MegaVote - CT Senate and 3rd District

June 19, 2017 In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Rapuano Nomination – Confirmation Senate: Saudi Arms Sale Disapproval – Motion to Discharge Senate: Iranian and Russian Sanctions House: Health Insurance Tax Credit Verification House: Veterans Affairs Department Accountability House: Health Care Tax Credit Expansion Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: Nomination of Brock Long to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Senate: Nomination of Sigal Mandelker to be Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes Senate: Nomination of Marshall Billingslea to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing House: Electric Grid Rights-of-Way Maintenance House: Expedite Water Storage Projects House: TANF Work Subsidies Recent Senate Votes Rapuano Nomination – Confirmation - Vote Confirmed (95-1, 4 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed the nomination of Kenneth P. Rapuano to be assistant secretary of Defense Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Saudi Arms Sale Disapproval – Motion to Discharge - Vote Rejected (47-53) Paul, R-Ky., motion to discharge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of a joint resolution that would prohibit the proposed sale of laser-guided weapons systems, fighter aircraft, warhead fuze systems, and other weaponry and defense services to Saudi Arabia. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Iranian and Russian Sanctions - Vote Passed (98-2) Passage of the bill that would impose new sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the president would be required to block the transactions of any person deemed to knowingly engage in activities contributing to an Iranian ballistic missile or weapons of mass destruction program, who is involved in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, who is responsible for human rights violations, or who contributes to the arming of Iran. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Recent House Votes Health Insurance Tax Credit Verification - Vote Passed (238-184, 8 Not Voting) Passage of the bill would prohibit the advance payment of health insurance premium tax credits to individuals that apply for the credits unless the Treasury Department receives confirmation from the Health and Human Services Department that such an individual's status as a citizens or lawfully present alien has been verified. If the American Health Care Act (HR 1628) is enacted, the bill (HR 2581) would make verification of an individual's status mandatory in order to receive advance payment of the new health insurance premium tax credit created by the American Health Care Act. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Veterans Affairs Department Accountability - Vote Passed (368-55, 7 Not Voting) Passage of the bill would expand the VA's ability to fire, demote and suspend employees for misconduct or poor performance. The bill would authorize the VA to recoup any bonus or relocation expense paid to a VA employee if it deems it appropriate. It would require that the employee be given advance notice and would allow the employee the right to appeal the disciplinary action through procedures set by collective bargaining. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted YES Health Care Tax Credit Expansion - Vote Passed (267-144, 19 Not Voting) Passage of the bill would modify the definition of a "qualified health plan" to allow, beginning in 2020, for new tax credits proposed by the American Health Care Act (HR 1628) to be used by individuals or families to pay for continued group health coverage under the 1985 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), provided that the AHCA is enacted into law. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Upcoming Votes Nomination of Brock Long to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - PN455 The Senate will vote on the nomination of Brock Long to be administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Nomination of Sigal Mandelker to be Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes - PN172 The Senate will vote on the nomination of Sigal Mandelker to be undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial crimes. Nomination of Marshall Billingslea to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing - PN366 The Senate will vote on the nomination of Marshall Billingslea to be assistant secretary of the Treasury for terrorist financing. Electric Grid Rights-of-Way Maintenance - HR1873 The bill would promote the ability of electric utilities to perform needed vegetative and other maintenance on electricity transmission line rights-of-way on federal lands, including by allowing electric companies to prepare long-term plans for such maintenance activities that could be approved in advance by agencies and by empowering utilities to take certain quick actions if necessary. Expedite Water Storage Projects - HR1654 The bill would create a "one-stop-shop" permitting process to expedite the construction of new or expanded surface water storage facilities on most federal lands by establishing the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead federal agency for purposes of coordinating all federal reviews, analyses, permits and licenses needed for federal approvals of such projects on Interior and Agriculture department lands. TANF Work Subsidies - HR2842 The bill would authorize state demonstration projects within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to temporarily subsidize employment for TANF beneficiaries with willing employers in an effort to help those low-income individuals enter into the workforce and gain permanent employment.