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Christopher's
Votes - October, 2005
Agriculture
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(555) HR 2744: Fiscal 2006 Agriculture Appropriations
- Conference Report
October 28, 2005 - Adoption of the conference report on the
bill that would appropriate $101 billion in fiscal 2006 for
the Department of Agriculture and related agencies such as the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill would fund the
food stamp program at $40.7 billion and child nutrition program
at $12.7 billion. It would provide $25.7 billion for the Commodity
Credit Corporation, $5.3 billion for the Women, Infants and
Children program and $1.5 billion for the FDA. The country-of-origin
labeling of meat products mandated by the 2002 farm law would
be delayed for two years.
Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 318-63
Vote: Nay
Arts, Immigration, Social Services and
Other Domestic Issues
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(525) HR 1409: Orphan Assistance in Developing Countries
- Passage
October 18, 2005 - Hyde, R-Ill., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would establish a new special advisor
for orphans and vulnerable children within the U.S. Agency for
International Development who would be responsible for reviewing
and approving all assistance provided by the agency to orphans
and vulnerable children in developing countries.
Motion agreed to 415-9
Vote: Yea
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(535) HR 2744: Fiscal 2006 Agriculture Appropriations
- Motion to Instruct
October 20, 2005 - DeLauro, D-Conn., motion to instruct House
conferees to include language that would agree to a Senate provision
that blocks funds in the bill from being used to close or relocate
state Farm Service Agency offices unless the Agriculture Department
reports to the House and Senate Appropriations committees that
such closures are necessary and cost-effective. It also would
instruct conferees to agree to a new provision that would prohibit
a state agency from using federal funds for administrative costs
related to Food Stamp Program operations if those opeations
are contracted to a private entity.
Motion rejected 209-216
Vote: Yea
Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs
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(549) HR 3945: Hurricane Katrina Financial Services
Relief - Passage
October 27, 2005 - Baker, R-La., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would require federal reserve banks to
waive or rebate any transaction fee for wire transfer services
that would normally be imposed on an insured depository institution
or insured credit union if they are all headquartered in a presidentially
declared disaster area.
Motion agreed to 411-0
Vote: Yea
Congress and Federal Elections
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(516) Procedural Motion - Journal
October 07, 2005 - Approval of the House Journal of Thursday,
October 6, 2005.
Approved 348-63
Vote: Yea
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(521) Procedural Motion - Journal
October 17, 2005 - Approval of the House Journal of Friday,
October 7, 2005.
Approved 317-52
Vote: Yea
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(536) HR 3675: Fraud in Emergencies - Passage
October 25, 2005 - Stearns, R-Fla., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would double to $22,000 per violation,
the civil penalties the Federal Trade Commission could impose
on individuals or companies that commit unfair or deceptive
acts that exploit the popular reaction to national emergencies,
presidentially declared disasters or international disasters.
Motion agreed to 399-3
Vote: Yea
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(540) Procedural Motion - Journal
October 26, 2005 - Approval of the House Journal of Tuesday,
October 25, 2005.
Approved 349-62
Vote: Yea
Crime, Drugs and Judicial Affairs
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(524) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - Rule
October 18, 2005 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 494) that would
provide for House floor consideration of the bill that would
prohibit lawsuits in federal or state courts against restaurants,
food manufacturers and distributors based on claims that the
food contributed to the plaintiff's obesity or weight gain.
Adopted 310-114
Vote: Yea
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(529) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - Lawsuits
by Food Manufacturers
October 19, 2005 - Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, amendment that would
prohibit food manufacturers, vendors, or their trade associations
from filing lawsuits against any individual due to that person's
consumption of food that has led to weight gain, obesity or
related health problems.
Rejected 67-357: R 0-227
Vote: Nay
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(530) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - Lawsuits for
Children
October 19, 2005 - Filner, D-Calif., amendment that would allow
lawsuits for obesity-related injuries of children age 8 and
under against chain outlets with at least 20 stores that have
marketed food to children under age 8.
Rejected 129-298: R 1-227
Vote: Nay
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(531) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - State Consumer
Protection Laws
October 19, 2005 - Scott, D-Va., amendment that would exempt
from the bill an action brought by a state agency to enforce
state consumer protection laws concerning mislabeling or other
"unfair and deceptive trade practices."
Rejected 192-234
Vote: Nay
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(532) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - Dietary Supplement
Makers
October 19, 2005 - Waxman, D-Calif., amendment that would allow
lawsuits against dietary supplement makers for damages because
of obesity, weight gain or related health problems.
