Confirmation of Vivek Hallegere Murthy to be Surgeon General – Vote Confirmed (51-43, 6 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Dr. Vivek Murthy to be Surgeon General. Sen. Mark Udall voted YES Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES

Bennet, Udall, and Perlmutter Watch 12-15-14: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2015 Omnibus Appropriations – Motion to Concur – Vote Agreed to (56-40, 4 Not Voting) The Senate voted to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would provide about $1 trillion in discretionary appropriations in fiscal 2015 for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2015 spending bills, thus clearing the measure for the President’s signature. Sen. Mark Udall voted YES Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES

Recent House Votes

Fiscal 2015 Omnibus Appropriations – Passage – Vote Passed (219-206, 10 Not Voting) The House voted to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with a House amendment that would provide about $1 trillion in discretionary appropriations in fiscal 2015 for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2015 spending bills. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Nominations – The Senate is expected to consider a number of nominations.

Perlmutter Watch 12-8-14: Recent Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent House Votes

Executive Action on Immigration – Passage – Vote Passed (219-197, 3 Present, 15 Not Voting) The House voted to pass a bill that would prohibit the executive branch from exempting or deferring from deportation any immigrants considered to be unlawfully present in the United States. It also would prohibit the administration from treating those immigrants as if they were lawfully present or had lawful immigration status. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization – Motion to Concur – Vote Passed (300-119, 15 Not Voting) The House voted to concur in the Senate amendment with a House amendment and pass the bill that would authorize $495.9 billion for the Defense Department’s base budget, $17.5 billion for national security programs within the Energy Department and $63.7 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations including $5.1 billion to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES