Last week was supposed to have been Congress’ last week of work before its August recess, and it was a busy one for the legislators who represent Verona. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, both Democrats, maintained their opposition to repealing the Affordable Care Act, while Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ11) voted for a defense appropriations act (H.R. 3219) that also includes nearly $1.6 billion in funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall that President Donald Trump has said would be paid for by Mexico. All three also voted for their respective bills that impose sanctions on Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, measures that passed by solid bipartisan majorities in both houses.
Sen. Booker also slammed President Trump’s decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. “This decision is particularly galling coming from a President who actively avoided military service through five draft deferments and believes that the word ‘sacrifice’ means trying to make money,” Booker said. “Mr. President, trans military members have sacrificed far more than you ever have – or will.” Booker, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also said he intended to introduce legislation to reverse the ban and uphold the policy established under the Obama administration. The Hill, a news website that covers Washington, reported that Sen. Booker will be the co-author of a bill to be introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that will limit President Trump’s ability to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian election meddling.
None of Verona’s legislators have yet to say what in-person meetings or virtual town halls they will hold with constituents during the recess.
“Verona In Washington” is a weekly column summing up the activity of Verona’s representatives in Congress. Here are their votes for the week of July 24-28:
Jul 24, 2017 — Introduced
S. 1622: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Jul 24, 2017 — Introduced
S. 1623: A bill to increase the maximum penalty for unfair and deceptive practices relating to advertising of the costs of air transportation.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Jul 24, 2017 5:32 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN365: David Bernhardt, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Nomination Confirmed 53/43
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
Jul 24, 2017 6:54 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 3180: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018
Failed 241/163
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 24, 2017 7:03 p.m. — Vote
S. 114: Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act
Failed 219/186
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 24, 2017 7:11 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 3218: Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
Passed 405/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 25, 2017 1:30 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 468: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 111) providing for congressional …
Passed 229/184
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 25, 2017 1:37 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 468: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 111) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Arbitrat
Passed 233/188
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Jul 25, 2017 2:30 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Proceed on H.R. 1628: American Health Care Act of 2017
Motion to Proceed Agreed to 51/50
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
This was the first Senate vote on repealing or replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA; aka Obamacare). This was a procedural vote to bring the House health care bill H.R. 1628 to the floor for debate so that amendments could be subsequently proposed.
The vote passed 51-50 with the Vice President casting a necessary tie-breaking vote.
Jul 25, 2017 5:06 p.m. — Vote
H.J.Res. 111: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Arbitration Agreements”.
Passed 231/190
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Jul 25, 2017 5:13 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 3364: Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
Passed 419/3
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 25, 2017 9:22 p.m. — Vote
On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Amdt. No. 270)
Motion Rejected 43/57
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
This was the first Senate vote on a proposal to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA; aka Obamacare). The proposal at issue in this vote was the Better Care Reconciliation Act with additional provisions by Sen. Ted Cruz. This proposal would have:
- Reduced the federal deficit by $420 billion.
- Reduced Medicaid spending by $756 billion.
- Eliminated the individual and employer mandate penalties.
- Resulted in 22 million individuals fewer having health insurance than under current law.
- Added $182 billion in new funding for states to help with premiums and $45 billion in new spending on substance abuse treatment and recovery.
- Allowed use of Health Savings Accounts to be used to pay premiums.
- Paused federal dollars to Medicaid …
Jul 26, 2017 1:55 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 473: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3219) making appropriations for the Department …
Passed 230/193
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Jul 26, 2017 2:02 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 473: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3219) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes.
Passed 232/192
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Jul 26, 2017 3:38 p.m. — Vote
S.Amdt. 271 (Paul) to H.R. 1628: Of a perfecting nature.
Amendment Rejected 45/55
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
This was a vote to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without replacement. The Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act would have replaced the American Health Care Act with almost identical text to a 2015 bill to repeal the ACA, which was vetoed by then-President Barack Obama. See the summary of the 2015 bill for details.
The Congressional Budget Office provided a cost estimate of the amendment earlier this month on July 19. They predicted it would “reduce federal deficits by $473 billion over the coming decade and increase the number of people who are uninsured by 32 million in 2026 relative to current law.”
Jul 26, 2017 4:13 p.m. — Vote
On the Motion (Donnelly Motion to Commit H.R. 1628 with Instructions)
Motion Rejected 48/52
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Yea
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
This was a vote to remove provisions of the American Health Care Act that would cut Medicaid, prevent Medicaid expansion, or shift costs to states. If the vote passed, the bill would have gone back to committee for revision.
Jul 26, 2017 6:10 p.m. — Vote
On the Motion (Casey Motion to Commit H.R. 1628 with Instructions)
Motion Rejected 48/51
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Yea
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
Jul 26, 2017 6:42 p.m. — Vote
On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Heller Amdt. No. 288)
Motion Rejected 10/90
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
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.
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.
