Verona’s representatives to Congress returned to Washington this week after a February recess that saw Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen take questions from Verona High School students while his cartoon double (created by a Verona artist) stood in for him at rallies held by his constituents elsewhere in the district.
Once they returned to Washington, both Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez (D) and Sen. Cory Booker (D) voted against the confirmation of Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior, against the confirmation of Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and against the confirmation Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy. Rep. Frelinghuysen introduced a bill to extend the authorization of the Highlands Conservation Act, which could help protect a key natural resource in the 11th congressional district. He voted against several amendments to the so-called SCRUB Act–a measure to eliminate unnecessary regulations passed with bipartisan support in the previous Congress–that would have exempted things like protections for student loan borrowers.
Frelinghuysen, who has voted largely along party lines in the new Congress, broke ranks on Thursday to call for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from any investigation into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia.
“Verona In Washington” is a new weekly column summing up the activity of Verona’s representatives in Congress. Here are the legislative actions by Verona’s federal representatives, both major and procedural, during the week of February 27 to March 3:
S.Res. 69: A resolution celebrating Black History Month.
Feb 27, 2017 — Introduced
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker [D-NJ]
This resolution is in the first stage of the legislative process. It will typically be considered by committee next.
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 150: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 998) to provide for the establishment …
Feb 28, 2017 2:11 p.m. — Vote
Passed 224/191
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Feb 28, 2017 2:18 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 150: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 998) to provide for the establishment of a process for the review of rules and sets of rules, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 83) disappr
Passed 225/188
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.Amdt. 46 (DeSaulnier) to H.R. 998: Page 14, after line 22, insert the following new subparagraph (and redesignate the following subparagraph accordingly): (K) Whether, and the extent to which, the repeal of the rule or set of rules would impact publ
Feb 28, 2017 4:11 p.m. — Vote
Agreed to 348/75
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.Amdt. 48 (Plaskett) to H.R. 998: Page 24, strike lines 12 through 22 and insert the following: (k) Prohibition on Funding- No funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act, and no funds authorized or appropriated by any other Federa
Feb 28, 2017 4:14 p.m. — Vote
Failed 181/243
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.Amdt. 50 (Krishnamoorthi) to H.R. 998: Page 31, after line 24, add the following new title (and update the table of contents accordingly): TITLE VI–EXEMPTIONS SEC. 601. EXEMPTION RELATING TO NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM. ***.
Feb 28, 2017 4:18 p.m. — Vote
Failed 189/234
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.Amdt. 51 (Krishnamoorthi) to H.R. 998: Page 31, after line 24, add the following new title (and update the table of contents accordingly): TITLE VI–EXEMPTIONS SEC. 601. EXEMPTION RELATING TO AIRPORT NOISE RESTRICTIONS. ***.
Feb 28, 2017 4:22 p.m. — Vote
Failed 192/230
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
On the Nomination PN31: Ryan Zinke, of Montana, to be Secretary of the Interior
Mar 1, 2017 10:33 a.m. — Vote
Nomination Confirmed 68/31
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
H.R. 1281: To extend the authorization of the Highlands Conservation Act.
Mar 1, 2017 — Introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
S. 484: A bill to amend the Investment Company Act of 1940 to terminate an exemption for companies located in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and any other possession of the United States.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
Mar 1, 2017 — Introduced
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., of Florida, to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Cloture Motion Agreed to 62/37
Mar 1, 2017 11:06 a.m. — Vote
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
H.Amdt. 52 (Bonamici) to H.R. 998: To exempt any rule or set of rules prescribed by the Secretary of Education and relating to consumer protections for student loan borrowers.
Mar 1, 2017 2:19 p.m. — Vote
Failed 191/235
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.Amdt. 54 (Raskin) to H.R. 998: To exempt rules relating to the enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
Mar 1, 2017 2:27 p.m. — Vote
Failed 189/231
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.Amdt. 55 (Moore) to H.R. 998: To exempt rules affecting or impacting the special government to government relationship between the federal government and tribal communities or affecting tribal sovereignty or self-determination.
Mar 1, 2017 2:32 p.m. — Vote
Failed 197/229
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.Amdt. 56 (Cummings) to H.R. 998: To exempt any rule relating to protections for whistleblowers or penalties for retaliation against whistleblowers.
Mar 1, 2017 2:36 p.m. — Vote
Failed 194/231
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 998: SCRUB Act
Mar 1, 2017 3 p.m. — Vote
Failed 190/235
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.R. 998: SCRUB Act
Mar 1, 2017 3:07 p.m. — Vote
Passed 240/185
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 156: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1004) to amend chapter 3 of …
Mar 1, 2017 3:13 p.m. — Vote
Passed 233/189
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
H.Res. 156: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1004) to amend chapter 3 of title 5, United States Code, to require the publication of information relating to pending agency regulatory actions, and for other purposes, and providing for consider
Mar 1, 2017 3:20 p.m. — Vote
Passed 234/180
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.Amdt. 59 (Young) to H.R. 1009: Page 4, after line 14, insert the following new clause (and redesignate the subsequent clauses accordingly): “(v) A description of any action taken by the agency to ensure that each planned significant regulatory actio
Mar 1, 2017 5:48 p.m. — Vote
Agreed to 265/158
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.Amdt. 62 (Connolly) to H.R. 1009: Page 26, after line 16, insert the following new subsection: (e) Exemption for Independent Regulatory Agencies- The provisions of sections 3522, 3523, and 3524 of title 44, United States Code, as added by subsection
Mar 1, 2017 5:53 p.m. — Vote
Failed 188/234
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 1009: OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act
Mar 1, 2017 6:11 p.m. — Vote
Failed 193/234
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.R. 1009: OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act
Mar 1, 2017 6:18 p.m. — Vote
Passed 241/184
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
H.J.Res. 83: Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness”.
Mar 1, 2017 6:25 p.m. — Vote
Passed 231/191
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Mar 2, 2017 10:02 a.m. — Vote
Nomination Confirmed 58/41
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: James Richard Perry to be Secretary of Energy: James Richard Perry, of Texas, to be Secretary of Energy
Mar 2, 2017 10:12 a.m. — Vote
Cloture Motion Agreed to 62/37
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 1 to H R 1004
Mar 2, 2017 10:38 a.m. — Vote
Failed 180/234
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 2 to H R 1004
Mar 2, 2017 10:43 a.m. — Vote
Agreed to 263/145
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 3 to H R 1004
Mar 2, 2017 10:50 a.m. — Vote
Failed 189/232
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 1004: Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017
Mar 2, 2017 11:07 a.m. — Vote
Failed 189/232
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
H.R. 1004: Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017
Mar 2, 2017 11:14 a.m. — Vote
Passed 246/176
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
On the Nomination PN36: James Richard Perry, of Texas, to be Secretary of Energy
Mar 2, 2017 1:46 p.m. — Vote
Nomination Confirmed 62/37
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
Motion to Proceed on H.J.Res. 37: Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration relating to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Mar 2, 2017 2:12 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Proceed Agreed to 51/46
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
H.R. 1301: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017
Mar 2, 2017 – Introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations and House Committee on the Budget which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11] is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
Mar 2, 2017 — Introduced
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration. Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ] is a member of the committee. Sen. Cory Booker [D-NJ] is a member of the committee
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2006. You can read more about Menendez’ record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Sen. Cory Booker is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2013. You can read more about Booker’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican, represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district. Verona has been part of this district since a gerrymandering in 2012. You can read more about Frelinghuysen’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
