THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408070027
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Here's how area members of Congress were recorded on major roll call votes in the week ending Aug. 5.
HOUSE
CARGO SHIP SUBSIDIES: By a vote of 294-122, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 4003) spending $1.3 billion over 10 years to subsidize companies that build and operate cargo ships under the American flag. The money would be raised by increasing tonnage fees on commercial vessels entering U.S. ports. Among other outlays, the bill authorizes $399 million in fiscal year 1995 for the Maritime Administration, up six percent over the agency's 1994 budget.
Supporters said that in addition to creating jobs, the bill bolsters national security by establishing a strong merchant fleet for use in wartime. Opponents included port authorities, exporters, importers and cruise ship operators. Other critics noted the Pentagon can easily lease foreign-flag vessels for military transport, as it did in the gulf war.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Herbert H. Bateman, R-Va. Yes
Owen B. Pickett, D-Va. Yes
Robert C. Scott, D-Va. Yes
Norman Sisisky, D-Va. Yes
Eva Clayton, D-N.C. Yes
H. Martin Lancaster, D-N.C. Yes
COMMUNITY BANKING: By a vote of 410-12, the House passed a bill (HR 3474) providing $382 million in capital through fiscal year 1998 to banks doing business in poor communities, making credit available for economic development. A new government corporation would run the program. The bill also authorizes $50 million for state-sponsored small business lending programs and grants regulatory relief to smaller banks.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes
Pickett Yes
Scott Yes
Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes
Lancaster Yes
SENATE
SPACE STATION: By a vote of 36-64, the Senate refused to kill the space station Alpha by removing its funding from NASA's fiscal year 1995 budget (HR 4624). The vote preserved $2.1 billion for continued development of the manned research facility, which is slated to go in orbit early next decade as a joint venture with Russia. About $12 billion has been appropriated to date toward an estimated $28 billion total project cost.
A yes vote was to kill the space station.
John W. Warner, R-Va. Yes
Charles S. Robb, D-Va. No
Jesse A. Helms, R-N.C. No
Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C. No
VETERANS HOSPITALS: The Senate approved, 62-36, spending $428 million next fiscal year to expand veterans hospitals at Memphis, Honolulu and Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento. This kept money for the projects in the Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal year 1995 budget (HR 4624). It killed an amendment to transfer the money to veterans' outpatient treatment.
A yes vote was to fund the veterans' hospital construction.
Warner No
Robb Yes
Helms No
Faircloth No
FUEL ADDITIVE: By a vote of 51-50, the Senate affirmed the Environmental Protection Agency's selection of corn-based ethanol as a new ingredient in gasoline for cities with the dirtiest air. The vote occurred during debate on HR 4624. It killed an amendment backed by the oil industry, which wants methanol as the additive in reformulated gasoline required by the Clean Air Act. Methanol is derived from natural gas. Vice President Gore cast the tie-breaking vote in this dispute between the oil and farm lobbies.
A yes vote affirmed the EPA's choice of corn-based ethanol as a fuel additive.
Warner No
Robb No
Helms Yes
Faircloth No
LIFESTYLE ISSUE: The Senate voted 63-36 to deny elementary and secondary education aid to schools whose curriculums have ``the purpose or effect of encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative.'' The vote occurred as the Senate sent to conference with the House a bill (S 1513) reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act at a fiscal year 1995 cost of $12.5 billion. The House version contains no comparable language.
A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.
Warner Yes
Robb No
Helms Yes
Faircloth Yes
Copyright 1994, Thomas Reports, Inc. by CNB