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Major Votes in the 111th Congress

Major Votes in the 110th Congress | Look up a bill
All Votes in 2009 | All Votes in 2008 | All Votes in 2007

July 31, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3269, the Corporate and Financial Institution Compensation Fairness Act of 2009. This bill would require nonbinding shareholder votes on executive compensation and allow federal financial institutions regulators to have broad control over employee compensation at all regulated financial institutions.
H.R. 3269 passed the House by a vote of 237 - 185. I voted against this legislation because its financial services regulation provisions continue the ill-considered trend of government involvement in private business matters.
The House considered H.R. 3435 Making Supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program Act. This legislation would authorize the transfer of $2 billion in funds from the Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Cash for Clunkers federal program.
The House approved H.R. 3435 by a vote of 316-109. I voted with the majority in favor of H.R. 3435.

July 24, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3293 the fiscal year 2010 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies Appropriations Act.
The House approved H.R. 3293 by a vote of 264-163. I voted against this bill because it increased spending 7 percent above the FY2009 level. Furthermore, agencies receiving funding under this bill already received $127 billion in the stimulus bill.

July 23, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3288, a bill making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, HUD, and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2010.
H.R. 3288 was approved by the House by a vote of 256 - 168. I voted for passage of this legislation.

July 22, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2920, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act, a bill to bring government spending under control and to reduce the federal deficit. Under this legislation, new spending or tax reductions would be balanced by other spending reductions or revenue increases to prevent an increase in the deficit. This standard would be enforced by an across-the-board reduction of all non-protected spending.
H.R. 2920 was passed by the House by a vote of 265 - 166. I voted with the majority in favor of H.R. 2920.

July 17, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3183 the fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The House approved H.R. 3183 by a vote of 320-97. I voted against this bill because it increased spending $46 million above the FY2009 level. Furthermore, agencies receiving funding under this bill already received $58.7 billion in emergency funding, mainly from the stimulus bill.

July 16, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3170, the Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. This legislation provides funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the District of Columbia, the federal Judiciary, and a variety of independent federal agencies and commissions.
H.R. 3170 was approved by the House by a vote of 219 - 208. Rep. Tom Petri voted against this legislation because it would increase federal spending on these activities by 6 percent over non-emergency levels in Fiscal Year 2009, thus adding to our escalating deficits.

July 10, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 3082 the Fiscal 2010 Military Construction and the Department Of Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which would provide $77.9 billion in fiscal 2010 for military construction, Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies.
The House approved H.R. 3082 by a vote of 415-3. I voted in favor of this legislation.

July 9, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2997 the Fiscal 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill which would provide $123.8 billion in fiscal 2010 for the Agriculture Department and related agencies.
The House approved H.R. 2997 by a vote of 266-160. I voted against this bill because it increased spending 11.9 percent above fiscal year 2009 levels and agencies funded through the bill already received $6.1 billion in supplemental appropriations from the stimulus bill approved earlier this year.
The House considered H.R. 3081 the Fiscal 2010 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill which would provide $48.8 billion in fiscal 2010 for the State Department, foreign assistance and other international activities.
The House approved H.R. 3081 by a vote of 318-106. I voted against this bill because it increased spending 33 percent, or $12.2 billion, above fiscal year 2009 levels.

July 8, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act. This legislation would reauthorize and make improvements to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs.
H.R. 2965 was approved by the House by a vote of 386 - 41. While supporting these and other small business programs, Rep. Petri voted against this bill because consideration of a proposed amendment to ensure proper funding for true small business concerns was blocked by the rule enacted by the House leadership.

June 26, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2454 the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The legislation creates a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gasses in which polluters must buy credits to pollute.
The House approved H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212. I voted against H.R. 2454 because while I believe global warming is a serious issue, I was particularly concerned that the bill would disproportionally affect Midwest industries and consumers compared to other areas of the country.
The House considered H.R. 2996 the Fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill which would provide $32.4 billion in fiscal 2010 for the Interior Department, the EPA and related agencies.
The House approved H.R. 2996 by a vote of 254-173. I voted against this bill because it increased spending 17 percent above fiscal year 2009 levels and agencies funded through the bill already received $10.9 billion in supplemental appropriations from the stimulus bill approved earlier this year.

