This week's congressional votes

WASHINGTON — Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

Along with roll call votes this week, the House also passed these bills: the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 540), to require the Treasury Secretary to pursue more equitable treatment of Taiwan at the international financial institutions; the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (H.R. 4250), to maintain the free flow of information to the public by limiting the federally compelled disclosure of information obtained as part of engaging in journalism; and the No Russian Agriculture Act (H..R. 4768), to require U.S. executive directors at international financial institutions to advocate for investment in projects that decrease reliance on Russia for agricultural commodities.

HOUSE VOTES:

House Vote 1:

CHINA CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES: The House has passed the China Exchange Rate Transparency Act (H.R. 839), sponsored by Rep. Daniel Meuser, R-Pa., to require the International Monetary Fund's U.S. executive director to lobby for China to increase transparency about its foreign exchange rates. Meuser said the bill was "challenging China's opaque and often manipulative practices in foreign exchange markets, including their policy of accumulating massive foreign currency reserves and depreciating their currency, which undercuts the competitiveness of U.S. exports." The vote, on Jan. 12, was 379 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th)

NOT VOTING: Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 2:

LABOR REGULATIONS: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 98), sponsored by Rep. John James, R-Mich., to disapprove of and void a National Labor Relations Board rule for determining whether two or more employers qualify as joint employers when they have the same employee. James claimed the rule would cause tens of billions of dollars of costs for restaurant and other franchisees, and said: "I fear this harmful rule will lead to job losses, increases in the cost of living, and for Americans already suffering, fewer American dreams being realized, as well." A resolution opponent, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said the new rule was needed to prevent employment agencies and subcontractors from using overlapping work arrangements to "refuse to bargain over pay, hours, workplace safety, or other issues because its contract with the prime contractor essentially sets the wages for the employees." The vote, on Jan. 12, was 206 yeas to 177 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th)

NOT VOTING: Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 3:

CUSTOMS FEES: The House has passed the Global Trade Specialist Act (H.R. 5862), sponsored by Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif. The bill would expand and change provisions of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency's authority over revenue collection on goods being imported into the U.S. Steel said it "will empower CBP to address the dynamic and urgent nature of U.S. trade enforcement and help maintain American dominance in the global economy." The vote, on Jan. 17, was 403 yeas to 9 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 4:

BORDER SECURITY: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 957), sponsored by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, to denounce the Biden administration for its open-borders policies and the national security and public safety problems created by failing to secure the border with Mexico. Moran cited a large increase in migration by illegal aliens since President Biden took office, rapidly growing fentanyl imports from Mexico, and the threat of terrorists infiltrating the U.S. A resolution opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., called it "empty rhetoric designed to score cheap political points that bring us no closer to meaningful reform." The vote, on Jan. 17, was 225 yeas to 187 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 5:

1988 LOCKERBIE BOMBING TRIAL: The House has passed a bill (S. 3250), sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to require federal courts to enable victims of the December 1988 bombing of a Pan American airplane over Scotland to remotely access criminal court proceedings against those who perpetrated the bombing. A supporter, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., said the authorization was needed because it was impractical or not possible for many relatives of the bombing's victims to attend the trial's proceedings in Washington, D.C. The vote, on Jan. 18, was 413 yeas to 7 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 6:

CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The House has agreed to the Senate amendment to the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 2872), to provide funding for the federal government through March 8. A supporter, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said the funding extension was needed to give Republicans and Democrats time "to negotiate bills both sides can support." An opponent, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said the extension would mean continuing to fund "radical progressive parties," including an open border with Mexico. The vote, on Jan. 18, was 314 yeas to 108 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

NAYS: Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st)

House Vote 7:

PREGNANCY CENTERS: The House has passed the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act (H.R. 6918), sponsored by Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn. The bill would bar the Administration for Children and Families agency from adopting a proposed rule that would allow it to investigate state funding, under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, of pregnancy centers that discourage abortion. Fischbach said the centers "are providing support and empowering women to raise their families." An opponent, Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, D-Calif., called the bill an effort by Republicans "to divert federal funds from needy children in order to serve their own extremist agenda" of funding anti-abortion efforts. The vote, on Jan. 18, was 214 yeas to 208 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

House Vote 8:

PREGNANCIES AND COLLEGE: The House has passed the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act (H.R. 6914), sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, to require colleges and universities receiving federal funding to provide pregnant women students with information about their rights and resources that are available to them. Hinson said the bill would help remedy a problem in which "many women on college campuses are pressured into having an abortion and told they must choose between having their baby and continuing their education." A bill opponent, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said the bill's requirements were "incomplete and biased by not providing information about comprehensive family planning resources and a full range of reproductive healthcare options for pregnant students." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 212 yeas to 207 nays.

YEAS: Feenstra R-IA (4th), Hinson R-IA (2nd), Miller-Meeks R-IA (1st), Nunn (IA) R-IA (3rd)

SENATE VOTES:

Senate Vote 1:

AID TO PALESTINIANS: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 2872). The amendment would have barred U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority and other Palestinian governing entities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Paul said that with the amendment, the U.S. would demand "a change in behavior from those who do not accept Israel's right to exist, from those who actively seek the destruction of the state of Israel and murder innocent Israelis." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 44 yeas to 50 nays.

NOT VOTING: Grassley R-IA

YEAS: Ernst R-IA

Senate Vote 2:

CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate has passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 2872). The bill would provide funding for the federal government through March 8. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said: "Avoiding a shutdown is very good news for the country, for our veterans, for parents and children, and for farmers and small businesses." The vote, on Jan. 18, was 77 yeas to 18 nays.

NOT VOTING: Grassley R-IA

YEAS: Ernst R-IA