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Congressional Votes
Here's a look at summary stories written about each key vote in the House and Senate
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Michigan Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Michigan members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Michigan members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: Stevens D-MI (11th), Tlaib D-MI (12th), Dingell D-MI (6th), McDonald Rivet D-MI (8th), Scholten D-MI (3rd), Thanedar D-MI (13th)
NAYS: Huizenga R-MI (4th), Barrett R-MI (7th), Walberg R-MI (5th), Bergman R-MI (1st), Moolenaar R-MI (2nd), McClain R-MI (9th), James R-MI (10th)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: Stevens D-MI (11th), Tlaib D-MI (12th), Dingell D-MI (6th), McDonald Rivet D-MI (8th), Scholten D-MI (3rd), Thanedar D-MI (13th)
YEAS: Huizenga R-MI (4th), Barrett R-MI (7th), Walberg R-MI (5th), Bergman R-MI (1st), Moolenaar R-MI (2nd), McClain R-MI (9th), James R-MI (10th)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Stevens D-MI (11th), Tlaib D-MI (12th), Dingell D-MI (6th), McDonald Rivet D-MI (8th), Scholten D-MI (3rd), Thanedar D-MI (13th)
YEAS: Huizenga R-MI (4th), Barrett R-MI (7th), Walberg R-MI (5th), Bergman R-MI (1st), Moolenaar R-MI (2nd), McClain R-MI (9th), James R-MI (10th)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: Stevens D-MI (11th), Tlaib D-MI (12th), Dingell D-MI (6th), McDonald Rivet D-MI (8th), Scholten D-MI (3rd), Thanedar D-MI (13th)
NAYS: Huizenga R-MI (4th), Barrett R-MI (7th), Walberg R-MI (5th), Bergman R-MI (1st), Moolenaar R-MI (2nd), McClain R-MI (9th), James R-MI (10th)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: Stevens D-MI (11th), Tlaib D-MI (12th), Dingell D-MI (6th), McDonald Rivet D-MI (8th), Scholten D-MI (3rd), Thanedar D-MI (13th)
YEAS: Huizenga R-MI (4th), Barrett R-MI (7th), Walberg R-MI (5th), Bergman R-MI (1st), Moolenaar R-MI (2nd), McClain R-MI (9th), James R-MI (10th)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Peters D-MI, Slotkin D-MI
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Peters D-MI, Slotkin D-MI
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Peters D-MI, Slotkin D-MI
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
YEAS: Peters D-MI, Slotkin D-MI
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
NAYS: Peters D-MI
YEAS: Slotkin D-MI
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Peters D-MI, Slotkin D-MI
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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Maine Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Maine members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should stand ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Maine members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should standwith our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: Pingree D-ME (1st)
NAYS: Golden (ME) D-ME (2nd)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: Pingree D-ME (1st)
YEAS: Golden (ME) D-ME (2nd)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Pingree D-ME (1st)
YEAS: Golden (ME) D-ME (2nd)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: Pingree D-ME (1st), Golden (ME) D-ME (2nd)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: Pingree D-ME (1st), Golden (ME) D-ME (2nd)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
YEAS: Collins R-ME
NAYS: King I-ME
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
YEAS: Collins R-ME
NAYS: King I-ME
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
NAYS: Collins R-ME
YEAS: King I-ME
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
NAYS: Collins R-ME
YEAS: King I-ME
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
NAYS: Collins R-ME
YEAS: King I-ME
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Collins R-ME, King I-ME
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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Kentucky Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Kentucky members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Kentucky members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
NAYS: Barr R-KY (6th), Guthrie R-KY (2nd), Rogers (KY) R-KY (5th), Comer R-KY (1st)
YEAS: Massie R-KY (4th), McGarvey D-KY (3rd)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