June 25, 2009:

The House considered HR 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. This bill provides $550.4 billion for standard operations of the DoD (and $2.5 billion for Department of Energy national security programs), as well as $130 billion for funding ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The House approved H.R. 2647 by a vote of 389-22. I voted in favor of this legislation.

June 24, 2009:

The House considered HR 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2010. This bill provides $42.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including the Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The House approved H.R. 2892 by a vote of 389-37. I voted against this legislation as it contains a total of $42.6 billion, which is $595 million above FY 2009. In addition, agencies funded through the bill received approximately $3 billion in supplemental appropriations outside the normal FY 2009 appropriations process, the vast majority of which came from the "stimulus" bill.

June 19, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2918, the Fiscal Year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. This bill provides a total of $4.7 billion for both Houses of Congress and all legislative branch agencies.
The House approved H.R. 2918 by a vote of 232 - 178. I opposed H.R. 2918 because it increases funding for legislative branch operations by 6.3 percent, or $300 million, over that provided in 2009.

June 18, 2009:

The House consisdered H.R. 2847, the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act, which would appropriate $64.3 billion.
This bill was passed by a vote of 259 - 157. I voted against H.R. 2847 because it appropriated $6.8 billion (11.7 percent) more than was enacted for 2009. With federal deficits at record highs, Congress needs to show more spending restraint.
The House considered an amendment to HR 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The amendment would bar the use of funds in the bill to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The House rejected this amendment to H.R. 2647 by a vote of 212-213. I voted in favor of this legislation.

June 16, 2009:

The House considered HR 2346, the Fiscal Year 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Bill. This bill provides a total of $96.717 billion in emergency supplemental funding for Fiscal Year 2009. The bill appropriates $81.3 billion for the ongoing war and intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $15.4 billion for military construction, foreign assistance, flu pandemic preparedness, and a number of other spending items.
The House approved H.R. 2346 by a vote of 226-202. I voted against this legislation as other spending items were inserted that should have gone through the normal legislative process. This bill contains $5.8 billion (or 7 percent) more than the President's request for ongoing war operations and $6 billion (or 63 percent) more than the President's request for other spending.

June 11, 2009:

The House considered HR 1886, the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009 or the PEACE Act of 2009. The bill authorizes $1.5 billion annually between Fiscal Years 2010 and 2013, for economic and developmental assistance to Pakistan. The bill also authorizes $300 million in Fiscal Year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary through 2013, in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism assistance.
The House approved H.R. 1886 by a vote of 234-185. I voted against this legislation as it failed to ensure congressional oversight and notification in cases of changes in Pakistan while costing $9.1 billion over five years (according to the Congressional Budget Office).

May 20, 2009:

The House agreed to amendments made by the Senate to H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights, including the addition of language which I had introduced in the House to provide greater transparency where credit card lenders and universities enter into arrangements allowing lenders access to students.
The House voted 361 - 64 to send H.R. 627 to the President, who signed the bill into law on May 22, 2009. As previously, I voted in favor of passage of H.R. 627.
The House agreed to amendments made by the Senate to H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights, including barring the Interior Department from prohibiting individuals from possessing a firearm in national parks or wildlife refuges in compliance with state laws.
The House voted 297-147 to send H.R. 627 to the President, who signed the bill into law on May 22, 2009.
The House debated H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. This legislation would reauthorize programs supporting small business entrepreneurs operated by the Small Business Administration.
H.R. 2352 was passed by the House by a vote of 406 - 15. I voted in favor of this legislation.

