WASHINGTON — Along with roll call votes, the Senate last week passed the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act (S. 607), to extend for five years the Medicare rural community hospital demonstration program; and passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs Seismic Safety and Construction Authorization Act (S. 2422), to authorize the VA to carry out seismic retrofits and other construction projects at medical facilities. There were no key votes in the House.

SENATE VOTES

Senate Vote 1

MINNESOTA DISTRICT JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Wilhelmina Marie Wright to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Minnesota district. A supporter, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., cited Wright’s 15 years of experience as a judge in Minnesota’s state courts, and praised Wright’s dedication to fairness and impartiality in the judicial system. Klobuchar added that confirming Wright would help resolve a backlog of nearly 6,000 cases before the district court by filling a long-standing vacancy on the court. No nomination opponents spoke on the Senate floor. The vote, on Jan. 19, was 58 yeas to 36 nays.

YEAS: Susan Collins R-Maine, Angus King I-Maine

Senate Vote 2

VETTING SYRIAN, IRAQI REFUGEES: The Senate has rejected a cloture motion to end debate on the American Safe Act (H.R. 4038), sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas. The bill would require the FBI to conduct background investigations of Iraqi and Syrian refugees seeking to be admitted to the U.S. and require FBI confirmation that a refugee is not a security threat in order to admit the refugee. A supporter of ending debate, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., cited signs that terrorists could use the cover of refugee status to carry out attacks in the U.S., making the vetting stipulation necessary to address the security risk. An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called the vetting requirement “an effort to stop any Syrian refugee from coming to the United States” and prevent desperate families from escaping a war. The vote, on Jan. 20, was 55 yeas to 43 nays, with a three-fifths majority required to end debate.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: King

Senate Vote 3

REGULATING U.S. WATERWAYS: The Senate has rejected a cloture motion to end debate on President Obama’s veto of a resolution (S.J. Res. 22), sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, stating congressional disapproval of the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency rule defining “waters of the United States” and voiding the rule. Ernst called the rule “a regulatory power grab that harms our farmers, ranchers, small businesses, manufacturers, and homebuilders” by exerting excessive federal control of the use of local waterways. An opponent of ending debate, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., said the rule was not as extensive as its opponents claimed, and it would improve water quality, wetlands protection, and provide regulatory clarity for agriculture and other industries. The vote, on Jan. 21, was 52 yeas to 40 nays, with a three-fifths majority required to end debate.

NAYS: Collins, King