Along with roll call votes this week, the Senate also passed the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act (S. 307), to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons.
The House also passed: the Hotel Fees Transparency Act (H.R. 1479), to prohibit unfair and deceptive advertising of prices for hotel rooms and other places of short-term lodging; the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (H.R. 2480), to require SelectUSA to coordinate with state-level economic development organizations to increase foreign direct investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and production; and the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act (H.R. 2444), to establish a critical supply chain resiliency and crisis response program in the Commerce Department, and to secure American leadership in deploying emerging technologies.
House Vote 1
REGULATING LITHIUM BATTERIES: The House has passed the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act (H.R. 973), sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., to have the Consumer Product Safety Commission adopt a rule imposing safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes, scooters and other personal mobility products. Torres said: "Poorly manufactured lithium-ion batteries often imported from China are hidden ticking time bombs waiting to detonate in American homes and neighborhoods. The danger has become too great to ignore." The vote, on April 28, was 365 yeas to 42 nays.
YEAS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 2
ENTERTAINMENT TICKET FEES: The House has passed the Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (H.R. 1402), sponsored by Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis, R-Fla., to require sellers of tickets to sports, concerts, and other entertainment events to clearly show detailed ticket prices to would-be purchasers. Bilirakis said: "This legislation is about empowering consumers and ensuring fans can enjoy live events by improving ticket price transparency." The vote, on April 29, was 409 yeas to 15 nays.
YEAS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 3
PRODUCTS WITH SODIUM NITRITE: The House has passed the Youth Poisoning Protection Act (H.R. 1442), sponsored by Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., to ban the sale to consumers of products whose weight is 10% or more sodium nitrite. Trahan said: "This bill is focused and reasonable. It targets bad actors who are exploiting a loophole to profit off tragedy, and it does so without burdening responsible businesses." The vote, on April 29, was 378 yeas to 42 nays.
NOT VOTING: Stansbury D-NM (1st)
YEAS: Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 4
INTERNET-CONNECTED APPLIANCES: The House has passed the Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act (H.R. 859), sponsored by Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, to require manufacturers of internet-connected products to inform shoppers that the products have a camera or microphone. Fulcher said of the need for consumer awareness: "Our stoves or refrigerators shouldn't be secretly recording conversations in our homes. Such information could be accessed by a hacker or nefarious third party." The vote, on April 29, was 415 yeas to 9 nays.
YEAS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 5
GLEN CANYON RECREATION: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 60), sponsored by Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, to disapprove of and void a National Park Service rule, issued in January, restricting the use of motor vehicles in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona and Utah. Maloy said that by cancelling the rule, "We can ensure that Glen Canyon remains a place of freedom, adventure, and opportunity for generations to come and isn't a hindrance to the local economies." A resolution opponent, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said the rule appropriately "balances visitor use and access with the long-term stewardship and management of park resources." The vote, on April 29, was 219 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 6
CALIFORNIA VEHICLE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 87), sponsored by Rep. John James, R-Mich., to disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency notice granting the California Air Resources Board a waiver allowing that state to impose various emissions standards on motor vehicles. James said a waiver "allows California to ram its comply-or-die, zero-emission truck rule down the throat of the American trucking industry, essentially gutting the trucking industry all across Michigan and across the country." A resolution opponent, Rep. Luz M. Rivas, D-Calif., said: "Strong vehicle standards protect Americans from expensive and volatile fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicle technologies to help us compete globally." The vote, on April 30, was 231 yeas to 191 nays.
NAYS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd)
YEAS: Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 7
VEHICLE NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 89), sponsored by Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., to disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency rule issued this January that granted the California Air Resources Board a waiver allowing the state to regulate vehicle nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Obernolte said: "If we were to allow every single state in the country to establish its own emission standards for those trucks, every one of these goods would have to stop at every single state line and be trans-shipped from one truck to another truck. Madam Speaker, that is ridiculous, costly, inefficient, and unnecessary." A resolution opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said: "Maintaining the California program is critical to improve public health outcomes and secure the right to clean air for everyone." The vote, on April 30, was 225 yeas to 196 nays.
NAYS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd)
YEAS: Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 8
STATUS OF LONGFIN SMELT: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 78), sponsored by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., to disapprove of and void a 2024 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that listed the San Francisco Bay variety of the longfin smelt fish as an endangered species. LaMalfa said: "The longfin smelt is being used as the latest weapon to take water away from farmers and take water away from people." An opponent, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., called the listing "both scientifically and legally sound. The longfin population has declined over 99 percent since the 1980s." The vote, on May 1, was 216 yeas to 195 nays.
