House/Senate votes 3/17/14

March 17, 2014
In this MegaVote for California's 34th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes
• Senate: Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions – Passage
• Senate: Child Care Block Grant Reauthorization – Enzi Amendment
• Senate: Flood Insurance Rates – Passage
• House: Ukraine Resolution – Passage
• House: Federal Water Rights – Passage
• House: Medicare Doc Fix – Passage

Editor's Note: The House and Senate are in recess until March 24.


Recent Senate Votes
Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions – Passage - Vote Passed (97-0, 3 Not Voting)

Senators finished work on reforming the military's practices for reporting and prosecuting sexual assaults within its ranks on Monday, passing a bill written by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO. The bill would amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to require special victims' counsels in sexual assault cases and forbid using the defendant’s military record in defense arguments. The bill would also require the evaluation of whether commanding officers have established a climate in which allegations of sexual assault are properly managed and fairly evaluated and a victim can report criminal activity without fear of retaliation or ostracism.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES


Child Care Block Grant Reauthorization – Enzi Amendment - Vote Agreed to (98-0, 2 Not Voting)

On Wednesday, the Senate agreed to an amendment (S.AMDT.2812) offered by Senator Michael Enzi, R-Wy., to the reauthorization of child care block grant programs. The amendment requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education, to conduct a review of Federal early learning and care programs and make recommendations for streamlining the various programs. The block grant program was reauthorized through Fiscal Year 2019 on Thursday.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES


Flood Insurance Rates – Passage - Vote Passed (72-22, 6 Not Voting)

Senators approved a bill to slow National Flood Insurance Program premium increases that are needed to achieve the program's full actuarial rates. The measure would also require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to certify its flood mapping approach before raising insurance rates in the future.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted Not Voting



Recent House Votes
Ukraine Resolution – Passage - Vote Passed (402-7, 1 Present, 20 Not Voting)

The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution Tuesday condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation for their actions in Crimea.

Rep. Xavier Becerra voted YES


Federal Water Rights – Passage - Vote Passed (238-174, 19 Not Voting)

On Thursday, House members passed a bill that would prohibit Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from making any transfer, relinquishment, or other impairment of any water right a condition of the issuance of any permit, lease, or other use agreement concerning federal lands. The law would apply to lands covered by interstate water rights compacts as well.

Rep. Xavier Becerra voted Not Voting


Medicare Doc Fix – Passage - Vote Passed (238-181, 12 Not Voting)

On Friday, the House agreed to repeal the sustainable growth rate model of physicians' compensation rates under Medicare. The bill would establish a single conversion rate of cost increases for physicians' services at .5 percent through 2018 and would completely freeze updates thereafter through 2023. The bill would also require certain federal agencies to perform studies of access to health care and cost controls for some procedures under Medicare.

Rep. Xavier Becerra voted NO