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9/11 Commission’s Recommendations. Passed the conference report on H.R. 1, which implements the unfulfilled recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, including improvements in border security, port security, aviation security, and infrastructure security, by a bipartisan vote of 371-40, with 150 Republicans voting YEA. The President signed on August 3.
Defense Authorization. Passed H.R. 1585, FY 2008 Defense Authorization, which contains numerous military readiness initiatives to strengthen our military, including establishing a Strategic Readiness Fund and providing needed military equipment and training for our stateside troops, and also contains a 3.5% military pay raise, larger than the President’s, by a bipartisan vote of 397-27, with 195 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.
First Version of FY 2007 Supplemental. Passed the conference report on H.R. 1591, FY 2007 Supplemental, which would have fully funded our troops; honored our veterans by providing crucial health care and other services; held the Iraqi government accountable; provided a responsible timetable for the redeployment of U.S. troops; and strengthened our military, including adding $2 billion for a Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund, by a vote of 218-208. The measure also included a minimum wage increase, Gulf Coast recovery, children’s health care, etc. The President vetoed on May 1.
Revised Version of FY 2007 Supplemental. Passed H.R. 2206, a revised version of the FY 2007 Supplemental, which fails to include the tough provisions holding the Iraqi government accountable and providing a responsible timetable for the redeployment of U.S. troops contained in the earlier version. However, in this bill, the President was forced to abandon his threat to veto any bill containing accountability – agreeing to 18 benchmarks and a potential cut-off of reconstruction aid if progress is not made toward meeting them. The measure also includes a minimum wage increase, children’s health care, etc. The President signed the bill on May 25 (PL 110-28).
Responsible Redeployment from Iraq. Passed H.R. 2956, Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, which requires a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning within 120 days of enactment and ending by April 1, 2008 and requires the President to publicly justify post-redeployment missions for the U.S. military, by a vote of 223-201. The President has threatened to veto.
Rebuilding Military Readiness. Passed H.R. 3159, Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stable Deployment, which is based on Sen. Jim Webb’s bill and enhances national security and supports our troops and their families by increasing the time troops are at home between deployments to Iraq, by a vote of 229-194. The President has threatened to veto.
Homeland Security Authorization. Passed H.R. 1684, FY 2008 Department of Homeland Security Authorization, which authorizes $39.8 billion for the activities of the Department of Homeland Security in FY 2008 and includes strong accountability measures, by a bipartisan vote of 296-126, with 73 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.
Homeland Security Appropriations. Passed H.R. 2638, FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations, which funds 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents, provides first responders with the equipment and training they need, and provides tougher aviation and port security, by a vote of 268-150, with 45 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.
Rail & Transit Security. Passed H.R. 1401, Rail and Mass Transit Security Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop plans to protect rail and mass transit and authorizes $6 billion over 4 years in grants to protect these systems, by a bipartisan vote of 299-124, with 74 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.
State-Foreign Operations Appropriations. Passed H.R. 2764, FY 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations, which supports our allies in the campaign against terrorism, including providing more than $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan; and promotes global stability by strengthening development assistance and addressing humanitarian crises such as the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and Darfur, by a vote of 241-178, with 31 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.
Military Construction/VA Appropriations. Passed H.R. 2642, FY 2008 Military Construction/Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations, which provides the largest increase in veterans’ funding in the 77-year history of the VA, targeted on ensuring that our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the quality health care that they deserve, by a bipartisan vote of 409 to 2, with 185 Republicans voting YEA.
Dubai Ports. Passed the Senate amendments to H.R. 556, National Security FIRST Act, clearing it for the President, which responds to the Dubai Ports World scandal of 2006, by working to prevent foreign investments in U.S. key infrastructure that would endanger our national security from being approved, by a unanimous vote of 370-45, with 195 Republicans voting YEA. The President signed the bill on July 26 (PL 110-49).
Reducing Passport Backlog. Passed S. 966, Passport Backlog Reduction Act, which authorizes hiring retired passport processors in order to deal with the fact that the Bush Administration has created a crisis for American travelers by failing to provide the personnel needed to meet the new passport requirements for travel in the Western Hemisphere, which were recommended by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, by voice vote. The President signed the bill on July 30 (PL 110-50).
Intelligence Authorization. Passed H.R. 2082, FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization, which authorizes “the largest amount for intelligence programs ever authorized,” makes key investments to strengthen intelligence, and promotes efficiency and effectiveness in intelligence programs, by a vote of 225-197.
Wounded Warriors. Passed H.R. 1538, Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, which responds to the Walter Reed scandal by improving the care of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, by a unanimous vote of 426-0, with 200 Republicans voting YEA.
Honoring Our Fallen. Passed H.R. 692, Federal Flag Code Amendment Act, which provides that all federal buildings in a state have to comply when the governor orders the American flag lowered to half-staff in honor of soldiers killed while serving, by a bipartisan vote of 408-4, with 183 Republicans voting YEA. The President signed the bill on June 29 (PL 110-41). |