Rejected 177-247
Vote: Nay
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(533) HR 554: Food Industry Lawsuits - Passage
October 19, 2005 - Passage of the bill that would prohibit lawsuits
in federal or state courts against restaurants, food manufacturers
and distributors based on claims that the food contributed to
the plaintiff's obesity or weight gain. The bill would allow
suits if the defendant knowingly and willfully violated federal
or state laws governing the labeling, advertising or selling
of food products. Any party bringing a suit, as permitted by
the bill, would be required to state the particular federal
and state statutes allegedly violated and the facts alleged
to have caused the injury claimed.
Passed 306-120
Vote: Yea
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(534) S 397: Gun Liability - Passage
October 20, 2005 - Passage of the bill that would bar certain
civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers
and importers of firearms and ammunition, principally those
lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence. Trade
groups also would be protected and all pending legal action
against gunmakers would be dismissed. It also would, with certain
exceptions, make it unlawful for licensed gun importers, manufacturers
or dealers to sell, deliver or transfer handguns without a secure
gun storage or safety device. As amended, it would establish
penalties for noncompliance, including a six-month suspension
of a license, the revocation of a license, or a $2,500 fine.
It would require the attorney general to commission a study
on the feasibility of uniform standard for the testing of projectiles
against body armor. Penalties for violent or drug trafficking
crimes in which the perpetrator uses or possesses armor-piercing
ammunition would be increased to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment.
If death resulted from the use of such ammunition, a person
could be imprisoned up to life or face the death penalty.
Passed (thus cleared for the president) 283-144
Vote: Nay
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(551) HR 420: Meritless Lawsuits - Democratic Substitute
October 27, 2005 - Schiff, D-Calif., substitute amendment that
would increase federal sanctions on lawyers who file meritless
civil lawsuits. It would require mandatory sanctions against
those filing such lawsuits, including payment of costs and attorney
fees. It also would prevent a court from sealing or otherwise
restricting access to a court record unless the court finds
that such a restriction is justified.
Rejected 184-226
Vote: Nay
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(552) HR 420: Meritless Lawsuits - Recommit
October 27, 2005 - Barrow, D-Ga., motion to recommit the bill
to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to add language
that would exempt from the bill claims against "disaster
profiteering businesses."
Motion rejected 196-217
Vote: Nay
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(553) HR 420: Meritless Lawsuits - Passage
October 27, 2005 - Passage of the bill that would increase federal
sanctions on lawyers who file meritless civil lawsuits. It would
restore mandatory sanctions against those filing such lawsuits
instead of giving judges the discretion to implement sanctions.
The bill would strike the "safe harbor" provision
of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that allows
lawyers to avoid sanctions by withdrawing or correcting questionable
claims. As amended, the bill would prevent a court from sealing
or otherwise restricting access to a court record unless the
court finds that such a restriction is justified.
Passed 228-184
Vote: Yea
Defense and National Security
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(512) HR 2360: Fiscal 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations
- Conference Report
October 06, 2005 - Adoption of the conference report on the
bill that would appropriate $31.9 billion in fiscal 2006 for
the Homeland Security Department and related agencies. The bill
includes $6 billion for customs and border protection; $5.9
billion for the Transportation Security Administration, including
fees; $7.8 billion for the Coast Guard; $1.2 billion for the
Secret Service and $2.6 billion for response and recovery efforts
conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 347-70
Vote: Yea
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(548) H J Res 65: Base Closure and Realignment Commission -
Passage
October 27, 2005 - Passage of the joint resolution
that would disapprove the president's recommendations for the
fifth round of base closures and realignments.
Rejected 85-324
Vote: Nay
Environment, Energy, Science and Technology
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(515) HR 3893: Oil Refinery Construction - Rule
October 07, 2005 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 481) that would
provide for House floor consideration of the bill that would
allow state governors to opt into a streamlined regulatory process
for refinery expansion and construction projects.
Adopted 216-201
Vote: Nay
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(517) HR 3893: Oil Refinery Construction - Democratic
Substitute
October 07, 2005 - Stupak, D-Mich., substitute amendment that
would allow the president to declare an energy emergency, prohibit
gasoline price gouging in times of such emergencies and create
a Strategic Refinery Reserve. It would allow the Federal Trade
Commission to enforce the ban on price gouging and set penalty
fines of up to three times the profits gained through price
gouging, or up to $3 million. The Energy Department would be
allowed to construct new refineries or open closed refineries
to create the reserve, which would have a capacity equaling
5 percent of the daily U.S. demand for gasoline, home heating
oil, and other refined petroleum products.
Rejected 199-222
Vote: Yea
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(518) HR 3893: Oil Refinery Construction - Recommit
October 07, 2005 - Bishop, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the bill
to the Energy and Commerce Committee with instructions to add
language that would provide for stricter penalties dealing with
gasoline price gouging, outlaw market manipulation and empower
state attorneys' general to enforce the law.
