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By Kent Larsen
Politics: New Political Feature Introduced
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Today Mormon News introduces a new regular feature
that tracks the legislative activities of the 17 Mormons serving in the US
Congress. The weekly message looks at how these Mormon politicians vote on
major legislation, legislation most in the news, legislation introduced by
Mormons and legislation that is otherwise Mormon. It also tracks the
legislation that Mormon politicians have introduced.
The feature fills a hole in Mormon News' coverage of Mormons in politics,
giving readers a better idea of what Mormon politicians in the US are doing
and how that might relate to other Mormons. Like all of Mormon News'
features, we are always looking for ways to improve this feature. We are
already considering how we might cover Mormons in other legislatures, both
outside the US and in the various US state legislatures. To date, Mormon
News knows of two Mormon legislators outside of the US, in the United
Kingdom and in Brazil.
In the US House this past week, activity focused on three appropriations
bills, but while considering those bills, legislators looked at both the
issue of travel to Cuba and arsenic levels in drinking water. An amendment
by LDS congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) opening up travel by US citizens to
Cuba was approved by the US House, and the appropriations bill it was
attached to was also approved. But Mormon politicians voted against the
majority's approval of an effort to keep permissible levels of arsenic in
drinking water low.
Legislation proposed by Senator Reid (D-NV) requiring a study of the risks
of transporting hazardous chemicals and radioactive material was accepted by
the US senate 96-0 (all 5 Mormon Senators agreeing) while a majority of the
Mormons in the Senate voted for several attempts to make sure Mexican and
Canadian truckers are treated equally under the US implementation of NAFTA.
However, the Senate killed the efforts.
Recent Votes and Legislation by Mormons in the US Congress
Roll Call Votes
US House
| HR2506 | Appropriations bill (major) - Appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, etc. |
| Vote on bill | Passed 381-46 - Mormons follow majority 8-3 |
| Yea | Cannon, Doolittle, Istook, Matheson, McKeon, Simpson, Udall (CO), Udall (NM) |
| Nay | Flake, Hensen, Herger |
| HR2590 | Appropriations bill (major, Istook sponsor) - Treasury, USPS, Executive Office of President, etc. |
| Flake Amendment to HR2590 | (news, Flake sponsor) - Lift's travel restrictions on US citizens trying to visit Cuba |
| Vote on amendment | Passed 240-186 - Mormons follow majority 6-5 |
| Yea | Flake, Herger, Matheson, Simpson, Udall (CO), Udall (NM) |
| Nay | Cannon, Doolittle, Hansen, Istook, McKeon |
| Rangel Amendment to HR2590 | (news, related to Flake amendment) - Drop's economic embargo of Cuba |
| Vote on amendment | Failed 201-227 - Mormons against majority 6-5 |
| Yea | Flake, Herger, Matheson, Simpson, Udall (CO), Udall (NM) |
| Nay | Cannon, Doolittle, Hansen, Istook, McKeon |
| Vote on HR2590 | (news, related to Flake amendment) - Drop's economic embargo of Cuba |
| Vote on bill | Passed 334-94 - Mormons follow majority 7-4 |
| Yea | Cannon, Doolittle, Flake, Hansen, Istook, McKeon, Simpson |
| Nay | Herger, Matheson, Udall (CO), Udall (NM) |
| HR2620 | Appropriations bill (major) - Veteran's Affairs, HUD, etc. |
| Bonoir amendment to HR2620 | (news) - Arsenic levels in drinking water - would keep federal limits low. |
| Vote on amendment | Passed 218-189 - Mormons against majority 3-7 |
| Yea | Matheson, Udall (CO), Udall (NM) |
| Nay | Cannon, Doolittle, Flake, Herger, Istook, McKeon, Simpson |
| Not Voting | Hansen |
US Senate
| HR2299 | Appropriations bill (major) - Department of Transportation |
| Reid amendment to HR2299 | (Reid sponsor) - Requires a study of the risks of transporting hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. |
| Vote on amendment | Passed 96-0 - Mormons follow majority 5-0 |
| Yea | Bennett, Crapo, Hatch, Reid, Smith |
| Nay | (none) |
| Gramm amendment to HR2299 | (news) - Treats Mexican and Canadian truckers equally under NAFTA |
| Vote to table amendment | Passed 65-35 - Mormons against majority 2-3 |
| Yea | Reid, Smith |
| Nay | Bennett, Crapo, Hatch |
| Gramm amendment to HR2299 | (news) - Prevents US violations of commitments under NAFTA |
