Colorado’s congressional votes July 19-25, 2024

Here’s how Colorado’s members of Congress voted last week.

In addition to roll-call votes this week, the House also passed the following measures: The Royalties Resilience Act (H.R. 7377) to improve the management of royalties from oil and gas leases; the Financial Technology Protection Act (H.R. 2969) to establish an independent financial technology working group to combat terrorism and illicit finance; the HUD Transparency Act (H.R. 7280) to require the inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to testify annually before Congress; the All-American Flag Act (S. 1973) to require the federal government to purchase domestically produced American flags; and the Billion-Dollar Waste Act (S. 1258) to require the director of the Office of Management and Budget to report annually to Congress on projects that are over budget and behind schedule.

The Senate also passed the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (S. 3696) to expand redress rights for individuals harmed by unwanted activity involving intimate digital forgeries; and the Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act (H.R. 1076) to require the U.S. Comptroller General to conduct a study of the synthetic drug trade.

Votes in the House

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL TECHNICAL STANDARDS: The House rejected the Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act (HR 1631), sponsored by Darrell Issa, a California Republican. The bill would establish that technical standards developed by a private group or company and incorporated into legal codes, such as automotive codes, retain copyright protection. Issa said it “strikes the balance that for over 100 years has allowed people to have access to the relevant materials necessary to understand complex building codes, fire codes, automotive standards and the like.” Opponent Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, said it “threatens public access to the law and undermines due process by hiding important legal standards behind restrictive barriers” that use copyright law to limit access to the standards. The July 22 vote was 248 in favor to 127 opposed, with approval requiring a two-thirds majority.

YES: DeGette D-CO (1st), Neguse D-CO (2nd), Pettersen D-CO (7th), Caraveo D-CO (8th)

NOT VOTING: Lamborn R-CO (5th), Crow D-CO (6th)

NO: Boebert R-CO (3.)

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: The House passed the Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 8812), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., to authorize and make various changes to the construction and management of water infrastructure in the Army Corps of Engineers. Graves said the bill “implements policy and program reforms to streamline processes, reduce burdensome bureaucracy and significantly speed project execution.” The July 22 vote was 359 in favor to 13 in opposition.

YES: DeGette, Boebert, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

NOT VOTING: Lamborn, Crow

CRIME RESTITUTATION: The House passed the Victims’ Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act (S. 3706), sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The bill would add several types of expenses to the list of costs a court can order a convicted felon to pay restitution to a victim or someone who has taken over the victim’s rights. A proponent, Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, said that without the bill, “parents who lovingly cared for their child who was the victim of a crime may not receive compensation for taking time off work to help their child heal. Family members whose loved ones did not survive a brutal attack may not receive compensation.” The July 23 vote was 408 in favor to 2 in opposition.

YES: DeGette D-CO (1st), Lamborn R-CO (5th), Boebert R-CO (3rd), Neguse D-CO (2nd), Pettersen D-CO (7th)

NOT VOTING: Crow, Caraveo

CLIMATE CORPS: The House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (HR 8997) that would block funding for the American Climate Corps. Ogles said, “We need to stop pushing the Democratic progressive agenda that is taking us away from what is part of our national security, which is fossil fuels.” Opponent Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said the Corps “will give a new generation of Americans the skills they need to access good-paying jobs.” The July 23 vote was 199 in favor to 197 opposed.

NAYS: DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

YES: Lamborghini

NOT VOTING: Boebert, Crow

NETWORK TRANSFORMERS: The House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 8997) that would shift $10 million from renewable energy programs to programs to improve the security of electrical transformers against physical and cyberattacks. Van Drew cited the increase in attacks on transformers in recent years and said, “it is long past time for our federal government to get involved, ensuring that these critical pieces of infrastructure are secured against all types of threats.” The amendment’s opponent, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said, “I cannot support the source of the amendment’s funding, the energy and efficiency and renewable energy accounts, which have already been cut by 43 percent” in the primary bill. The vote July 23 was 214 in favor to 203 in opposition.

NAYS: DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen

YES: Lamborn, Boebert, Caraveo

I DON’T VOTE: Crow

WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS: The House rejected the Allowing Contractors to Choose Employees for Select Skills Act (H.R. 7887), sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-C. The bill would have prevented federal agencies from including minimum requirements for work experience or educational qualifications in contractor contracts unless the requirements have a specific justification. Mace said, “The federal government cannot afford to erect unnecessary barriers that prevent people with the necessary technical skills and desire from doing the work simply because they do not have a traditional degree.” The vote on July 23 was 178 in favor to 234 opposed.

NAYS: DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

YES: Lamborn, Boebert

I DON’T VOTE: Crow

DEI OFFICES: The House approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (HR 8998) that would prohibit funding for any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures. Brecheen said, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are antithetical to merit. They are designed to exclude people from opportunities they might otherwise receive on merit.” Opposing Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said that “a diverse and inclusive workplace culture is critical to outcomes.” The July 24 vote was 211 in favor to 202 opposed.

NAYS: DeGette, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

YES: Lamborn, Boebert

TRUMP ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 1367), sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., to establish a House committee to investigate the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Kelly said the committee would seek to “carefully examine the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination and ensure that the failures that occurred that day never happen again.” The vote on July 24 was unanimous, 416 in favor.

YES: DeGette, Lamborn, Boebert, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EXPENDITURE: The House approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 8998) that would prohibit funding for environmental justice activities. Perry said, “Environmental justice is nothing more than a synthesis of divisive racial ideology and radical environmentalism in the same package.” The amendment’s opponent, Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said, “Environmental justice ensures that all Americans receive the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards.” The July 24 vote was 210 in favor to 204 opposed.

NAYS: DeGette, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

YES: Lamborn, Boebert

2025 INTERIOR SPENDING, EPA: The House passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 8998), sponsored by Rep. Michael K. Simpson, Republican of Idaho. The bill would provide $38.4 billion in funding for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal environmental, natural resources, and cultural agencies. Simpson said, “This bill permanently establishes wildland firefighter pay, helps us wisely manage our public lands, upholds our commitments to Indian Country, and restores the fiscal responsibility needed to get our country back on track.” Opponent Rep. Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine, said it “undermines America’s ability to address the climate crisis and limits agencies within its jurisdiction.” The July 24 vote was 210 in favor to 205 against.

NAYS: DeGette, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen, Caraveo

YES: Lamborn, Boebert

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND BORDER SECURITY: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 1371), sponsored by Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R.N.Y., to censure the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris as its border czar for failing to secure the border with Mexico. The vote on July 25 was 220 in favor to 196 in favor.

NAYS: DeGette, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen

YES: Lamborn, Boebert, Caraveo

Senate votes

LABOR RELATIONS IN GOVERNMENT: The Senate has confirmed Colleen Duffy Kiko to the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a five-year term ending in mid-2027. Kiko, a member of the agency since late 2017, including three years as its chairman, has also served as its chief legal officer and staff attorney in various federal roles. The July 23 vote was 82 in favor to 6 in opposition.

YES: Bennet D-CO, Hickenlooper D-CO

TAX COURT JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Kashi Way to serve as a judge on the U.S. Tax Court for a 15-year term. Way has served as a law clerk on the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation since 2005; he was a clerk on the Tax Court and a private practice attorney before joining the tax committee. The July 25 vote was 79 to 16.

YES: Bennet, Hickenlooper