How Lehigh Valley Area Lawmakers Vote Last Week – The Morning Call

HR 2988: Whistleblower Protection Improvements Act of 2021

221 votes in favor, 203 votes againstthe House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday that establishes, modifies, and expands certain whistleblower protections for federal employees, including on petitions to Congress, whistleblower identities, and protected disclosures. .

yes: Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1 (Bucks, part of Montgomery and Philadelphia); Madeleine Dean, D-4 (Montgomery, part of Burks); Susan Wilde, D-7 (Lehi, Northampton, Monroe) part of); Matt Cartwright, D-8 (most of Monroe)

No: Dan Meuser, R-9th (Schuylkill, part of Carbon and Berks)

HR 8326: Ensuring Fair and Accurate Census Law

220 votes in favor, 208 votes against, The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that addresses the operations of the Census Bureau.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the removal of the Director only for good cause and gives legal authority to certain advisory boards.

The Secretariat may not include in the Census any subject, type of information, or question that has not been submitted to Congress.

The Secretariat must submit a report to Parliament every six months. (1) Describe each component of the operational plan for subsequent decennial census. (2) Contains detailed statements on the status of all research, testing, and operations that are part of the agency’s comprehensive plan for the decennial census.

The Secretariat must provide Congress with certification that any issues that did not appear in the last two decennial Censuses have been investigated, studied, and tested in accordance with established statistical policies and procedures. Hmm.

The Government Accountability Office must review such certifications and report to Congress whether the questions involved have been investigated, studied and tested in accordance with such policies and procedures.

By January 1, 2026, and every 10 years thereafter, the Secretariat must transmit to Congress life-cycle cost estimates for the first decennial census taken after the date of transmission. Such estimates shall include an estimate of costs for each fiscal year. Estimation of capital to operating costs. Annual staffing forecast. Assumptions about response rates, wages, and other economic variables.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright

No: Measer, Fitzpatrick

HR 302: PPSA Act of 2021

225 votes in favor, 204 votes against, the House of Representatives on Thursday proposed a bill prohibiting the placement of competitive service enforcement agency positions in exception services unless such positions are placed on Schedules A through E, which took effect September 30, 2020. passed. The bill also prohibits positions in services excluded from being placed on schedules other than those listed above.

On October 21, 2020, the President issued an executive order titled Creating Schedule F in Exceptional Services. This order places executive offices of a confidential, policy-making, decision-making, or policy-recommending nature, which would not normally be changed as a result of a change of president, under a new schedule of exceptional service. To do. (Schedule F) instead of competing services. The Order also requires that such positions in excluded services be reclassified to Schedule F.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick

No: Mouser

S442: Bright Act

347 votes in favor, 78 votes against, The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that expands requirements for the procurement and use of energy-efficient lighting in federal buildings.

Under current law, public buildings constructed or managed by the General Services Administration must be equipped with energy efficient light bulbs and fixtures. Under the bill, buildings must be equipped with the most life-cycle cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems available, including sensors, fixture placement and other elements. The bill also specifically establishes requirements for the procurement of such lighting systems and amends other requirements accordingly.

The measure also requires the GSA to provide information to federal, state, local, and tribal entities regarding the procurement and use of such lighting systems to promote government efficiency.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick

No: Mouser

S2293: CREW method

387 votes in favor, 38 votes against, The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that provides employment protection under the Uniform Service Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act, which applies to Federal Emergency Management Agency reserves deployed at major disaster and emergency sites. Such reservists may claim such rights under USERRA even if they do not give notice of their deployment absence.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Mouser

HR 5774: Emergency Disaster Recovery Act

406 votes in favor, 20 votes against, On Wednesday, the House of Representatives authorized the president, after declaring a catastrophe, to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide necessary assistance to meet unmet needs as a result of such a disaster. passed the bill.

The President encourages individuals to build permanent or semi-permanent housing in insular areas and other locations outside the contiguous United States if the President deems it a cost-effective alternative to other housing solutions. or can provide financial or direct assistance to households.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Mouser

HR 884: National Aviation Preparedness Program Act of 2022

293 votes in favor, 133 votes against, The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday, directing the Department of Transportation to create a national aviation preparedness plan for epidemic outbreaks. This includes requiring at-risk frontline employees to be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment to reduce their exposure to communicable diseases. A disease that has the potential to cause an epidemic or pandemic that constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (i.e., a covered communicable disease).

