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Friday, July 1 , 2005

As Amended; Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2006 (H.R. 2419)

On a 92-3 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote 00172.) the Senate on July 1, 2005, approved the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act of 2006 (H.R. 2419;  Full text of legislation ).  

Thursday, June 30 , 2005

Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (S. 1307)

The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act [CAFTA]  (S. 1307; Full text of legislation ) was approved by the Senate which sent the pact to the House of Representatives for a vote still too close to call.  

Handing President Bush a victory on his top trade priority, the Senate approved the measure on a 54-45 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote 00170) which will likely be voted on after July 11, 2005, by the House of Representatives.  

Article:  CAFTA wins Senate approval 

Tuesday, June 28 , 2005

As Amended; Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6)  

Although it is unclear whether the legislation will do much to reverse soaring gasoline prices, the Senate on Tuesday, June 28, 2005, overwhelmingly passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6 Full text of legislation), a major energy bill that promises to boost U.S. supplies of oil, gas and solar power.   The measure which was approved in an 85-12 vote addressed a range of issues: providing more tax breaks for oil and gas production, mandating electricity reliability standards on utilities to diminish blackouts and offering incentives for more wind and solar power. Also, it included money for technology research on clean coal and fuel cells and tax benefits for hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.  (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00158)  

Article: Senate approves energy bill that focuses on production

Tuesday, June 28 , 2005

Confirmation Thomas B. Griffith, of Utah, to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

Thomas B. Griffith was confirmed as a justice to the federal appellate court on Tuesday, June 14, 2005.  He becomes the newest judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia taking a seat that the Bush administration originally wanted for filibustered Hispanic lawyer Miguel Estrada and was confirmed by a 73-24 vote. (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00136)  

Article:  Griffith Confirmed for U.S. Appeals Court

Thursday, June 9 , 2005

Confirmation David W. McKeague , of Michigan , to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

The Senate confirmed David W. McKeague for a seat on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on June 9, 2005.  By a 96-0 vote justice McKeague was approved. (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00135)  

Article:  Parties Declare Victory in Judicial Confirmations

Confirmation Richard A. Griffin , of Michigan , to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

Richard A. Griffin was confirmed for a seat on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on June 9, 2005, by the Senate.  Griffin was confirmed by a 95-0 vote.

(To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00134)  

Article:  Parties Declare Victory in Judicial Confirmations

Confirmation William H. Pryor , of Alabama , to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

The former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor was confirmed for a seat on the U.S. Appeals Court by the Senate on June 9, 2005.  Justice Pryor was approved for Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Atlanta-based court that handles federal appeals from Alabama, Georgia and Florida, by a 53-45 vote. (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00133)  

Article: Senate Approves Pryor for Appeals Court

Wednesday, June 8 , 2005

Confirmation Janice R. Brown , of California , to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

Giving President Bush and his conservative supporters a long-sought addition to the nation's second most influential court, the Senate confirmed Janice Rogers Brown to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on June 8, 2005, after two days of often emotional debate.  Brown, a California Supreme Court justice whose forcefully stated views have infuriated liberals and delighted conservatives, was approved by a 56 to 43 vote.  (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00131) 

Article: Brown Approved For D.C. Circuit

Monday, May 25 , 2005

Confirmation Priscilla Richman Owen, to be U.S. Circuit Judge  

Ending the four-year ordeal of the Texas jurist who was thrust into the center of the partisan battle over President Bush's judicial nominations, the Senate on May 25, 2005,  confirmed Priscilla Owen as a federal appellate judge.  Owen was appointed to the New Orleans-based fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by a 56-43 vote.  (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00128)  

Article: Senate OKs Bush court nominee

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

As Amended; Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R. 3)  

Arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways, the Senate brushed aside a Presidential veto threat May 17, 2005, and passed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R. 3; Full text of legislation), a $295 billion highway bill. 

While pressing Congress to pass a new highway bill, the administration said the Senate version was too expensive in a time of war and debt and could result in the first veto of the Bush Presidency.

While pressing Congress to pass a new highway bill, the administration said the Senate version was too expensive in a time of war and debt and could result in the first veto of the Bush Presidency.