YEAS: Barr R-KY (6th), Guthrie R-KY (2nd), Massie R-KY (4th), Rogers (KY) R-KY (5th), Comer R-KY (1st)
NAYS: McGarvey D-KY (3rd)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
YEAS: Barr R-KY (6th), Guthrie R-KY (2nd), Massie R-KY (4th), Rogers (KY) R-KY (5th), Comer R-KY (1st)
NAYS: McGarvey D-KY (3rd)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
NAYS: Barr R-KY (6th), Guthrie R-KY (2nd), Massie R-KY (4th), Rogers (KY) R-KY (5th), Comer R-KY (1st)
YEAS: McGarvey D-KY (3rd)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
YEAS: Barr R-KY (6th), Guthrie R-KY (2nd), Massie R-KY (4th), Rogers (KY) R-KY (5th), Comer R-KY (1st)
NAYS: McGarvey D-KY (3rd)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
YEAS: Paul R-KY, McConnell R-KY
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
YEAS: Paul R-KY, McConnell R-KY
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Paul R-KY
NAYS: McConnell R-KY
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
NAYS: Paul R-KY, McConnell R-KY
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
NAYS: Paul R-KY, McConnell R-KY
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
YEAS: Paul R-KY, McConnell R-KY
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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Illinois Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Illinois members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Illinois members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: Quigley D-IL (5th), Krishnamoorthi D-IL (8th), Davis (IL) D-IL (7th), Garcia (IL) D-IL (4th), Casten D-IL (6th), Schneider D-IL (10th), Kelly (IL) D-IL (2nd), Schakowsky D-IL (9th), Foster D-IL (11th), Underwood D-IL (14th), Budzinski D-IL (13th), Sorensen D-IL (17th), Ramirez D-IL (3rd), Jackson (IL) D-IL (1st)
NAYS: Bost R-IL (12th), LaHood R-IL (16th), Miller (IL) R-IL (15th)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: Quigley D-IL (5th), Krishnamoorthi D-IL (8th), Davis (IL) D-IL (7th), Garcia (IL) D-IL (4th), Casten D-IL (6th), Schneider D-IL (10th), Kelly (IL) D-IL (2nd), Schakowsky D-IL (9th), Foster D-IL (11th), Underwood D-IL (14th), Budzinski D-IL (13th), Sorensen D-IL (17th), Ramirez D-IL (3rd), Jackson (IL) D-IL (1st)
YEAS: Bost R-IL (12th), LaHood R-IL (16th), Miller (IL) R-IL (15th)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Quigley D-IL (5th), Krishnamoorthi D-IL (8th), Davis (IL) D-IL (7th), Garcia (IL) D-IL (4th), Casten D-IL (6th), Schneider D-IL (10th), Kelly (IL) D-IL (2nd), Schakowsky D-IL (9th), Foster D-IL (11th), Underwood D-IL (14th), Budzinski D-IL (13th), Sorensen D-IL (17th), Ramirez D-IL (3rd), Jackson (IL) D-IL (1st)
YEAS: Bost R-IL (12th), LaHood R-IL (16th), Miller (IL) R-IL (15th)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: Quigley D-IL (5th), Krishnamoorthi D-IL (8th), Davis (IL) D-IL (7th), Garcia (IL) D-IL (4th), Casten D-IL (6th), Schneider D-IL (10th), Kelly (IL) D-IL (2nd), Schakowsky D-IL (9th), Foster D-IL (11th), Underwood D-IL (14th), Budzinski D-IL (13th), Sorensen D-IL (17th), Ramirez D-IL (3rd), Jackson (IL) D-IL (1st)
NAYS: Bost R-IL (12th), LaHood R-IL (16th), Miller (IL) R-IL (15th)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: Quigley D-IL (5th), Krishnamoorthi D-IL (8th), Davis (IL) D-IL (7th), Garcia (IL) D-IL (4th), Casten D-IL (6th), Schneider D-IL (10th), Kelly (IL) D-IL (2nd), Schakowsky D-IL (9th), Foster D-IL (11th), Underwood D-IL (14th), Budzinski D-IL (13th), Sorensen D-IL (17th), Ramirez D-IL (3rd), Jackson (IL) D-IL (1st)
YEAS: Bost R-IL (12th), LaHood R-IL (16th), Miller (IL) R-IL (15th)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
YEAS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
YEAS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Durbin D-IL, Duckworth D-IL
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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Hawaii Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Hawaii members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Hawaii members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: Case D-HI (1st), Tokuda D-HI (2nd)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: Case D-HI (1st), Tokuda D-HI (2nd)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Case D-HI (1st), Tokuda D-HI (2nd)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: Case D-HI (1st), Tokuda D-HI (2nd)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: Case D-HI (1st), Tokuda D-HI (2nd)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