In developing the plan, the DOT should consult with labor stakeholders such as the airline industry and airlines. The Government Accountability Office assesses the plan, including whether it meets U.S. obligations under international agreements and treaties, and the extent to which the U.S. aviation system is prepared to respond to covered epidemic outbreaks. should conduct a survey to assess disease.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Mouser

HR 1339: Consideration of Bill (HR 302) to Impose Restrictions on Excluding Competing Service Positions from Competing Services and Offering for Other Purposes. Provides for consideration of a bill (HR 2988) to amend title 5, United States Code, to modify and enhance federal whistleblower protections, and for other purposes. To provide for consideration of a bill (HR 8326) to amend title 13, United States Code, to improve the operations of the Census Bureau and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

219 votes in favor, 209 votes against, The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that sets out rules for considering bills (HR302) exclude competitive service status from competitive services and impose restrictions on other purposes; Provide Invoice Review (HR 2988) to amend Title 5 of the United States Code to modify and enhance federal whistleblower protections and for other purposes; Provide Invoice Review (HR8326) to amend Title 13 of the United States Code to improve the operations of the Census Bureau and for other purposes.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright,

No: Fitzpatrick Mouser

HR 1066: Wildfire Recovery Act

328 votes in favor, 88 votes against, On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would change federal cost sharing for fire management assistance grants, stipulating that federal contributions should not be less than 75% of eligible costs.

Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to implement rulemaking to establish guidelines and thresholds for when federal costs of such subsidies may increase. and tells it to complete. Such thresholds shall use fire-specific metrics to determine fire damage and recommend federal liability adjustments for fire damage meeting established thresholds.

yes: Dean, Wilde, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick

No: Mouser

HR 5315: Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act

308 votes in favor, 110 votes against, The House of Representatives on Tuesday launched a program within the Department of Transportation to support the use of drones and other small unmanned aerial systems when inspecting, repairing, or constructing road, power grid, water, or other critical infrastructure. passed a bill establishing

Specifically, DOT must award grants to state, tribal, and local governments. urban planning organizations; or regional groups of those entities purchasing or using drones to increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve worker safety, and conduct inspections, repairs, and construction. Reduce carbon emissions. Grant recipients must use home-grown drones manufactured by companies not under Chinese influence or control.

DOT should also award grants to certain higher education institutions to train students for careers using drones and related technology.

yes: Dean, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick

No: Mouser

Do not vote: wild

S4785: Bill to Extend Special Assessment Authorization for the National Trafficking Victims Fund for 19 Days

415 votes in favor, 0 votes against, On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the bill, which is extended until September 30, 2022. This is her $5,000 special assessment for non-poor people or groups convicted of certain crimes, including sexual abuse or human trafficking. Currently, the special assessment expires on September 11, 2022.

yes: Dean, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Muser, Wilde

David P. Pekoske, Department of Homeland Security

With 77 votes in favor and 18 against, The Senate confirmed Thursday that David P. Pekoske of Maryland will become the TSA administrator for a five-year term. This is a new position.

yes: Bob Casey, D, Pat Toomey, R

Sarah Al Merriam, Justice

53 votes in favor, 44 votes against, On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Sarah Al Merriam of Connecticut is a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit and Deputy Susan L. Carney is retiring.

yes: Casey

No: Toomey

Lara E. Montecalvo, Judiciary

52 votes in favor, 47 votes against, The Senate on Wednesday confirmed that Lara E. Montecalvo of Rhode Island has become a U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit and Deputy O. Roger Thompson has retired.

yes: Casey

No: Toomey

Salvador Mendoza Jr., Justice

46 votes in favor, 40 votes against, The Senate on Monday confirmed that Washington’s Salvador Mendoza Jr. is a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Deputy M. Margaret McKean is retiring.

yes: Casey

Do not vote: Toomey