For the

week
ending
May 25

$717 Billion for Military: The House

Y Y Y Y authorized, 351-66, $717 billion for the U.S.
military in fiscal 2019, including $69 billion for
war-fighting. A yes vote was to pass HR
5515, which sets a 2.6 percent pay raise for
those in uniform and funds a military parade
in D.C. sought by President Trump.
Low-Yield Nuclear Arms: The House
N O Y Y refused, 188-226, to restrict funding in HR
5515 (above) for developing low-yield, or
tactical, nuclear weapons for use on specific
battlefields. They are different from long-
range, or strategic, nuclear weapons. A yes
vote was to limit funding of these weapons.
Gun Background Checks: The House
Y Y N N blocked, 224-191, a Democratic motion to
amend HR 5515 (above) to expand
background checks on commercial gun sales.
This was the first gun vote in Congress since
the Santa Fe, Texas, school shooting May 18.
A yes vote opposed the motion.
Changes to Penal System: The House
Y Y Y Y passed, 360-59, a bill that would reduce
overcrowding in federal prisons while
improving rehabilitation and cutting
recidivism. A yes vote backed HR 5682 over
arguments that it overlooks harsh sentencing
rules that have swollen prison populations.
Relaxation of Banking Rules: The House
Y Y N N voted, 258-159, to largely exempt community
banks and credit unions from the Dodd-Frank
financial oversight law. A yes vote was to
pass a bill (S 2155) that also would ease the
law’s impact on mid-sized regional banks and
Wall Street mega-banks.
Veterans’ Healthcare: The Senate voted, 92
Y Y -5, to give veterans who live far from VA
hospitals and clinics more access to private
care closer to home. A yes vote was to pass
HR 2372, which also takes steps toward the
possible closure or realignment of veterans’
health units in the U.S.
KEY VOTES AHEAD ©2018 Voterama in Congress www.voterama.biz
Congress is in a Memorial Day recess until the week of June 4.