Motion rejected 200-222
Vote: Yea
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(519) HR 3893: Oil Refinery Construction - Passage
October 07, 2005 - Passage of the bill that would allow state
governors to opt into a streamlined regulatory process for refinery
expansion and construction projects. It would require the president
to designate federal sites for new oil refineries and allow
the federal government to pay new refineries for the costs of
significant delays due to lawsuits and government regulations.
Price gouging on gasoline would be banned in times of emergencies.
The bill also would direct the Federal Trade Commission to investigate
price gouging after Hurricane Katrina. It would specify that
the federal government could provide loan guarantees for the
Alaska natural gas pipeline up to two years after enactment,
unless the state of Alaska has a contractual agreement to complete
construction of the pipeline.
Passed 212-210
Vote: Nay
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(522) H Res 457: National Chemistry Week - Adoption
October 17, 2005 - Smith, R-Texas, motion to suspend
the rules and adopt the resolution that would support the goals
of National Chemistry Week and encourage citizens to observe
the week with appropriate activities and programs.
Motion agreed to 366-2
Vote: Yea
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(523) H Res 491: Cyber Security Awareness Month - Adoption
October 17, 2005 - Smith, R-Texas, motion to suspend
the rules and adopt the resolution that would express support
for the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness
Month.
Motion agreed to 354-13
Vote: Yea
Executive Branch, Federal Buildings, and
D.C.
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(527) HR 3549: William F. Clinger Post Office - Passage
October 18, 2005 - Porter, R-Nev., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would designate a post office in Warren,
Pa., for William F. Clinger, R-Pa. (1979-97), who represented
Pennsylvania in the House for nine terms and was chairman of
the Government Reform Committee in the 104th Congress.
Motion agreed to 422-1
Vote: Yea
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(528) HR 3853: Willie Vaughn Post Office - Passage
October 18, 2005 - Porter, R-Nev., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would designate a post office in Parkdale,
Ark., for Willie Vaughn, who has been a church, civic and community
leader for many years in Parkdale, where he still lives.
Motion agreed to 421-0
Vote: Yea
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(537) H Con Res 269: White House Fellows Program - Adoption
October 25, 2005 - Schmidt, R-Ohio, motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the concurrent resolution which would recognize the
40th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program and the
contributions of the fellows to their communities, the United
States and the world.
Motion agreed to 401-0
Vote: Yea
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(538) HR 3256: James Grove Fulton Post Office - Passage
October 25, 2005 - Schmidt, R-Ohio, motion to suspend
the rules and pass the bill that would designate a post office
in Pittsburgh, Pa., for James Grove Fulton, R-Pa. (1945-71),
who represented Pennsylvania in the House for 13 terms and who
served more than two terms as the ranking member of the then-Science
and Astronautics Committee.
Motion agreed to 396-1
Vote: Yea
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(557) HR 3548: Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr. Post Office - Passage
November 01, 2005 - Gutknecht, R-Minn, motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill that would designate a post office in
Pearl River, N.Y., for Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr., who was killed in
action along with three members of his seven-man patrol, known
as Team Breaker, while on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam.
Motion agreed to 390-0
Vote: Shays did not vote
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(558) HR 3989: Albert Harold Quie Post Office - Passage
November 01, 2005 - Gutknecht, R-Minn, motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill that would designate a post office in
Dennison, Minn., for Albert Harold Quie, R-Minn. (1958-79),
who represented Minnesota in the House for 10 full terms and
served as governor of the state for one term.
Motion agreed to 391-1
Vote: Shays did not vote
Foreign Affairs
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(520) H Con Res 248: Simon Wiesenthal Tribute - Adoption
October 07, 2005 - Smith, R-N.J., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would honor the life and work
of Simon Wiesenthal to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust
and to bring the perpetrators of crimes against humanity to
justice.
Motion agreed to 354-0
Vote: Yea
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(526) H Res 492: Earthquake Victims Condolence - Adoption
October 18, 2005 - Hyde, R-Ill., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would mourn the loss of life and
suffering caused by the earthquake that occurred in Pakistan
and India on Oct. 8, 2005.
Motion agreed to 423-0:
Vote: Yea
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(550) H Res 368: Vice-President of the U.N. General
Assembly - Adoption
October 27, 2005 - Chabot, R-Ohio, motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would congratulate Ambassador
Dan Gillerman, Israel's permanent representative to the United
Nations, and the Israeli government and people on Gillerman's
election as Vice-President of the 60th U.N. General Assembly.