YEAS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
YEAS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Schatz D-HI, Hirono D-HI
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
-30-
Georgia Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Georgia members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Georgia members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
NAYS: Loudermilk R-GA (11th), Allen R-GA (12th), Scott, Austin R-GA (8th), Clyde R-GA (9th), Carter (GA) R-GA (1st), Jack R-GA (3rd), McCormick R-GA (7th), Collins R-GA (10th), Fuller R-GA (14)
YEAS: Bishop D-GA (2nd), Scott, David D-GA (13th), McBath D-GA (6th), Johnson (GA) D-GA (4th), Williams (GA) D-GA (5th)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
YEAS: Loudermilk R-GA (11th), Allen R-GA (12th), Scott, Austin R-GA (8th), Clyde R-GA (9th), Carter (GA) R-GA (1st), Jack R-GA (3rd), McCormick R-GA (7th), Collins R-GA (10th), Fuller R-GA (14)
NAYS: Bishop D-GA (2nd), Scott, David D-GA (13th), McBath D-GA (6th), Johnson (GA) D-GA (4th), Williams (GA) D-GA (5th)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
YEAS: Loudermilk R-GA (11th), Allen R-GA (12th), Scott, Austin R-GA (8th), Clyde R-GA (9th), Carter (GA) R-GA (1st), Jack R-GA (3rd), McCormick R-GA (7th), Collins R-GA (10th), Fuller R-GA (14)
NAYS: Bishop D-GA (2nd), Scott, David D-GA (13th), McBath D-GA (6th), Johnson (GA) D-GA (4th), Williams (GA) D-GA (5th)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
NAYS: Loudermilk R-GA (11th), Allen R-GA (12th), Scott, Austin R-GA (8th), Clyde R-GA (9th), Carter (GA) R-GA (1st), Jack R-GA (3rd), Collins R-GA (10th), Fuller R-GA (14)
YEAS: Bishop D-GA (2nd), Scott, David D-GA (13th), McBath D-GA (6th), Johnson (GA) D-GA (4th), Williams (GA) D-GA (5th), McCormick R-GA (7th)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
YEAS: Loudermilk R-GA (11th), Allen R-GA (12th), Scott, Austin R-GA (8th), Clyde R-GA (9th), Carter (GA) R-GA (1st), Jack R-GA (3rd), McCormick R-GA (7th), Collins R-GA (10th), Fuller R-GA (14)
NAYS: Bishop D-GA (2nd), Scott, David D-GA (13th), McBath D-GA (6th), Johnson (GA) D-GA (4th), Williams (GA) D-GA (5th)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
YEAS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
YEAS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Ossoff D-GA, Warnock D-GA
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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Delaware Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Delaware members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Delaware members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: McBride D-DE (AL)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: McBride D-DE (AL)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: McBride D-DE (AL)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: McBride D-DE (AL)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: McBride D-DE (AL)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Coons D-DE, Blunt Rochester D-DE
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Coons D-DE, Blunt Rochester D-DE
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Coons D-DE, Blunt Rochester D-DE
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
NAYS: Coons D-DE
YEAS: Blunt Rochester D-DE
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
NAYS: Coons D-DE
YEAS: Blunt Rochester D-DE
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Coons D-DE, Blunt Rochester D-DE
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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California Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how California members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how California members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
