109th Congress – 2nd Session 2006
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Voting Weight; S.A. = Senate Amendment; S. = Senate Bill

1. S.A. 3166 to S.CON.RES.83 Human Rights Council Funding [RC# 109-73, W = 3] Ensign, R-NV

The Ensign amendment seeks to eliminate funds in FY2007 for the United Nations in the amount of the operating costs of the U.N. Human Rights Council. The United States was one of only four countries, out of a total of 192 in the United Nations General Assembly, to vote against the establishment of the Human Rights Council. The three other countries were Israel, Marshall Islands, and the island nation of Palau. Savings would be redirected to border security.

The amendment was rejected 50-50 (R 48 – 7; D 2 – 42; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

2. S.A. 5088 to S. 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006/Geneva Conventions [RC# 109-258, W = 2] Kennedy, D-MA

The Kennedy amendment emphasized U.S. commitment to Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits cruel and degrading interrogation techniques. The amendment demonstrates U.S. intolerance of such abuses by declaring that any act considered inhumane if inflicted upon American personnel involved in the war on terror would be considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

The amendment was rejected 46-53 (R 2 – 52; D 43 – 1; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

3. S.A. 5183 to S. 3709 Nuclear Non-proliferation [RC# 109-268, W = 2] Feingold, D-WI

The Feingold amendment seeks to require as a precondition to United States-India peaceful nuclear energy cooperation a determination by the President that such cooperation does nothing to assist, encourage, or induce India to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The amendment was rejected 25-71 (R 0 – 52; D 25 – 19; I 0 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

110th Congress – 1st Session 2007
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Voting Weigh; S.A. = Senate Amendment; S = Senate Bill

4. H.R. 1495 Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization/Climate Change [RC# 110-166, W = 2] Kerry, D-MA

The Kerry amendment would require the Army Corps of Engineers to include the impact of global climate change in any relevant study of water resource projects. The substitute would authorize roughly $14 billion for Army Corps of Engineers water resources development projects, including initiatives for storm protection in Louisiana, flood control and ecosystem restoration.

Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the amendment to 60 votes.

The amendment was rejected 51-42 (R 10 – 35; D 39 – 7; I 2 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

5. H.R. 6 Energy Policy/Passage [RC# 110-226, W = 2]

The bill would overhaul national energy policies and increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It would make petroleum price gouging a federal crime in a "national energy emergency" and subject the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to U.S. antitrust laws. It would mandate the use of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022, create new efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings and promote new energy technologies. It also would require the annual use of 15 billion gallons of biofuels by 2015, encourage carbon sequestration research and direct the State Department to pursue strategic partnerships with major energy-consuming and energy-producing nations.

The bill passed 65-27 (R 20 – 23; D 43 – 4; I 2 – 0) Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the bill.

6. H.R. 2764 Fiscal 2008 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations/U.N. Peacekeeping Operations [RC# 110-317, W = 3] Ensign, R-NV

The Ensign amendment would strike the provision in the bill that would increase the limit on the U.S. share of contributions for U.N. peacekeeping operations during fiscal year 2008 from 25 percent to 27.1 percent.

The amendment was rejected 30-63 (R 29 – 18; D 1 – 43; I 0 – 2). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

7. H.R. 2764 Fiscal 2008 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations/Malaria Control and Prevention [RC# 110-324, W = 1] Coburn, R-OK

The Coburn amendment would bar the use of multilateral economic assistance funds for the World Bank malaria control or prevention programs.

The amendment was rejected 33-60 (R 28 – 19; D 5 – 39; I 0 – 2). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

8. Fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization/Cloture [RC# 110-340, W = 3]

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Specter, R-PA amendment. The Specter amendment would restore habeas corpus rights to enemy combatants under U.S. detention, as well as to those awaiting military reviews that will determine their legal status.

Note: Three-fifths of the full Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. The cloture motion failed 56-43 (R 6 – 42; D 49 – 0; I 1 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the motion.

9. H.R. 1585 Fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization/Federalism in Iraq [RC# 110-348, W = 1] Biden, D-DE

The Biden amendment would express the sense of Congress that the United States should call for an Iraq divided into Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni federal regions and urge the Iraqi government to agree upon a law to share oil revenues among them. It also would express that the United States should not infringe on the sovereignty of Iraq.

The amendment was adopted 75-23 (R 26 – 22; D 47 – 1; I 2 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

10. H.R. 2419 Farm Bill Reauthorization/Farm Subsidies and Crop Insurance [RC# 110-417, W = 2] Lugar, R-IN

The Lugar amendment, known as the FRESH Act, would limit some subsidies to the largest producers of certain crops in the Farm Bill. The FRESH Act is designed to limit trade-distorting subsidies that will ultimately hurt small farmers in developing countries, a significant step in the fight against global poverty. The U.S. has committed to reduce and eventually eliminate trade-distorting subsidies, a commitment upon which the success of the Doha Round of international trade negotiations depends.

