House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud (2nd District) and Tom Allen (1st District)

Vote 1: Reauthorizing Native American Housing Assistance Programs (HR 2786): The House on Sept. 6 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., that reauthorizes assistance programs for housing on American Indian, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian lands. A controversial amendment to the bill, which prohibited funding to the Cherokee Nation, was amended by voice vote to delay funding cuts until tribal courts decide whether to uphold certain limits set by the tribe to tribal membership. A recent amendment to the tribal constitution strips membership from freedmen, descendants of former slaves of the tribe. Proponents of the bill said the program provides more self-determination than the original program. The vote was 333 yeas to 75 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations for Fiscal 2008 (HR 2642): The Senate on Sept. 6 passed a bill providing $109 billion in funding, $4 billion over the president’s request, for military construction and housing, base closures and veterans medical care. The Department of Veterans Affairs would receive $87.5 billion, military construction and family housing are funded at $21.6 billion, base closures activities are funded at $321 million, and the National Cemetery Administration is funded at $218 million. The bill will now go to conference to reconcile it with the House version. The vote was 92 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Prohibiting Funding to Organizations Promoting Coercive Abortions: The Senate on Sept. 6 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., to the foreign operations appropriations bill (HR 2764) that prohibits federal dollars from going to organizations that support forced sterilization or coerced abortions. Proponents said the practice was brutal and all life is precious. Opponents argued that organizations are constrained by the actions of the countries where they operate. The vote was 48 yeas to 45 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Lifting Abortion Support Restrictions on Foreign Health Providers: The Senate on Sept. 6 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., to the foreign operations appropriations bill (HR 2764) that lifts a ban on funding for nongovernmental health organizations that provide any support for abortion. Proponents said that health organizations have lost funding for aiding young adolescent incest and rape victims. They said the ban is extreme, forcing the closure of clinics that provide services to women in impoverished countries. Opponents said supporting such organizations is supporting the death of unborn children. The vote was 53 yeas to 41 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations for Fiscal 2008 (HR 2764): The Senate on Sept. 6 passed a bill providing $34.4 billion in funding for the State Department and other foreign operation. Military and economic assistance programs receive $23.7 billion and the Department of State, $10.7 billion. Within the totals, funding to combat AIDS is $5.2 billion. The World Bank received $1.2 billion. The State Department’s administrative budget is set at $3.8 billion. Of the $4.6 billion in military aid, about $2.4 billion is slated for Israel. The bill now goes to conference to reconcile with the House version. The vote was 81 yeas to 12 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.