How Texans Voted s3

April 21, 2013

Summary of how Cornyn, Cruz and Poe voted last week:

Senate

Expanded Gun Checks: Failed; 54-46 to reach 60 votes for passing an amendment by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would require background checks on most commercial gun sales. The measure sought to expand the existing system, which exempts an estimated 40 percent of sales — including Internet sales and transactions between private parties at gun shows — from mandatory background checks. The amendment, which specifically prohibited the establishment of a national registry of gun owners, was offered to a gun-safety bill (S 649) that sponsors have put on hold. A yes vote backed the amendment. Cornyn No, Cruz No

Concealed-Carry Laws: Failed, 57-43, to reach 60 votes needed to advance an amendment making it easier for individuals to carry concealed, loaded handguns while traveling in other states. The measure sought to impose what would effectively be a national standard on the existing patchwork of state laws on concealed handguns. It did so by enabling the concealed carry law of the individual’s home state to pre-empt any stricter laws he or she encounters in other states. A yes vote backed the amendment. Cornyn Yes, Cruz Yes

Assault-Weapons Ban: Turned back, 40-60, an amendment to S 649 (above) to outlaw the future manufacture, sale, possession and importation of 157 specific semi-automatic assault weapons identified by make and model. At the same time, the amendment identified and protected as legal 2,258 specific firearms used for hunting or sporting purposes. A yes vote backed an assault-weapons ban. Cornyn No, Cruz No

Republican Gun Bill: Failed, 52-48, to reach 60 votes for advancing a Republican alternative to S 649 (above). This plan would allocate more resources for addressing school safety and treating mental-health; create a Department of Justice task force for prosecuting those who falsify information on criminal background checks; require the department to step up prosecutions of gun crimes; bolster the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and authorize a study on the causes of mass shootings by the National Institute of Justice and National Academy of Sciences. A yes vote backed the GOP plan. Cornyn Yes, Cruz Yes

Limits on Magazine Sizes: Turned back, 46-54, an amendment to S 649 (above) outlawing the sale and manufacture of ammunition clips holding more than ten bullets. This would reinstate limits on high-capacity magazines that expired in 2004 when Congress failed to renew an assault-weapons ban. A yes vote backed the amendment. Cornyn No, Cruz No Veterans’ Background Checks: Failed, 56-44, to reach 60 votes for advancing an amendment to S 649 (above) setting up a special appeals process in the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who fail gun-purchase background checks because they have been adjudicated mentally ill. No senator spoke against the amendment. Cornyn Yes, Cruz Yes

Cybersecurity, Civil Liberties: Passed, 288-127, a bill (HR 624) to expand data-sharing between private businesses and federal security agencies in order to bolster U.S. defenses against cyberattacks by terrorists, foreign governments and others. In part, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act eases privacy and antitrust laws to enable telecoms and Internet service providers to share customer information such as emails and cloud-stored files with federal authorities. While the bill’s purpose is to protect computer systems against crippling shutdowns and information thievery, it was criticized as an infringement on privacy rights and other civil liberties. The bill grants immunity from prosecution to companies that share customer data with the government. A yes vote was to pass the bill. Poe Yes

Password Privacy: Defeated, 189-224, a bid to protect the privacy of social networking passwords as part of HR 624 (above). The Democratic measure sought to prohibit employers from requiring employees to divulge their personal passwords to sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as a condition of their employment. A yes vote backed the motion. Poe No

Active Legislation 113th Congress (2013-2014) Updated April 15th, 2013

Reference: The Library of Congress Thomas Details of bills can be found at: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/acti ve_leg_page.htm

Categories Appropriations Agency Authorizations Public Laws, 113th Congress (selected) Popular Documents Program Authorizations Currently Active Bills that may receive floor action this week. Senate chamber Background checks for firearm sales S.374, S.Amdt.715* to S.649 H.R.21, H.R.137 (SEE: Gun legislation) Gun legislation S.649 House chamber H.R.624, H.R.756, H.R.967, H.R.1163 Cybersecurity

Popular Titles and Subjects A — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Assault weapons S.150 H.R.437 B — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page S.374, Background checks for firearm sales S.Amdt.715* to H.R.21, H.R.137 (SEE: Gun legislation) S.649 H.J.Res.1, H.J.Res.2, H.J.Res.4, H.J.Res.5, S.J.Res.1, S.J.Res.6, Balanced budget amendment H.J.Res.6, H.J.Res.10, H.J.Res.11, S.J.Res.7 H.J.Res.17, H.J.Res.18 C — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Campaign finance, disclosure requirements H.R.148 Cybersecurity H.R.624, H.R.756, H.R.967, H.R.1163 D — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Debt limit, suspend until May 19, 2013 H.R.325 P.L.113-3 G — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Gun legislation S.649 H — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Hurricane Sandy, increase Flood Insurance H.R.41 P.L.113-1 borrowing authority M — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Minimum wage, increase the Federal minimum S.460 H.R.1010 wage P — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Pay freeze for Federal and Congressional employees, extend through December 31, H.R.273 2013 Pay of Members of Congress, eliminate S.65 H.R.134, H.R.196 automatic adjustment Pay of Members of Congress, hold in escrow if H.R.325 P.L.113-3 budget resolution not adopted by April 15, 2013 S — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Sequester, replace S.388, S.16 Senate rules, changes related to bipartisan S.Res.16 cloture motions and conference motions Senate rules, changes related to motions to S.Res.15 proceed, amendments and nominations Senate rules, cloture invoked with less than a S.Res.5 three-fifths majority Stolen Valor S.210 H.R.258 Straw purchases of firearms S.54 H.R.404 (SEE: Gun legislation) T — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page TANF, extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program through December Sec. 3, H.R.890 31, 2013 W — Active Legislation Key Return to top of page Welfare waivers, prohibit HHS from granting a waiver relating to compliance with the work Sec. 2, H.R.890 requirements

Sources: Library of Congress, Houston Chronicle