May 19, 2009:

The House considered S. 896, the Senate's version of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. This bill would provide enhanced oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, legal protection for mortgage servicers seeking to modify mortgage loans in an effort to avoid bankruptcy, and certain improvements to the previously enacted Hope for Homeowners program.
The House agreed to the Senate changes by a vote of 357 - 54. I supported passage of this bill which was signed into law on May 20, 2009. While I opposed House passage of the earlier version of this legislation (H.R. 1106), I was able to support S. 896 because provisions to allow bankruptcy judges to make changes to existing mortgages were removed.

May 14, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 275-155. I voted against this legislation because I believe that the construction of schools is primarily a state and local responsibility. Congress should first fully fund the current federal education programs, including those meant for the neediest and disabled students.
The House considered H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, a bill to provide funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
H.R. 2346 passed the House by a vote of 386 - 60. Although I fully support funding for our active duty troops, I voted against this legislation because it is time to include these such funding within the regular appropriations and budget process.

May 7, 2009:

The House debated H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. This bill addresses a number of abuses within the mortgage lending industry and seeks to establish new standards in this area.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 300 - 114. I supported H.R. 1728 because I believe prospective homeowners are entitled to additional protection. I also voted in favor of several amendments meant to improve this bill. I hope that H.R. 1728 will continue to be improved as it works its way through the Senate.

April 30, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights. This legislation will provide credit card consumers with important protections from a variety of adverse practices employed by many credit card issuers.
H.R. 627 was passed by the House by a vote of 357 - 70. I voted with the majority to pass this consumer-friendly legislation.

April 29, 2009:

The House considered S. Con. Res. 13, a House-Senate conference report providing for a congressional budget for fiscal year 2010 and establishing long term fiscal policy.
The House voted 233 - 193 to adopt this budget resolution. I voted no because I felt that the conference report was little improved in its spending and borrowing policies from the House budget which I opposed earlier in the month.
The House considered H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 275-155. I voted against this legislation because I believe that the construction of schools is primarily a state and local responsibility. Congress should first fully fund the current federal education programs, including those meant for the neediest and disabled students.
The House considered H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 249-175. I voted against this legislation because I do not feel that beliefs, thoughts and speech should be criminalized. Nonetheless, the legislation passed the House and currently awaits Senate consideration.

April 2, 2009:

The House considered H. Con. Res. 85, a resolution providing for a congressional budget for fiscal year 2010 and establishing long term fiscal policy.
This budget resolution was adopted by a vote of 233 - 196. I voted against this budget proposal because I believe it provides for unsustainable deficits - well over five percent of our total national U.S. GDP at the end of a ten year period, and a huge increase in the federal debt.

April 1, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 1664, a bill to amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards.
H.R. 1664 was approved by a vote of 247 - 171. I voted in opposition to this legislation because I felt its restrictions were overly broad and punitive, particularly its retroactive application of these rules to organizations which accepted government assistance prior to consideration of the proposal.

March 31, 2009:

The House once again considered H.R. 1388 the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act after it was amended and approved by the Senate.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 275-149 and was subsequently signed into law. I voted against this version of the bill, because I felt that the Senate amendments weakened provisions in the House passed bill that prohibited the use of funds for certain controversial activities.

March 23, 2009:

The House debated H.R. 1586, a bill to impose additional taxes, up to 90 percent, on bonuses received from organizations receiving assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
This legislation was adopted by a vote of 328 - 93. I voted in favor of H.R. 1586 to make a statement against the inappropriate bonus payments at AIG. In truth, however, Congress should not be in the business of overseeing private sector compensation, and I'm disappointed that the Administration is not moving faster to lessen government involvement in private companies.

March 18, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, which would reauthorize the national service laws, which include Americorps, Volunteers in Service to America (Vista) and Senior Volunteer Corps.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 321 - 105. I voted yes.

