HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2008 Surveys, AIDS funding in spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008: The House on March 31 passed the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 (HR 3352), sponsored by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. The measure amends the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 and authorizes the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to expand the use of hydrographic data and hydrographic services. Supporters said a backlog in hydrographic survey work has caused many nautical charts to become out of date and the bill will reauthorize the program that supports hydrographic surveys and shoreline mapping activities, and continue the efforts to provide all users with accurate nautical charts. The vote was 308 yeas and 60 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Working with African Countries to Fight AIDS: The House on April 2 passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., to a measure providing funding for foreign programs against HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The amendment would require U.S. agencies to facilitate collaboration between African and U.S. colleges and universities, particularly historically black ones, on the training of health care workers to combat HIV-AIDS. Supporters said the measure would assist African nations in the struggle against AIDS. The vote was 415 yeas to 10 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Funding Disease Efforts in Foreign Countries: The House on April 2 approved a bill (HR 5501) providing funding to foreign countries from 2009 through 2013 for programs to combat HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Supporters of the measure said it would save millions of lives, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and provide critical support for anti-AIDS efforts overseas. Opponents said it was a costly expenditure of funds that could be better spent on serving the needs of the American people, particularly veterans and the elderly. The vote was 308 yeas to 116 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.