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.
Monday, January 13
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 192, the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act. This bill would require Amtrak to include information on the base pay and bonus compensation of its executives in its annual report to congress. One of the most inefficient spenders of federal tax dollars, Amtrak has never once turned a profit since its inception. Despite its significant financial loses, Amtrak continues to award its executives with millions in compensation. Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to every dollar of government spending. This bill passed the House unanimously by a vote of 407-0.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act. This bill extends the deadline under federal law for the FEMA Administrator to develop plans to streamline and consolidate data collection from disaster assistance applicants and grantees, and to regularly report information on federal disaster assistance that is awarded. FEMA must then organize a working group to examine ways to classify duplication and fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments, determine the feasibility of having one agency complete preliminary damage assessments, and identify the potential use of emerging technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems for preliminary damage assessments. The bill would require the Administrator to report all findings to Congress and passed the House by a vote of 405-5.
Tuesday, January 14
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 28, Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023. This bill would protect our Nation’s women and girls by banning biological men from competing in women’s sports and depriving women of athletic opportunities guaranteed by Title IX. Biological men have distinct advantages over women in many athletic events and are fundamentally different from biological women. Allowing biological men to compete against women strips women of scholarship opportunities and the Title IX protections that generations of women fought for. I was original cosponsor of this important bill and have been a strong advocate for getting men out of women’s sports. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 218-206.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 153, the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act. This bill would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to post information regarding federal disaster spending at www.usaspending.gov. Specifically, they must publish online information regarding the total amount of disaster assistance provided, amount of disaster assistance that was expended or obligated, and a list of projects and activities funded by disaster assistance. This bill passed the House unanimously by a vote of 426-0.
Wednesday, January 15
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 33, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources within the United States. Taiwan is our nation’s eighth largest trading partner, and unlike many of our other top trading partners, have never received relief from double-taxation in trade and commerce with the United States. As the CCP continues to threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty and territorial waters, the United States must do more to strengthen our relationship with Taiwan. This bill passed by a vote of 423-1.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 144, the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act. This bill requires the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to submit an annual report to Congress and the President on the names, salaries, and duties of high-level TVA employees. This bill, which passed the House unanimously last Congress, would provide much needed transparency into the use of taxpayer dollars by the TVA. This is of particular interest to the taxpayer after multiple reports of high-ranking TVA officials earning well over $123,041, the maximum basic pay rate of a General Schedule Grade 15 federal employee. This bill passed the House unanimously by a vote of 423-0.
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 164, the Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience (POWER) Act. This bill would allow public electric utilities that receive FEMA disaster assistance for emergency power restoration to include mitigation activities as part of that restoration. It would also clarify that receiving FEMA assistance for power restoration does not disqualify these utilities from obtaining additional hazard mitigation assistance through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. This bill passed the House by a vote of 419-2.
Thursday, January 16
I voted “Yes” on H.R. 30, the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. This bill would require that illegal aliens that commit sex offenses or domestic violence are deported and are inadmissible for entry into the United States. Under the Biden administration, millions of illegal aliens have poured across our borders each year, threatening American citizens in every community. This bill ensures that illegal aliens that commit heinous crimes are immediately deported and can no longer threaten our communities. I am disappointed that so many of my Democratic colleagues refused to support this commonsense bill and are willing to let these dangerous individuals, that have already broken the law by entering our country illegally and commit heinous crimes, remain in our country. This bill passed by a vote of 274-145.
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