The amendment was rejected 37-58 (R 19 – 29; D 17 – 28; I 1 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

KEY HOUSE ISSUES

109th Congress – 2nd Session 2006
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Voting Weight; H.A. = House Amendment; H.R. = House Bill; H.Res. = House Resolution

1. H.A. 709 to H.R. 4939 Fiscal 2006 Supplemental/Darfur Peacekeeping Funds [RC# 109-46, W = 3] Capuano, D-MA

The Capuano amendment increased funding provided in the Fiscal Year 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill for the Peacekeeping Operations account by $50 million. This funding was used to bolster the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), the only peacekeeping force on the ground in Darfur at the time.

The amendment was adopted 213-208 (R 25 – 201; D 187 – 7; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

2. H.A. 917 to H.R. 5427 Fiscal 2007 Energy Appropriations/Nuclear Weapons Reduction [RC# 109-199, W = 2] Andrews, D-NJ

The Andrews amendment increased funding for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) by $27.8 million. The mission of GTRI is to remove and/or secure high-risk nuclear and radiological materials and equipment around the world by directing the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to consolidate and accelerate the Department of Energy’s nuclear materials removal efforts and complete a comprehensive inventory of research reactors and vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide.

The amendment was adopted 227-195 (R 39 – 186; 187 – 9; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

3. H.A. 980 to H.R. 5522 Fiscal 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations/Health and Development [RC# 109-236, W = 1] Obey, D-WI

The Obey amendment would have increased funding for International Disaster and Famine Assistance for Sudan by $50 million; increased funding for the Department of State Global HIV/AIDS Initiative by $50 million; and reduced funding for Egypt by $100 million.

The amendment was rejected 198-225 (R 45 – 179; D 152 – 46; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

4. H.A. 979 to H.R. 5522 Fiscal 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations/Development Aid [RC# 109-249, W = 1] Blumenauer, D-OR

The Blumenauer amendment would have increased funding for the Official Development Assistance account by $250 million in order to fund clean water and other anti-poverty programs.

The amendment was rejected 182-224 (R 23 – 191; D 158 – 33; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the amendment.

5. H.A. 1148 to H.R. 5672 United Nations Capital Master Plan [RC# 109-342, W = 2] Stearns, R-FL

The Stearns Amendment sought to prohibit funds from being used on any construction, renovation, or rental of the U.N. headquarters in NYC.

The amendment was rejected 131-288 (R 126 – 98; D 5 – 190; I NV). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

6. H.Res. 723 Darfur Resolution [RC# 109-481, W = 2] Lantos, D-CA

The Lantos resolution called on the U.N. to provide a robust peacekeeping mission in Darfur as soon as possible. It urged the president to help deploy a NATO bridging force to protect civilians until a U.N. force can be fully deployed. The resolution also supported full funding for the U.N. peacekeeping force in Sudan and urged the president to work through diplomatic channels to obtain the support of the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and United States allies in the Arab League to secure the compliance of the Government of Sudan with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706.

The resolution passed 412-7 (R 221 – 5; D 190 – 2; I 1 – 0). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the resolution.

7. S. 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006/Treatment of Detainees [RC# 109-508, W = 2] McConnell, R-KY

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to codify and establish procedures governing the use of commissions to try enemy combatants, authorizes the president to establish such commissions and removes habeas corpus rights from detainees classified as enemy combatants. The Supreme Court’s decision in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld previously ruled that the military commissions established by the Administration to try detainees violated the Geneva Conventions and military law. This legislation circumvents the Court’s ruling.

The bill passed 250-170 (R 218 – 7; D 32 – 162; I 0 – 1). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the bill.

110th Congress – 1st Session 2007
Note: RC = Roll Call; W = Voting Weight; H.A. = House Amendment; H.R. = House Bill; H.Res. = House Resolution

8. H.R. 2764 Fiscal 2008 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations/Contributions to International Organizations [RC# 110-531, W = 3] Foxx, R-NC

The Foxx amendment would reduce funding for contributions to international organizations by $203 million.

The amendment was rejected 137-287 (R 136 – 58; D 1 – 229). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted AGAINST the amendment.

9. H.Res. 6 Motion to Concur/Energy Policy [RC# 110-1140, W = 2] Dingell, D-MI

The Dingell motion requires new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, and requires 36 billion gallons of biofuels to be blended with gasoline by 2022. It would require electric utilities to produce at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 and direct the Energy Department to set new energy efficiency standards. It also includes a $21.5 billion package of tax incentives that would be offset in part by eliminating or reducing $13 billion in subsidies for major oil and gas companies.

The motion passed 235-181 (R 14 – 174; D 221 – 7). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR the motion.

10. H.R. 2082 Conference Report/Fiscal 2008 Intelligence Authorization [RC# 110-1160, W = 2]

Adoption of the conference report would prohibit the use of any interrogation treatment not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual against any individual in the custody of the intelligence community. The bill would authorize classified amounts for 17 U.S. intelligence activities and agencies, including the CIA, the Office of the National Intelligence Director and the National Security Agency. It increased investment in U.S. human intelligence activities, including training, infrastructure and global capabilities.

The conference report was adopted 222-199 (R 5 – 189; D 217 – 10). Citizens for Global Solutions’ supporters voted FOR this bill.