YEAS: Gomez D-CA (34th), Sanchez D-CA (38th), Torres (CA) D-CA (35th), Carbajal D-CA (24th), Min D-CA (47th), Costa D-CA (21st), Brownley D-CA (26th), Liccardo D-CA (16th), Panetta D-CA (19th), Vargas D-CA (52nd), Barragan D-CA (44th), Huffman D-CA (2nd), Khanna D-CA (17th), Levin D-CA (49th), Simon D-CA (12th), Takano D-CA (39th), Lofgren D-CA (18th), Thompson (CA) D-CA (4th), Aguilar D-CA (33rd), DeSaulnier D-CA (10th), Cisneros D-CA (31st), Pelosi D-CA (11th), Ruiz D-CA (25th), Harder (CA) D-CA (9th), Rivas D-CA (29th), Correa D-CA (46th), Friedman D-CA (30th), Sherman D-CA (32nd), Chu D-CA (28th), Garamendi D-CA (8th), Bera D-CA (6th), Waters D-CA (43rd), Lieu D-CA (36th), Peters D-CA (50th), Matsui D-CA (7th), Whitesides D-CA (27th), Tran D-CA (45th), Jacobs D-CA (51st), Gray D-CA (13th), Mullin D-CA (15th), Kamlager-Dove D-CA (37th), Garcia (CA) D-CA (42nd)
NAYS: Calvert R-CA (41st), McClintock R-CA (5th), Issa R-CA (48th), Kim R-CA (40th), Obernolte R-CA (23rd), Valadao R-CA (22nd), Kiley (CA) I-CA (3rd), Fong R-CA (20th)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
NAYS: Gomez D-CA (34th), Sanchez D-CA (38th), Torres (CA) D-CA (35th), Carbajal D-CA (24th), Min D-CA (47th), Brownley D-CA (26th), Liccardo D-CA (16th), Panetta D-CA (19th), Vargas D-CA (52nd), Barragan D-CA (44th), Huffman D-CA (2nd), Khanna D-CA (17th), Levin D-CA (49th), Simon D-CA (12th), Takano D-CA (39th), Lofgren D-CA (18th), Thompson (CA) D-CA (4th), Aguilar D-CA (33rd), DeSaulnier D-CA (10th), Cisneros D-CA (31st), Pelosi D-CA (11th), Ruiz D-CA (25th), Harder (CA) D-CA (9th), Rivas D-CA (29th), Correa D-CA (46th), Friedman D-CA (30th), Sherman D-CA (32nd), Chu D-CA (28th), Garamendi D-CA (8th), Bera D-CA (6th), Waters D-CA (43rd), Lieu D-CA (36th), Peters D-CA (50th), Matsui D-CA (7th), Whitesides D-CA (27th), Tran D-CA (45th), Jacobs D-CA (51st), Mullin D-CA (15th), Kamlager-Dove D-CA (37th), Garcia (CA) D-CA (42nd)
YEAS: Calvert R-CA (41st), Costa D-CA (21st), McClintock R-CA (5th), Issa R-CA (48th), Kim R-CA (40th), Obernolte R-CA (23rd), Valadao R-CA (22nd), Gray D-CA (13th), Kiley (CA) I-CA (3rd), Fong R-CA (20th)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
NAYS: Gomez D-CA (34th), Sanchez D-CA (38th), Torres (CA) D-CA (35th), Carbajal D-CA (24th), Min D-CA (47th), Brownley D-CA (26th), Panetta D-CA (19th), Vargas D-CA (52nd), Barragan D-CA (44th), Huffman D-CA (2nd), Khanna D-CA (17th), Levin D-CA (49th), Simon D-CA (12th), Takano D-CA (39th), Lofgren D-CA (18th), Thompson (CA) D-CA (4th), Aguilar D-CA (33rd), DeSaulnier D-CA (10th), Cisneros D-CA (31st), Pelosi D-CA (11th), Ruiz D-CA (25th), Harder (CA) D-CA (9th), Rivas D-CA (29th), Correa D-CA (46th), Friedman D-CA (30th), Sherman D-CA (32nd), Chu D-CA (28th), Garamendi D-CA (8th), Bera D-CA (6th), Waters D-CA (43rd), Lieu D-CA (36th), Peters D-CA (50th), Matsui D-CA (7th), Whitesides D-CA (27th), Tran D-CA (45th), Jacobs D-CA (51st), Mullin D-CA (15th), Kamlager-Dove D-CA (37th), Garcia (CA) D-CA (42nd)
YEAS: Calvert R-CA (41st), Costa D-CA (21st), McClintock R-CA (5th), Issa R-CA (48th), Kim R-CA (40th), Obernolte R-CA (23rd), Valadao R-CA (22nd), Gray D-CA (13th), Kiley (CA) I-CA (3rd), Fong R-CA (20th)
NOT VOTING: Liccardo D-CA (16th)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
YEAS: Gomez D-CA (34th), Sanchez D-CA (38th), Torres (CA) D-CA (35th), Carbajal D-CA (24th), Min D-CA (47th), Costa D-CA (21st), Brownley D-CA (26th), Liccardo D-CA (16th), Panetta D-CA (19th), Vargas D-CA (52nd), Barragan D-CA (44th), Huffman D-CA (2nd), Khanna D-CA (17th), Levin D-CA (49th), Simon D-CA (12th), Takano D-CA (39th), Lofgren D-CA (18th), Thompson (CA) D-CA (4th), Aguilar D-CA (33rd), DeSaulnier D-CA (10th), Cisneros D-CA (31st), Pelosi D-CA (11th), Ruiz D-CA (25th), Harder (CA) D-CA (9th), Rivas D-CA (29th), Correa D-CA (46th), Friedman D-CA (30th), Sherman D-CA (32nd), Chu D-CA (28th), Garamendi D-CA (8th), Bera D-CA (6th), Waters D-CA (43rd), Lieu D-CA (36th), Peters D-CA (50th), Matsui D-CA (7th), Whitesides D-CA (27th), Tran D-CA (45th), Jacobs D-CA (51st), Gray D-CA (13th), Mullin D-CA (15th), Kiley (CA) I-CA (3rd), Kamlager-Dove D-CA (37th), Garcia (CA) D-CA (42nd)
NAYS: Calvert R-CA (41st), McClintock R-CA (5th), Issa R-CA (48th), Kim R-CA (40th), Obernolte R-CA (23rd), Valadao R-CA (22nd), Fong R-CA (20th)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