March 11, 2009:

The House considered S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. This legislation is a collection of over 150 individual bills affecting among things, national wilderness preservation, boundary adjustments, national rivers, the national landscape conservation system, national conservation areas, land conveyances and exchanges, and watershed management. The bill also included a provision that ensures nothing in the legislation would restrict access to hunting, fishing, or trapping.
The bill failed to pass the House by a vote of 282-144 because it was considered under a special rule that requires 2/3rds vote in support for passage. I voted yes.

March 5, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. The bill, the primary feature of which is a grant of authority to bankruptucy judges to reduce the principal balance of mortgage loans for debtors in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, was passed by the House by a vote of 234 - 191.
I voted NO on H.R. 1106 even though I believe that helping troubled homehowners is a worthy goal. I am concerned, however, that allowing bankruptcy judges to change to existing mortgage loans will do little to solve our housing problems and will unnecessarily raise interest rates on responsible homeowners while making bankruptcy filings more attractive than other mortgage modification options.

February 25, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 1105, the the Omnibus Appropriations Act. This legislation provides funding for much of the government's domestic spending that did not get enacted when the Congress failed to finish 9 of the 12 required appropriations bills during 2008.
The House approved H.R. 1105 by a vote of 245 - 178. I voted NO because this legislation would increase spending on domestic agencies and programs by 8.3 percent over the previous Fiscal Year.

February 13, 2009:

The House considered the conference report accompanying H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This legislation would provide $787 billion to promote econonic growth and create jobs.
The conference report was approved by the House by a vote of 246 - 183. I voted NO. While this version was a slight improvement on the orignal bill passed by the House on January 28, I believe it contained too much non-stimulative spending and would be inadequate in addressing our economic problems.

February 4, 2009:

The House considered S. 352, the Digital TV Delay Act, a bill to to postpone the deadline for the cessation of analog television broadcasts from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 264 - 158. I support this delay, but inadvertantly recorded my vote as NO. I have voted YES on a previously considered version of this bill, and inserted a statement in the Congressional Record stating that I meant to vote YES.
The House considered H.R. 2, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009. This legislation will provide health care coverage to more than four million children who are currently eligible for CHIP, but not enrolled. In Wisconsin the CHIP program is referred to as BadgerCare Plus, which provides health insurance to children, pregnant women, and working families.
The bill was approved by the House by a vote of 290-135. I voted yes. The legislation was subsequently signed into law by the President.

January 28, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This legislation would provide $819 billion to promote econonic growth and create jobs.
The bill was approved by the House by a vote of 244 - 188. I voted NO. While I believe that our struggling economy merits enactment of a strong stimulus bill, I considered H.R. 1 to be inadequate because too little of its $819 billion in spending would result in new jobs in American communitites.

January 22, 2009:

The House considered H.R. Res. 3, a resolution of disapproval concerning the release of the second $350 billion authorized under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
The House voted to disapprove by a vote of 270 - 155 on January 22, 2009. I voted with the majority in favor of blocking the release of these funds. Previously, the Senate had voted not to disapprove, assuring the release of the TARP funds, and making this House vote entirely symbolic.

January 21, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act of 2009. This bill would establish oversight and accountability concerning the use of the funds provided under Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to provide stability to the U.S. financial system.
The House approved this bill on a vote of 260 - 166. I voted against passage of H.R. 384 for variety of reasons, including its retroactive imposition of conditions for accepting aid, the enactment of the auto rescue legislation which failed to pass Congress in December 2008, and the easing of conditions on borrowers participating in the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage restructuring program.

January 9, 2009:

The House considered H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act. The legislation would revise remedies for the enforcement of prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages.
I voted against H.R. 1338 because current law already prohibits an employer from paying an employee different wages, or otherwise discrimination in any term or condition of employment on the basis of sex. The legislation would do little to protect the wages and paychecks of American workers, and far more to benefit trial lawyers. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 256-163.

The House considered H.R. 11, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
This bill would make sweeping changes to a host of federal civil rights laws without properly assessing the consequences. The House approved the bill, but I voted no.