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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 20, 2003

Washington Week

Advertiser Staff

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WASHINGTON — Here are some actions in Congress last week.

Key House votes

1. Agriculture spending

On Monday, the House passed, 347-64, a bill to pay for programs at the Agriculture Department and related agencies for fiscal year 2004. A "yea" vote was to pass the bill.

Hawai'i votes: Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA; Ed Case (D) YEA



2. Meat labeling

On Monday, the House voted 208-193 to block the Agriculture Department from paying for a country of origin meat labeling program, effectively killing it. A "yea" vote was to allow funding for meat labeling.

Hawai'i votes: Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA; Ed Case (D) NAY



3. Family planning funds

On Tuesday, the House adopted, 216-211, an amendment to strip funding from the United Nations Population Fund because of China's family planning policy. A "yea" vote was to strip the funding.

Hawai'i votes: Neil Abercrombie (D) NAY; Ed Case (D) NAY



4. State department programs

On Wednesday, the House passed, 382-42, a bill to authorize spending for programs at the State Department for fiscal years 2004-2005. A "yea" vote was to pass the bill.

Hawai'i votes: Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA; Ed Case (D) YEA



5. National forests

By a vote of 234-185, the House on Thursday rejected an effort to block a White House proposal to allow some development in 58 million acres of protected national forests. The amendment would have prevented the Bush administration from letting governors request exemptions from the so-called roadless rule. A "yea" vote was to approve the amendment and block the White House plan.

Hawai'i votes: Neil Abercrombie (D) NAY; Ed Case (D) YEA



Key Senate votes

1. National Guard deployments

On Tuesday, the Senate rejected, 64-31, an amendment to the defense appropriations bill that would have limited overseas deployment of National Guard and Reserve forces to six months, once a year. A "yea" vote was to reject the amendment.

Hawai'i votes: Daniel Akaka (D) YEA; Dan Inouye (D) YEA



2. Iraq reconstruction

On Wednesday, the Senate killed, 52-43, an amendment to the defense appropriations bill that would have required the government to report on a strategy for Iraq reconstruction.

Hawai'i votes: Daniel Akaka (D) NAY; Dan Inouye (D) YEA