Motion agreed to 407-0
Vote: Yea
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(554) HR 3057: Fiscal 2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations
- Motion to Instruct
October 27, 2005 - Lowey, D-N.Y., motion to instruct House conferees
to include language that would agree to a Senate provision allowing
for $3 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,
including $500 million for the U.S. contribution to the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Motion agreed to 259-147
Vote: Yea
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(556) H Res 523: Condemnation Against Iran President
- Adoption
October 28, 2005 - Adoption of the resolution that would denounce
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's "threats"
against Israel and nations that support Israel, and demand that
he repudiate them and call on the U.N. Security Council and
other nations to reject these statements.
Adopted 383-0
Vote: Yea
Health
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(510) H Res 276: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month -
Adoption
October 06, 2005 - Duncan, R-Tenn., motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution that would support the goals and ideals
of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, which would be designated
for November.
Motion agreed to 415-0
Vote: Yea
Housing
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(511) HR 3894: Hurricane Katrina Section 8 Housing Relief
- Passage
October 06, 2005 - Baker, R-La., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would direct the Housing and Urban Development
Department to waive eligibility requirements for the Section
8 housing voucher program for anyone who resided in a federal
disaster area and whose residence became uninhabitable as a
result of Hurricane Katrina.
Motion agreed to 418-0
Vote: Yea
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(513) HR 3895: Rural Housing Hurricane Katrina Relief
- Passage
October 06, 2005 - Baker, R-La., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would allow the Agricultural Department,
in the event of federally declared natural disaster, to convert
rural rental assistance into urban and rural housing vouchers.
Motion agreed to 335-81
Vote: Yea
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(514) HR 3896: CDBG Hurricane Katrina Relief - Passage
October 06, 2005 - Baker, R-La., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would direct the Housing and Urban Development
Department to suspend Community Development Block Grant caps
for fiscal years 2005 through 2008 for communities directly
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Motion agreed to 415-0
Vote: Yea
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(539) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Rule
October 26, 2005 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 509) that would
provide for House floor consideration of the bill that would
overhaul the regulations surrounding government-sponsored enterprises,
including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan
Banks.
Adopted 220-196
Vote: Yea
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(541) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Manager's
Amendment
October 26, 2005 - Oxley, R-Ohio, amendment that would sunset
the affordable housing fund in the bill after five years and
require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to allocate toward the fund
3.5 percent of their profits in the first two years and 5 percent
of profits in the final three years. Priority consideration
for funds would be given to areas affected by hurricanes Katrina
and Rita in the first two years. It also would prohibit the
use of funds in the bill for political activities, advocacy,
lobbying, counseling services, travel expenses, or preparing
or providing advice on tax returns.
Adopted 210-205
Vote: Yea
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(542) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Federal
Housing Finance Agency
October 26, 2005 - Leach, R-Iowa, amendment that would allow
the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to establish a minimum
capital level for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or any Federal Home
Loan Bank if the FHFA decides one is needed for the long-term
viability of any of the institutions.
Rejected 36-378
Vote: Yea
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(543) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Systemic
Risk
October 26, 2005 - Royce, R-Calif., amendment that would authorize
the Federal Housing Finance Agency to require Fannie Mae or
Freddie Mac to sell or acquire assets or liabilities, if an
asset or liability is deemed to be a potential systemic risk
to the housing market, the capital markets or the financial
system.
Rejected 73-346
Vote: Yea
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(544) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - U.S.
Treasury Borrowing
October 26, 2005 - Paul, R-Texas, amendment that would eliminate
the ability of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home
Loan Bank Board to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.
Rejected 47-371
Vote: Yea
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(546) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Recommit
October 26, 2005 - Frank, D-Mass., motion to recommit the bill
to the Financial Services Committee with instructions to add
language clarifying that housing must be among a nonprofit organization's
primary purposes and that monetary recipients from the affordable
housing fund may participate in any voter registration or get-out-the-vote-activity
conducted in a non-partisan basis.
Motion rejected 200-220
Vote: Yea
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(547) HR 1461: Government-Sponsored Enterprises - Passage
October 26, 2005 - Passage of the bill that would overhaul the
regulations regarding government-sponsored enterprises, including
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks.
The bill would create a new independent agency, the Federal
Housing Finance Agency, to regulate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. It also would establish
an affordable housing fund. As amended, the bill would sunset
the fund in the bill after five years and require Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac to allocate 3.5 percent of their profits in
the first two years of the fund and 5 percent of profits in
the final three years. It also would prohibit the use of funds
in the bill for political activities, advocacy, lobbying, counseling
services, travel expenses, or preparing or providing advice
on tax returns.
Passed 331-90: R 209-15
Vote: Yea
Transportation
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(509) S 1786: Airport Emergency Grants - Passage
October 06, 2005 - Mica, R-Fla., motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill that would authorize the Transportation Department
to provide emergency grants to airports in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama and Texas that were damaged by hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, if they are listed in the Federal Aviation Administration's
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.
Motion agreed to 420-0
Vote: Yea
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