Bryan Watch: Corona Edition

Bryan Watch: Corona Watch Edition

Apologies for not posting a Bryan Watch in a while, but Congress has simply not been that busy due to the COVID crisis. So here is what Congress has done since the WHO declared the Pandemic on March 11.

May 27-28 Update

May 28 brought Seil’s first two votes against the Republican party line. The first was on HR 6782, the “Small Business Transparency and Reporting for the Underbanked and Taxpayers at Home Act” which requires the Small Business Administration to provide information about what companies received grants under a grant program set up by the CARES Act (RC 113, May 28). This is a vote against the express wishes of the Trump administration; 38 Republicans voted against Trump on this one.

In another surprising move, Steil supported the moves by House Democrats to restrict abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , a position that Republicans split on, with most voting against (73 to 100, RC 115, May 28)

In no surprise, Steil voted against consideration of HR 6172 along with every other Republican (RC 111 and 112, May 27)

Two bills passed almost unanimously this week. HR 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, eases rules for workers unemployed by the COVID crisis to receive benefits (RC 114, May 28). And S 3744, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, condemns human rights abuse by the Chinese government against a small Muslim minority in Northwest China (RC 110, May 27). In both cases, Tom Massie (Crazy-KY) was the only person to vote against.

May 15 Update

Steil joined virtually every other Republican in voting against the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act), another supplemental aid bill related to the COVID Crisis (HR 6800, RC 109, May 15). Steil also supported a bogus motion to recommit Denver Riggleman (R-VA) regarding benefits for immigrants. It was a way to delay getting assistance to people who are suffering economically due to the Corona Crisis. (RC 108, May 15). Peter King of New York, whose district is hard hit by the Pandemic, was the only Republican to support the HEROES Act.

Steil and every other Republican voted against allowing remote voting by Members of Congress (H Res 985, RC 107, May 15). Republicans as usual voted against consideration of both HR 6800 and HR 965 (RC 105 and 106, May 15)

April 23 Update

After almost six weeks, the House returned to vote on two measures related to the Corona Virus pandemic: another stimulus bill, and the creation of a panel to look into the federal response to the pandemic.

HR 266, the stimulus bill, passed by a 388 to 5 margin. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez,who represents the New York district which has been hardest hit by the pandemic, was the only Democrat to vote against the stimulus bill. She gave a short impassioned speech claiming the bill was inadequate and that Republicans were only looking after corporate fat cats. (Congressional Record, H1944) The four Republicans were Andy Biggs (AZ), Ken Buck (CO), Jody Hice (GA) and Tom Massie (KY), all regular members of the Crazy Caucus. (Roll Call 104, April 23)

The other resolution, H Res 938, set up a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which will be part of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. (RC 103, April 23) No surprise, it split along partisan lines with 212 Democrats for and 181 Republicans (plus Justin Amash) against.

March 14: Steil votes against Corona Virus Bill

Rep. Bryan Steil cast his first extreme vote of 2020 on March 14, voting against HR 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Steil joined the rest of the Wisconsin Republicans as part of the 40 Republicans who voted against helping people negatively affected by the corona virus pandemic. (RC 102, March 14; Dems 223-0, Republicans 140-40)

The bill would have modified provisions of low income food prorgams auch as WIC and TEFAP, to make it easier for low income famlies to stock up on food during the crisis.

The bill also requires OSHA to create infectious disease protocols for health care workers, establishes paid leave provisions for workers who are displaced to health quarantine provisions, expands unemployment benefits for workers who are similarly displaced, require employers to provide paid sick leave and provide free corona virus testing for consumers.

The bill was endorsed by the White House and signed into law by President Trump on March 18.

Here are the 40 Republicans who voted against the bill, sorted by state:

Alabama: Bradley Byrne

Arizona: Andy Biggs, Debbie Lesko

California: Tom McClintock

Colorado: Ken Buck

Florida: Gregory Steube, Michael Waltz

Georgia: Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk

Idaho: Russ Fulcher

Indiana: Jim Banks

Iowa: Steve King

Minnesota: Tom Emmer

Missouri: Billy Long, Jason Smith

North Carolina: Dan Bishop, Ted Budd

Ohio: Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan

Oklahoma: Kevin Hern

South Carolina: Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman, William Timmons IV, Joe Wilson

Tennessee: Tim Burchett, Scott DesJarlais, Mark Green, John W Rose

Texas: Brian Babin, Michael Cloud, Louie Gohmert, Lance Gooden, Chip Roy, Randy Weber

Virginia: Ben Cline

West Virginia: Alexander Mooney

Wisconsin: Michael Gallagher, Glenn Grothman, James Sensenbrenner, Bryan Steil

March 16-20: The House of Representatives took no votes this week.