NAYS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd), Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
House Vote 9
CALIFORNIA CLEAN CARS WAIVER: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 88), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa., to disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency notice issued this January that granted the California Air Resources Board a waiver in order to allow the state's Advanced Clean Cars II regulatory plan. Joyce said that allowing California's plan to require all new vehicles sold in the state in 2035 to be electric ran against the principles of consumer freedom and open markets, and would impose high costs on drivers. A resolution opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said "after the upfront costs, EVs are proven to save consumers considerably through reduced fuel and maintenance costs." The vote, on May 1, was 246 yeas to 164 nays.
NAYS: Stansbury D-NM (1st), Leger Fernandez D-NM (3rd)
YEAS: Vasquez D-NM (2nd)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1
CHINA AMBASSADOR: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Perdue to be ambassador to China. Perdue was a senator from Georgia from early 2015 to early 2021; otherwise, he has been in private business, including as a senior executive at Reebok and Dollar General. A supporter, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said, "We need a strong leader like David Perdue at the front of our fight with the Chinese government to execute on President Trump's vision." The vote, on April 29, was 67 yeas to 29 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 2
U.K. AMBASSADOR: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Warren Stephens to be ambassador to the United Kingdom. Stephens is chairman of the Stephens investment bank, and a leading philanthropist in Arkansas. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., called Stephens "the right person to lead our strong, special relationship with the United Kingdom." The vote, on April 29, was 59 yeas to 39 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 3
TURKEY AMBASSADOR: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Thomas Barrack to be ambassador to Turkey. Barrack was the founder and CEO of the private equity Colony Capital (since renamed as Digital Bridge) real estate firm, and was an Interior Department official early in the Reagan administration. A supporter, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, called Barrack "the right man to tackle this challenging post" in Turkey, given the country's ties to Russia and Hamas while remaining a U.S. ally. The vote, on April 29, was 60 yeas to 36 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 4
ITALY AMBASSADOR: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Tilman Fertitta to be Ambassador to Italy, and to concurrently be ambassador to San Marino. Fertitta is primary owner of the Landry's hospitality company, the Houston Rockets basketball franchise, and Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos. A supporter, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, voiced confidence that Fertitta would help address U.S. objections to Italy's barriers to U.S. product imports, and its relatively low military spending levels. The vote, on April 29, was 83 yeas to 14 nays.
YEAS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 5
APPLIANCE ENERGY STANDARDS: The Senate has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 42), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void an Energy Department rule issued last October that tightened energy efficiency requirements for consumer appliances such as washing machines and industrial climate controls. A resolution supporter, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, said: "This rule wastes time and money, raising costs without delivering meaningful energy savings on items like dishwashers, clothes washers, and HVAC systems." The vote, on April 30, was 52 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 6
TARIFFS EMERGENCY DECLARATION: The Senate has rejected a resolution (S.J. Res. 49), sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that would have voided President Trump's declaration a month ago of an emergency that involved imposing a base 10% tariff on imports into the U.S., with additional tariffs imposed for numerous specific countries. Wyden said the Senate "cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness. The Congress has the power to set tariffs and regulate global trade." A resolution opponent, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said "disapproving this emergency will undercut the serious negotiations that are underway, which are also yielding results" for the U.S. The vote, on April 30, was 49 yeas to 49 nays. A subsequent motion to reconsider the resolution was tabled by a 50 yeas to 49 nays vote, with Vice President Vance as the 50th yea.
YEAS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 7
REGULATING COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATORS: The Senate has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 75), sponsored by Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Texas, that would nullify and void an Energy Department rule issued this January that set out energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration products. A resolution supporter, Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., said keeping the standards "would force commercial fridge and freezer manufacturers to discontinue product lines and close factories in the U.S." An opponent, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said the standards save energy, cut climate emissions, and "reduce costs for American families and businesses." The vote, on May 1, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
Senate Vote 8
REGULATING AIR POLLUTANTS: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 31), sponsored by Sen. John R. Curtis, R-Utah, that would disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding emitters of persistent, bioaccumulative hazardous air pollutants. The vote, on May 1, was 52 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Heinrich D-NM, Lujan D-NM
