How Hawai'i's members of Congress voted on key legislation last week.

KEY HOUSE VOTES

1. Offshore drilling

The House voted 236-189 Tuesday to loosen regulations on drilling off the U.S. coast. The bill would federal drilling 100 miles from shore with states having the option to open waters for drilling 50 miles offshore. Incentives for renewable energy and advanced energy technologies are included. The proposal now goes to the Senate, which is expected to make changes. President Bush has said the bill doesn't go far enough to encourage drilling.

HAWAI'I VOTES:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA

Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

2. National Capital Security and Safety Act

The House voted 266-152 Wednesday to repeal the District of Columbia's ban on semiautomatic weapons and drop criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is not expected to vote on it this year. The Supreme Court in June ruled that D.C.'s handgun ban is unconstitutional.

HAWAI'I VOTES:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA

Mazie K. Hirono (D) NAY

3. Oil and gas futures market regulation

The House voted 283-133 Thursday in favor of more regulation of oil and gas futures trading. The bill would increase the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's staff and authority and provide more oversight of electronic trading. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it could be worked into other energy legislation. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, saying there's no evidence market speculators help increase the price of oil.

HAWAI'I VOTES:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA

Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

KEY SENATE VOTES

1.2009 defense authorization

The Senate voted 88-8 Wednesday for a $612.5 billion defense authorization bill that includes a 3.9 percent pay raise for military personnel. A separate bill is needed to appropriate the money. The Senate bill must be reconciled with a House bill passed in May.

Hawai'i Votes:

Daniel Akaka (D) YEA

Daniel K. Inouye (D) YEA