HOW YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTED LAST WEEK?

November 9, 2015 In this MegaVote for Alabama's 5th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: "Waters of the United States" Definition -- Passage Senate: "Waters of the United States" Rule Disapproval -- Passage Senate: Military-Construction-VA Appropriations – Motion to Proceed House: Revised Defense Authorization -- Passage House: Surface Transportation Reauthorization -- Passage Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: Revised Defense Authorization Senate: Military-Construction-VA Appropriations Editor's Note: The House will not be in session this week.

Recent Senate Votes

"Waters of the United States" Definition -- Passage - Vote Failed (57-41, 2 Not Voting) The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would require the Obama administration to revisit its rule updating federal regulation of streams and wetlands. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES "Waters of the United States" Rule Disapproval -- Passage - Vote Passed (53-44, 3 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers  and the EPA relating to the definition of "waters of  the United States" and what bodies of water are subject to federal regulation. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES Military-Construction-VA Appropriations – Motion to Proceed - Vote Agreed to (93-0, 7 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to a motion to invoke cloture on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that funds veterans' health  programs and military bases. The measure, which contains  nearly $80 billion in discretionary funding, also includes  language that prohibits transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the  U.S. homeland and a ban on another round of base closures. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES

Recent House Votes

Revised Defense Authorization -- Passage - Vote Passed (370-58, 5 Not Voting) The House agreed to legislation that authorizes $599 billion  for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016,  $5 billion less than both the president's overall request and the  original conference agreement. It provides $33 billion of  the original $38 billion in added funds for defense, including $8 billion  through the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The measure authorizes  $715 million for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State, $406 million to train  and equip Syrian opposition forces and $300 million for lethal weapons  for Ukraine. It modifies the military retirement system, blocks  the Pentagon from retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft and authorizes $11 billion for the F-35 Fighter. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES Surface Transportation Reauthorization -- Passage - Vote Passed (363-64, 6 Not Voting) The House passed legislation that reauthorizes surface transportation  programs for six years, with policy provisions including those  that would replace the Surface Transportation Program with a block grant program,  create a new grant program for nationally significant freight and highway projects,  and make a number of changes to the environmental review process.  It also would liquidate the Federal Reserve's surplus funds and redirect that  money to the General Fund. Future money that would have been deposited in the funds  would also be deposited in the General Fund. The more than $325 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization package also contains Senate amendments that offset to cover Highway Trust Fund shortfalls for three years and a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Efforts to fully fund all six years of the reauthorization are expected to be made in conference with the Senate. Rep. Mo Brooks voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Revised Defense Authorization - S.1356 The bill authorizes $599 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016, $5 billion less than both the president's overall request and the original conference agreement. It provides $33 billion of the original $38 billion in added funds for defense, including $8 billion through the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The measure authorizes $715 million for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State, $406 million to train and equip Syrian opposition forces and $300 million for lethal weapons for Ukraine. It modifies the military retirement system, blocks the Pentagon from retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft and authorizes $11 billion for the F-35 Fighter. Military-Construction-VA Appropriations - H.R.2029 The bill funds veterans' health programs and military bases.  The measure, which contains nearly $80 billion in discretionary funding,  also includes language that prohibits transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the  U.S. homeland and a ban on another round of base closures.