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Transparency in Congress and a well-informed electorate are vital to preserving our self-governing Constitutional Republic. My constituents deserve to know how their members of Congress vote, which is why I have explained every vote I have cast in Congress since I was first elected.
To read more about my votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House, please click here.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023. Many government agencies, as well as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Health Benefits Program, have used Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) to measure the cost-effectiveness of treatments. However, this measurement often discriminates against the disabled, decreasing their access to potentially lifesaving treatments. To address this issue, H.R. 485 bans the federal government from using QALY or any other similar metric that would consider extending the life of an elderly, disabled, or terminally ill individual with less value compared to a healthy individual. This is a vital step in building a culture that values all life. H.R. 485 passed the House by a vote of 211-208.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1727, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historical Park Commission Extension Act. H.R. 1727 reauthorizes the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historical Park Commission for seven years before its current expiration date on September 26, 2024. The park stretches over 184.5 miles from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, Maryland, centered around the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which was approved by President James Monroe to connect the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River basin. Continuing the authorization of this commission will protect this historic piece of infrastructure and countless recreational opportunities associated with it. H.R. 1727 passed the House by a vote of 427-2.
I voted “Yes” on H.Res. 863, impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly ignored our nation’s laws and violated his oath of office to secure and defend the border of the United States. H.Res. 863 follows a months-long investigation into the record-breaking 8 million illegal border crossings that have happened under his watch. Each month, records have been shattered with more and more illegal immigrants swarming our border and infiltrating our cities, turning every community into a border community and depleting taxpayer resources. Every day, I hear from more and more constituents demanding immediate action from the Biden administration to secure our border. I was one of the first members of Congress to call for Secretary Mayorkas's impeachment and advocated for his salary to be reduced to $1 for his many failures. I am disheartened that he has not resigned on his own, and it has come to impeachment. Still, I know that if Secretary Mayorkas is allowed to continue acting without consequences, he will remain a threat to the American people's safety while trampling on the Constitution. This resolution failed to pass the House of Representatives by a vote of 216-214.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7217, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024. It has been over 120 days since the heinous and unprovoked attacks on Israel, in which Hamas killed, raped, tortured, brutalized, and kidnapped as many Jews and Israeli citizens as possible. This comes as a direct result of House Democratic leadership actively encouraging their members to oppose H.R. 7217 and President Biden’s veto threat. To this day, over 100 innocent civilians remain in captivity, their lives at risk every day and their families living in anguish. H.R. 7217 would provide essential military assistance to Israel for its campaign to rescue the hostages and eliminate Hamas and other radical Palestinian terror organizations. I remain committed to advocating for standalone funding bills to support the Israeli people as they work to defend themselves against radical Palestinian terrorism. This vote required a 2/3 majority to pass and failed by a vote of 180-250.
I voted “No” on H.R. 2882, the Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2023. H.R. 2882 reauthorizes the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, an agency established by Congress in 1992, which funds liberal and woke health care and public policy initiatives. In addition, in May 2022, the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General released a report stating that the foundation was making improper payments to contractors without basic oversight, resulting in the foundation paying for inaccurate and unallowable costs. The agency is not deserving of taxpayer funds and warrants significant reform or abolition. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 350-58.
I voted "Yes" on H.R. 443, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. H.R. 443 requires the Department of Labor to regularly train its employees in identifying cases of human trafficking and then refer potential cases to law enforcement. Due to the Biden administration’s refusal to enforce U.S. immigration law, human traffickers have been smuggling thousands of victims across the U.S. border. We must crack down on human trafficking and do everything in our power to identify and save the victims of this barbaric practice. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 407-0.
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