Area congressional members’ votes on Obamacare repair, Title IX, judges

May 18-- May 18--WASHINGTON -- How St. Louis-area members of Congress voted during the week of May 13-17.

House

Democratic Repair of 2010 Health Law --The House on May 16 voted, 234-183, to bolster Affordable Care Act provisions that the administration has allowed to deteriorate while it pursues dismantlement and repeal of the law. Reversing a presidential order, the bill would restore the 2010 health laws original three-month limit on short-term health insurance plans that do not meet core coverage requirements, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 987) that also sets rules for bringing generic replacements for brand-name drugs more quickly to the market.

Yes --William Lacy Clay, D-University City.

No --Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, Mo.; Jason Smith, R-Salem, Mo.; John Shimkus, R-Collinsville; Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, Ill.; Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, Ill.

Cancer Research v. Health-Law Enrollment --Voting 188-228, the House on May 16 defeated a Republican motion to HR 987 (above) to shift millions of dollars from Affordable Care Act enrollment accounts to National Institutes of Health research into childhood cancer. The measure targeted the ACAs navigator program, in which the government hires outside groups to help individuals and small businesses sign up for medical insurance in ACA marketplaces. A yes vote was to adopt the motion.

Yes --Luetkemeyer, Smith, Wagner, Bost, Davis, Shimkus.

No --Clay.

Expanded Protection Against Sex-Based Bias --The House on May 17 voted, 236-173, to expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act of 1968 to protect LGBT individuals against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The proposed Equality Act (HR 5) also would expand the Civil Rights Acts listing of public accommodations to include retail stores, banks and transportation and healthcare services, and it would designate sexual characteristics as a protected class in public accommodations. In addition, the bill would prohibit the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1994 from being invoked to sanction discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Yes --Clay.

No --Wagner, Smith, Luetkemeyer, Bost, Davis, Shimkus.

Title IX Protections for Girls and Women ·The House defeated, 181-228, a Republican motion that sought to void HR 5 (above) if it were to undercut protections conferred by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The title ensures girls and women the same access as boys and men to federally funded education programs, including sports activities, in schooling through the collegiate level. A yes vote was to adopt the motion over Democratic charges it was fear-mongering.

Yes --Shimkus, Davis, Bost, Luetkemeyer, Smith, Wagner.

No --Clay.

Senate

Jeffrey Rosen, Deputy Attorney General --The Senate on May 16 confirmed, 52-45, Jeffrey A. Rosen, the deputy secretary of transportation, as deputy attorney general. He replaces Rod J. Rosenstein as the second-ranking official at the Department of Justice. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Yes --Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

No --Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Wendy Vitter, Federal District Judge --Voting 52-45, the Senate on May 16 confirmed Wendy Vitter, the general counsel of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, as a federal district, or trial, judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Republicans said Vitters experience as a parish-level district attorney helped qualify her for the federal judgeship, while Democratic criticized her views on women's reproductive-rights and for declining to say whether she feels the Supreme Court correctly decided the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education school-desegregation ruling.

Yes --Hawley, Blunt.

No --Durbin, Duckworth.

KEY VOTES AHEAD

The House will take up bills to rejuvenate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and reform rules for 401(k) retirement accounts in the week of May 20. The Senate will debate disaster aid and judicial nominations.

The votes and descriptions are compiled by Voterama in Congress, a legislative tracking organization.

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