| Vote to table amendment | Passed 65-35 - Mormons against majority 2-3 |
| Yea | Reid, Smith |
| Nay | Bennett, Crapo, Hatch |
| McCain amendment to HR2299 | (news) - Treats Mexican and Canadian truckers equally under NAFTA |
| Vote to table amendment | Passed 57-34 - Mormons against majority 2-3 |
| Yea | Reid, Smith |
| Nay | Bennett, Crapo, Hatch |
Status of Legislation by Mormons
US House
| Chris Cannon (R-UT) | | |
| | HR1772 | Exchange of property between Ephraim Utah and the US Government |
| | Hearing Held | Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health |
| John Doolittle (R-CA) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
| Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
| Jeff Flake (R-AZ) | | |
| | HAmend241 to HR2590 | Lift's travel restrictions on US citizens trying to visit Cuba |
| | Submitted and passed by | House 240-186 (Mormons 6-5) |
| Jim Hansen (R-UT) | | |
| | HCongRes196 | Recommends that Hunting seasons be changed so everyone has equitable chance to hunt. |
| | Referred to | Subcommittee on Fisheries, Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans |
| | HR451 | Adjust boundaries of Mount Nebo (UT) Wilderness Area |
| | Passed | House on voice vote |
| | Sent to | Senate |
| | Referred to | Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |
| | HR2385 | Preserves rare paleontological resources by giving land to city of St. George, Utah |
| | Hearings held | House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands |
| | HR 2436 | Provide for secure energy supplies for the US. |
| | Reported from | Committee |
| | placed on | House calendar |
| | HR 2488 | Designate land in Pilot Range of Utah as wilderness |
| | Hearings held | House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands |
| Wally Herger (R-CA) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
| Ernest Istook (R-OK) | | |
| | HR2590 | Appropriations bill - Treasury, USPS, Executive Office of the President &etc. |
| | Passed by | House |
| | Sent to | Senate |
| | Referred to | Senate Appropriations Committee |
| Jim Matheson (D-UT) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
| Buck McKeon (R-CA) | | |
| | HR2638 | Repeals pension offset and windfall elimination provisions of title II of the Social Security Act |
| | Introduced with | 28 co-sponsors |
| | Referred to | House Ways and Means Committee |
| Mike Simpson (R-ID) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
| Mark Udall (D-CO) (MH) | | |
| | HR1576 | Designates James Peak Wilderness and Protection Area (CO) |
| | Hearing held | House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health |
| | HR2584 | Allows Colorado to use land held in trust as open space |
| | Referred to | House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands |
| Tom Udall (D-NM) | | |
| | | (none this week) |
US Senate
| Bob Bennett (R-UT) | | |
| | S1240 | Purchase land and build visitor's center at American Fork Canyon (UT) |
| | Introduced | |
| | Referred to | Committee on the Judiciary |
| | SAmdt1052 to HR2299 | Technical amendment |
| | Submitted | |
| Mike Crapo (R-ID) | | |
| | S1267 | Extend and Improve Department of Agriculture conservation programs |
| | Introduced | |
| | Referred to | Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry |
| | SAmdt1070 to HR2299 | Technical amendment |
| | Submitted | |
| Orrin Hatch (R-UT) | | |
| | S1234 | Defines sex crimes against children as "predicate crimes" |
| | Introduced | |
| | Referred to | Senate Committee on the Judiciary |
| | S1235 | Technical amendments to Title 18 of the US Code; criminal procedure |
| | Introduced | |
| | Referred to | Senate Committee on the Judiciary |
| Harry Reid (D-NV) | | |
| | S1257 | Requires Interior Department to identify sites and resources to commemorate and interpret the Cold War |
| | Introduced | |
| | Referred to | Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |
| | SAmdt1037 to HR2299 | Requires a study of the risks of transporting hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. |
| | Passed | Senate 96-0 (Mormons 5-0) |
| Gordon Smith (R-OR) | | |
| | S266 | On use of trust land and resources of an Oregon Indian tribe |
| | Hearings held | Senate Committee on Indian Affairs |
| | S1099 | Increases criminal penalties for assaulting or threatening Federal
judges or their families |
| | Reported from | Committee on the Judiciary favorably |
| | Placed on | Senate calendar |
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