HOW DID YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTE LAST WEEK?

March 3, 2014 In this MegaVote for Alabama's 5th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Veterans Benefits -- Cloture Senate: Veterans Benefits – Motion to Wave House: Cellular Phone Unlocking – Passage House: Eminent Domain Authority – Passage House: Federal Rule-Making Process – Passage Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 House: Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act House: Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals Fairness Act

Recent Senate Votes

Veterans Benefits -- Cloture - Vote Agreed to (99-0, 1 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to invoke cloture and proceed on a bill that would extend and expand health care and education benefits for veterans and their families. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES Veterans Benefits – Motion to Wave - Vote Rejected (56-41, 3 Not Voting) On Thursday, the Senate rejected a motion by Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., to waive all applicable budget laws when considering a bill to expand veterans benefits. The motion required a three-fifths majority to waive applicable budget laws under Senate rules. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO

Recent House Votes

Cellular Phone Unlocking – Passage - Vote Passed (295-114, 21 Not Voting) On Tuesday, the House passed a bill that would reverse a 2012 decision by the Library of Congress that made "unlocking" cell phones for use across wireless carriers illegal as of last January. HR 1123 would allow consumers to disable software protections on their cellphones and connect to mobile carriers of their choosing once their original contract expires. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES Eminent Domain Authority – Passage - Vote Passed (353-65, 12 Not Voting) The House passed a bill Wednesday that would withhold federal economic development funds, for two fiscal years, from states and localities that seize property for private economic development using eminent domain. The bill would also allow landowners to sue if state or local governments wrongfully take their property in such situations. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES Federal Rule-Making Process – Passage - Vote Passed (236-179, 15 Not Voting) A bill that would make a number of changes to the federal rule-making process passed the House on Thursday. The bill, passed mainly along party lines, would require agencies to consider the costs and benefits of rules and alternatives when issuing regulatory directives. The bill would allow the Small Business Administration to intervene in another agency's rule-making process and would expand the ability of small businesses to challenge federal rules in court. Federal agencies would also be required to make monthly reports of rule-making and post rules online. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 - S.1086 The Senate will vote on motion to proceed on the Child Care and Development Block Grant program reauthorization. Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act - HR3370 On Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on a homeowner flood insurance measure. Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals Fairness Act - HR4118 The House will also vote on a bill delaying penalties for the individual mandate under the Affordable Care Act.