Bryanwatch: October 2021

October was a relatively slow month for the House, with only 26 total votes. Of those, 10 were party line votes. Rep. Steil always voted at his party’s call, never thinking for himself at all.

Probably the biggest partisan issue of October was the House committee investigating the events of January deciding to cite Steve Bannon with Contempt of Congress. The facts are laid out in House Report 117-152. Only nine Republicans voted in favor of holding Bannon in contempt: Cheney (WY), Fitzpatrick (PA), Gonzalez (OH), Herera Beutler (WA), Katko (NY), Kinzinger (IL), Mace (SC), Meijer (SC) and Upton (SC). The vast majority sided with Donald Trump and his efforts to stonewall Congress on the events of January 6. (RC 329, Oct 21)

Republicans voted against even considering the contempt charges, with only Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who sit on the committee, voting in favor (RC 327 and 328, Oct 21)

Republicans also voted against consideration of HR 2119, the Family Violence and Services Improvement Act; HR 3110, PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act; and HR 3992, the POJA Act of 2021. (RC 315, Oct 12) The same day, Republicans supported adjournment to keep from getting anything done (RC 314)

Republicans opposed the Family Violence Act on a vote of 9 to 200, with Steil against. The bill provides emergency funding for shelters which protect victims of domestic violence. (HR 2219, RC 336, Oct 26). Republicans also supported an En Bloc amendment that contained crackpot proposals by Rep Virginia Foxx (NC) and Rep. Julia Letlow (LA). (Scott amendment #2, RC 335, Oct 26). Steil voted against the Scott En Bloc Amendment 1, which contained several Democratic proposals for improving HR 2119 (RC 334, Oct 26)

Republicans also opposed the PUMP for Nursing Mothers bill (HR 3110), which would expand workplace protections for nursing mothers. (RC 331, Oct 22). Republicans supported a move by Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas to send the bill back to committee, effectively killing it. (RC 330, Oct 22)

The other 16 votes passed by fairly broad margins. The most substantial was on HR 5763, the Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021, which funds federal highway spending. Steil and most Republicans (145 to 55) voted for it (RC 339, Oct 28)

As for the rest of the non-party line votes, they covered a wide range of issues. Steil voted with the sensible majority on all of them.

S 1511: Protecting America’s First Responders. Does what it sounds like. (RC 338, Oct 27). Only three Republicans, Loudermilk (GA), Massie (KY) and Roy (TX) voted against.

S 1502: Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act. Another bill that does what it sounds like (RC 337, Oct 27).

HR 2989: Financial Transparency Act, which establishes new financial standards for federal regulatory agencies (RC 333, Oct 25; Republicans 184 to 19)

HR 4111: Sovereign Debt Contract Capacity Act, which instructs the International Monetary Fund to assist struggling nations with their debt capacity (RC 332, Oct 25; Republicans 175 to 29)

HR 4028: Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act, which requires a study on how to protect information technology supply chains (RC 326, Oct 20; Republicans 199 to 10)

HR 4067: Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council Act, which requires the FCC to create a council on communications networks (RC 325, Oct 20; Republicans 180 to 29)

HR 4032: Open RAN Outreach Act, which promotes the creation of Open Radio Access Networks for small communications network providers (RC 324, Oct 20; Republicans 193-17)

HR 3919: The Secure Equipment Act, which seeks to protect Internet works through FCC regulation (RC 323, Oct 20; Republicans 208-1). Tom Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican against it.

HR 3635: Strengthening America’s Strategic National Stockpile Act, which makes improvements to the nation’s stockpile of medical supplies – in preparation for the next pandemic. 22 Republicans actually voted against protecting Americans against a major health crisis. (RC 322, Oct 20; Republicans 184-22)

HR 654: Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, which helps local communities keep kids away from drugs. Most Republicans (179-29) thought keeping kids off drugs was a good use of federal funds (RC 321, Oct 20)

HR 2379: State Opiod Response Grant Act, does what it says, provides grants to state agencies to administer programs dealing with the opiod crisis. Most Republicans (163-46) thought this was a good idea. (RC 320, Oct 20)

HR 4611: DHS Software Supply Chain Risk Management Act, which tightens up security standards for suppliers of contracts with the Department of Homeland Security (RC 319, Oct 20; Republicans 204-2) Only Tom Massie (KY) and Chip Roy(TX) voted against this

HR 4369: National Centers of Excellence in Advanced and Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Act, which allows the FDA to create educational centers focused on drug manufacturing, in order to make new drugs more readily available (RC 318, Oct 19; Republicans 151-56)

HR 4089, The Darren Drake Act, which makes it harder for would-be terrorists to rent vehicles and create mayhem. The bill is named after a victim of the October 2107 New York City West Side Highway terrorist attack. 43 Republicans voted against making it harder for terrorists to rent cars (RC 317, Oct 19; Republicans 168-43)

HR 1029, Free Veterans from Fees Act, which waives fees for veteran related events held on National Parks Service property in the Washington DC area. (RC 316, Oct 19; Republicans 207-0)

October Votes: 26

Party Line: 10 (Steil 10-10; 100 percent)

Non Party Line: 16