Article: Senate Defies Bush, Approves Highway Bill

Tuesday, May 10 , 2005

Conference Report; Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (H. R. 1268)  

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (H.R. 1268; Full text of legislation), an $82 billion bill that mainly keeps funds flowing for American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan was approved by the Senate on May 10, 2005. By a 100-0 vote the measure was approved (To view how your senators voted visit: Vote: 00117)  

Article:  U.S. Senate approves Iraq war funds, sends to Bush

 

House of Representatives

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for veterans medical services (H.R. 3130) 

After having forced House Republicans to rush to pass an emergency spending bill for a $1 billion shortfall in veterans health care coverage, Democrats celebrated a rare Capitol Hill victory on military affairs on June 30, 2005.  

The Bush administration on June 30, 2005, sent up an emergency spending request for $975 million after first saying the shortfall could be handled by shifting funds

The House of Representatives passed  Making Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 for Veterans Medical Services (H.R. 3130; Full text of legislation) by a  419-0 with 227 Republicans, 191 Democrats and one independent making up the unanimous vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 362)  

Article: House OKs cash for veterans  

The majority opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of Kelo et al. v. City of New London (H RES 340)

The House of Representatives on June 30, 2005, passed a resolution (H. RES. 340; Full text of resolution  ) expressing the grave disapproval of the House regarding the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of Kelo et al. v. City of New London et al. that nullifies the protections afforded private property owners in the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.  The resolution was approved by a 365-33 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 361)  

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a Chinese state-owned energy company (H RES 344)  

On June 30, 2005, the House of Representatives approved a resolution  (H Res 344; Full text of resolution  ) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a Chinese state-owned energy company exercising control of critical United States energy infrastructure and energy production capacity could take action that would threaten to impair the national security of the United States. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 360)

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 2475)  

The House of Representatives on June 21, 2005, passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 2475; Full text of legislation), a measure that prioritizes the administration of the CIA, Pentagon and other agencies.  Although classified, the amount of funding is estimated to be about $42 billion and passed easily by a 409-16 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 290)  

Article: U.S. House passes intelligence bill

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

National Defense Authorization Act, FY 06 (H.R. 1815)

The House of Representatives on May 25, 2005, approved the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year [FY] (H.R. 1815; Full text of legislation), a $491 billion defense bill.  The measure was approved by a 390-39 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 222)

Article: House passes defense bill

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810)  

Although not gaining enough support for a two-thirds majority to override a promised Presidential veto, the House of Representatives passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810; Full text of legislation) a bill to ease restrictions on human-embryonic-stem-cell research.  The measure calls for nearly 400,000 human embryos currently in cold storage to be used for experimentation and was passed by a 238-194 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 204)  

Article: House OKs bill on stem cells

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 1185)  

The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 1185; Full text of legislation) was approved by the House of Representatives overwhelmingly on May 4, 2005.  The measure raises the $100,000 ceiling on federal bank deposit insurance to $130,000, and doubles that amount for retirement accounts. The legislation would increase maximum insurance coverage for deposits for the first time since 1980, when it was raised from $40,000 per account.  Also, for the first time, retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k) plans would be insured up to $260,000. The bill was approved by a 413-10 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 157)  

Article: House votes to insure retirement funds  

Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act (H.R. 366)

On May 4, 2005, the House of Representatives approved the Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act (H.R. 366; Full text of legislation ), a $1.3 billion technical and vocational education program President Bush has sought to eliminate.

The House followed the Senate's March rebuff of the President's proposal to eliminate the program next year to fund his own No Child Left Behind education testing program with approval of its own version of the bill by a 416-0 vote. (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 154)  

Article: House backs vocational education program

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act  (H.R. 748)

On April 27, 2005, the House of Representatives passed the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 748;  Full text of legislation) The measure would impose fines, jail time or both on adults and doctors involved in most cases where minors were taken out of state to get abortions and passed by a 270-157 vote.  (To view how your representative voted visit: Vote: 144)

Article:  House Passes Parental-Consent Abortion Bill

 

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Contact Information:

US House of Representatives:

Capitol Hill Switchboard Numbers: 202-225-3121 or 202-224-3121 (Those numbers will direct you to the Capitol Hill operator. Ask for representative's office.)

To go to your representative's website, find his E-mail or to find out who your representatives are...  

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html.

To electronically mail your U.S. House of Representative, go to http://www.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep.  

Addressing Correspondence: 

The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (last name):  

US Senate:  

Contact Information:  

To go to your senators' websites, find their E-mail or to find out who your senators are...  

 http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm      

Addressing Correspondence: 

The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510   

Dear Senator (last name):    

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