Here’s how Arizona members of Congress voted on major issues last week.
HOUSE
FISCAL 2017 MILITARY BUDGET: The House voted 277-147 on Wednesday to authorize a $610 billion military budget (HR 4909) for fiscal 2017, including at least $40 billion for combat operations abroad; $50 billion-plus for active-duty and retiree health care; $6.7 billion for an upgraded U.S. Cyber Command; $600 million to boost Israel’s missile defenses and $150 million in military aid to Ukraine. The bill sets a 2.1 percent pay raise for uniformed personnel; bars closure of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison; authorizes 1,541,000 active-duty, guard and reserve personnel and requires at least 9,800 American troops to be based in Afghanistan. In addition, the bill would negate President Obama’s executive order prohibiting firms receiving federal contracts from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Voting yes: Ann Kirkpatrick, D-1; Martha McSally, R-2; Paul Gosar, R-4; David Schweikert, R-6; Trent Franks, R-8; Kyrsten Sinema, D-9
Voting no: Raul Grijalva, D-3; Ruben Gallego, D-7
Not voting: Matt Salmon, R-5
$622 MILLION TO FIGHT ZIKA: The House voted 241-184 on Wednesday to pass a bill (HR 5243) that would appropriate $622.1 million for programs to deal with the Zika virus as it migrates from South America and the Caribbean to the United States. The mosquito-borne virus causes birth defects. This bill is deficit-neutral because its funds are offset by transfers from other health accounts, including one for countering Ebola. A competing Senate measure would appropriate $1.1 billion in deficit spending, which is how Congress historically has financed emergency responses to public health crises and natural disasters.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema
Voting no: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego
Not voting: Salmon
UPDATED WAR AUTHORITY AGAINST ISIS: On Wednesday the House, voting 138 for and 285 against, defeated an amendment to HR 4909 that sought to revoke the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as the legal authority for U.S. military actions against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) so that it could be replaced with an up-to-date war authorization.
A yes vote was to update U.S. authority to wage war against the Islamic State.
Voting yes: Grijalva
Voting no: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Gallego, Franks, Sinema
Not voting: Salmon
BAN ON CONFEDERATE FLAG: On Wednesday the House, voting 181 for and 243 against, defeated a bid by Democrats to prohibit federal funding of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs at any institution displaying the Confederate battle flag. The only such institution mentioned in debate was The Citadel, a public military college in Charleston, S.C., which has displayed a Confederate flag in its Summerall Chapel since 1939.
A yes vote was in opposition to displays of the Confederate flag at ROTC institutions.
Voting yes: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema
Voting no: McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Franks
Not voting: Salmon
1% CUT IN MILITARY SPENDING: On Wednesday the House, voting 63 for and 360 against, refused to cut the base amount of the 2017 military budget by 1 percent or about $5.5 billion. The proposed cut would not affect the bill’s budget for combat operations or certain other accounts.
A yes vote was to cut the military budget by 1 percent.
Voting yes: Grijalva
Voting no: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Gallego, Franks, Sinema
Not voting: Salmon
VETERANS, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION: The House voted 295-129 on Thursday to send the Senate a bill (HR 4974) that would appropriate $73.5 billion in fiscal 2017 discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also would appropriate about $8.1 billion for building or repairing family housing, schools, medical units and other facilities at U.S. military bases worldwide. Additionally, the bill provides $102.6 billion in mandatory veterans spending for programs such as disability compensation, pensions and the post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill also appropriates several hundred million dollars to operate Arlington National Cemetery, the Armed Forces Retirement Home, the American Battle Monuments Commission and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema
Voting no: Grijalva, Gallego
Not voting: Salmon
DISPUTE OVER MIGRANT CHILDREN: The House voted 219-202 on Thursday to prohibit the use of funds in HR 4974 for housing unaccompanied migrant children at U.S. military bases while their immigration status is under review. This would blunt a tentative administration plan to use excess space at several bases for temporarily housing children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally without adult companions.
A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.
Voting yes: McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Franks
Voting no: Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema
Not voting: Salmon
VETERANS, MEDICAL MARIJUANA: The House voted 233-189 on Thursday to allow the Veterans Health Administration to counsel patients on using medical marijuana for ailments such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With marijuana illegal under federal law, the VHA is prohibited from prescribing it or counseling veterans on its medicinal benefits. The vote occurred during debate on HR 4974. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana and at least nine allow it to be prescribed for treating PTSD.
A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.
Voting yes: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Schweikert, Gallego, Sinema
Voting no: Gosar, Franks
Not voting: Grijalva, Salmon
CONFEDERATE FLAG BAN: The House voted 265-159 on Thursday to adopt an amendment to HR 4974 that would prohibit the display of Confederate flags on flagpoles at national cemeteries while allowing small Confederate flags to be displayed at individual gravesites.
No member spoke against the amendment.
A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.
Voting yes: Kirkpatrick, McSally, Grijalva, Schweikert, Gallego, Sinema
Voting no: Gosar, Franks
Not voting: Salmon
SENATE
$1.1 BILLLION TO FIGHT ZIKA: The Senate voted 68-30 on Thursday to include $1.1 billion in HR 2577 for steps against the Zika virus such as developing a vaccine and diagnostic tests, improving prenatal care and eradicating insect breeding grounds. The $1.1 billion would be added to the deficit.
A yes vote was to approve $1.1 billion in Zika funding.
Voting no: John McCain, R, Jeff Flake, R
2017 TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING BUDGET: The Senate voted 89-8 on Thursday to pass a bill that would appropriate $56.5 billion in fiscal 2017 discretionary spending for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies. The bill would fund initiatives such as airport improvements, air-traffic control, maritime programs, highway safety, mass transit, Amtrak, public and elderly housing and Community Development Block Grants to cities.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: John McCain, R
Voting no: Jeff Flake, R