NAYS: Gomez D-CA (34th), Sanchez D-CA (38th), Torres (CA) D-CA (35th), Carbajal D-CA (24th), Min D-CA (47th), Costa D-CA (21st), Brownley D-CA (26th), Liccardo D-CA (16th), Panetta D-CA (19th), Vargas D-CA (52nd), Barragan D-CA (44th), Huffman D-CA (2nd), Khanna D-CA (17th), Levin D-CA (49th), Simon D-CA (12th), Takano D-CA (39th), Lofgren D-CA (18th), Thompson (CA) D-CA (4th), Aguilar D-CA (33rd), DeSaulnier D-CA (10th), Cisneros D-CA (31st), Pelosi D-CA (11th), Ruiz D-CA (25th), Harder (CA) D-CA (9th), Rivas D-CA (29th), Correa D-CA (46th), Friedman D-CA (30th), Sherman D-CA (32nd), Chu D-CA (28th), Garamendi D-CA (8th), Bera D-CA (6th), Waters D-CA (43rd), Lieu D-CA (36th), Peters D-CA (50th), Matsui D-CA (7th), Whitesides D-CA (27th), Tran D-CA (45th), Jacobs D-CA (51st), Gray D-CA (13th), Mullin D-CA (15th), Kamlager-Dove D-CA (37th), Garcia (CA) D-CA (42nd)
YEAS: Calvert R-CA (41st), McClintock R-CA (5th), Issa R-CA (48th), Kim R-CA (40th), Obernolte R-CA (23rd), Valadao R-CA (22nd), Kiley (CA) I-CA (3rd), Fong R-CA (20th)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
NAYS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
NAYS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
YEAS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
YEAS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
YEAS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
NAYS: Padilla D-CA, Schiff D-CA
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
-30-
Alabama Congressional Votes for the Week ending 2026-04-17
by Arne Christensen
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Alabama members of Congress voted over the previous week.HOUSE VOTES:
House Vote 1:
IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We should ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Here's a look at how Alabama members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE VOTES: House Vote 1: IRAN WAR: The House has rejected a bill (H. Con. Res. 40), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., that would have required the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Meeks Called for Congress to "assert our constitutional authority and demand a return to the only path that leads to lasting security, diplomacy, negotiation, verification, and deterrence." A bill opponent, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said: "We shouldstand with our president. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States." The vote, on April 16, was 213 yeas to 214 nays, with 1 voting present.
NAYS: Aderholt R-AL (4th), Palmer R-AL (6th), Moore (AL) R-AL (1st), Rogers (AL) R-AL (3rd), Strong R-AL (5th)
YEAS: Sewell D-AL (7th), Figures D-AL (2nd)
House Vote 2:
POLLUTION EXEMPTIONS: The House has passed the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act (H.R. 6409), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. The bill would stipulate that states that would otherwise be considered non-compliant with federal air quality standards can earn an exemption by showing that emissions from foreign or exceptional natural sources created the non-compliance. Pfluger said: "This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that does not change air quality standards. In fact, it actually enforces them more accurately within our local communities." An opponent, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said it "blocks EPA's ability to impose sanctions on states that fail to make progress toward reducing air pollution." The vote, on April 16, was 220 yeas to 208 nays.
YEAS: Aderholt R-AL (4th), Palmer R-AL (6th), Moore (AL) R-AL (1st), Rogers (AL) R-AL (3rd), Strong R-AL (5th)
NAYS: Sewell D-AL (7th), Figures D-AL (2nd)
House Vote 3:
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS: The House has passed the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act (H.R. 6398), sponsored by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. The bill would end a Clean Air Act requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review federal government actions, if those actions are already subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. Joyce said it "simply removes bureaucratic, redundant red tape. Projects will still need to comply with all applicable environmental laws." An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said: "It is a bill to let polluters run amok out of sight from the public and without proper safety and commonsense guardrails." The vote, on April 16, was 222 yeas to 205 nays.
YEAS: Aderholt R-AL (4th), Palmer R-AL (6th), Moore (AL) R-AL (1st), Rogers (AL) R-AL (3rd), Strong R-AL (5th)
NAYS: Sewell D-AL (7th), Figures D-AL (2nd)
House Vote 4:
HAITI AND IMMIGRATION: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 1689), sponsored by Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., to require the Homeland Security Department to assign a temporary protected status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, until early 2027. Gillen called the bill "an important milestone for our hardworking, law-abiding, taxpaying Haitian friends and neighbors across the country." An opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said the temporary protected status could turn into de facto amnesty for Haitians who have violated immigration law, and McClintock said: "If this bill passes, I think we can expect TPS status to be extended to the millions more who wish to exploit our country and its taxpayers." The vote, on April 16, was 224 yeas to 204 nays.
NAYS: Aderholt R-AL (4th), Palmer R-AL (6th), Moore (AL) R-AL (1st), Rogers (AL) R-AL (3rd), Strong R-AL (5th)
YEAS: Sewell D-AL (7th), Figures D-AL (2nd)
House Vote 5:
TAXES: The House has passed a bill (H. Res. 1156), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., praising tax relief legislation that was enacted in July 2025, and supporting tax policies that benefit working families. Kelly said the July 2025 bill "guarantees stability and certainty, and it gave families and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their own money." An opponent, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the tax cuts bill "nothing more than a betrayal of the American people. Families were promised relief. Instead, they have been left to foot the bill." The vote, on April 16, was 219 yeas to 207 nays.
YEAS: Aderholt R-AL (4th), Palmer R-AL (6th), Moore (AL) R-AL (1st), Rogers (AL) R-AL (3rd), Strong R-AL (5th)
NAYS: Sewell D-AL (7th), Figures D-AL (2nd)
SENATE VOTES:
Senate Vote 1:
ARKANSAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. After time as a private practice lawyer in the state, Shepherd was a district criminal prosecuting attorney and, for the past year, a judge in Arkansas's 13th Judicial District. A supporter, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "Whether representing the people as a prosecuting attorney, presiding from the bench as a circuit judge, or practicing law in the private sector, Judge Shepherd has handled a wide range of cases with an exceptional track record." An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cited Shepherd's lack of experience as a judge or active litigator, especially in the federal courts. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.
YEAS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
Senate Vote 2:
TEXAS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Christopher R. Wolfe to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Wolfe has been a Texas district court judge near Dallas for the past seven years, after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. The vote, on April 14, was 53 yeas to 47 nays.
YEAS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
Senate Vote 3:
IRAN WAR: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 123), sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would require the cessation of military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional authorization. Duckworth said: "With this unconstitutional, unjustified, and unwanted regime-change war in the Middle East, Trump has traded deterrence for instability and chaos and made all of us less safe in the process. It is time for us to rein him in." An opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, claimed that ending hostilities would amount to aid to Iran. The vote to discharge, on April 15, was 47 yeas to 52 nays.
NAYS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
Senate Vote 4:
SELLING BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 32), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale to Israel of Caterpillar armored bulldozers and related parts and services. Sanders said the bulldozers were "used to demolish homes in the West Bank and Gaza and make a Palestinian state physically impossible." A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said: "Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe." The vote, on April 15, was 40 yeas to 59 nays.
NAYS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
Senate Vote 5:
SELLING BOMBS TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a bill (S.J. Res. 138), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would cancel the sale of 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Sanders criticized what he called "a full-blown war of expansion against Lebanon" being prosecuted by Israel. A bill opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said refusing "to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together" with Israel and other allies. The vote, on April 15, was 36 yeas to 63 nays.
NAYS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
Senate Vote 6:
MINING IN MINNESOTA FORESTS: The Senate has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 140), sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., to nullify a public land order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023 that barred mining for copper, nickel, and other minerals in a zone of national forests in northern Minnesota. An opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the order was not a rule eligible for repeal by Congress, and nullification would set the precedent "that any land order dating back to 1996 could be overturned on a party-line vote, with no environmental review." The vote, on April 16, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.
YEAS: Tuberville R-AL, Britt R-AL
For more information about Targeted News Service, please contact Myron Struck, editor, 703/304-1897, editor@targetednews.com; for technical questions about transmission or for retransmissions, please contact Kevin Meek, kevin@targetednews.com.
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