WASHINGTON — Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

House votes

House vote 1

House disapproval of behavior of Rep. Joe Wilson: The House passed a measure to express strong disapproval for the actions of Rep. Joe Wilson, R-N.C., that the House felt violated the decorum and rules when he interrupted President Barack Obama's address to a Joint Session of Congress on Sept. 9. Proponents said they were taking this action because the leadership had given Wilson an opportunity to apologize to the House in open session for his actions and he chose not to do so, instead opting only to make a private comment back to President Obama through the White House Chief of Staff. Opponents were concerned that the measure was only designed to further embarrass Wilson and the Republicans who stood in opposition to Obama's policies but that the House had many more important matters to debate on the floor and that it was unnecessary to take the time to require Rep. Wilson to apologize again, as he had already apologized to the President and the President graciously accepted his apology. The vote, on Sept. 15, was 240 yeas to 179 yeas.

Yeas: Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. (1st); Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. (3rd)

Nays: Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M. (2nd)

House vote 2

Health benefits for postal retirees: The House has approved the United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act (H.R. 22), sponsored by Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., to authorize the U.S. Postal Service to use its health benefits funds to pay contributions to health care plans for retirees. Proponents called the measure "an important solution to alleviate the pressure before the agency risks running out of money at the end of this month" because of having to prepay future health benefit costs. The vote, on Sept. 15, was 388 yeas to 32 nays.

Yeas: Heinrich, Luján, Teague

House vote 3

Reduction of infant mortality: The House passed a resolution, introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to express support for efforts to reduce infant mortality. Proponents said that it was vital that to seek ways to reduce infant mortality as part of any comprehensive health care reform effort, especially since the U.S. ranks 29th in the world for the incidence of infant mortality. The vote, on Sept 16, was unanimous with 415 yeas.

Yeas: Heinrich, Luján, Teague

House vote 4

Spending limits on vehicle technology R&D: The House rejected an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, that would have frozen new spending for the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act at fiscal 2010 levels through fiscal 2013, and would have ended funding in fiscal 2014. Proponents said that marked increases in federal spending on vehicle and energy technology, economic stimulus and other initiatives this year were already spurring new R&D and that a modest reduction in new spending would have shown fiscal restraint while still spurring R&D. Opponents said that solid bipartisan support for the spending levels in the Act, based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, indicated that the spending levels in the Act were appropriate. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 179 ayes to 253 nays.

Yeas: Teague

Nays: Heinrich, Luján

House vote 5

Recreational vehicle energy research: The House passed an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., to the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act (H.R. 3246) that clarified that the federal research and development program created by the legislation would include research on improving the technical efficiency of RVs. Proponents said that the economic downturn made it difficult for the RV industry to fund such research, but that continuing to improve fuel-efficiency was vital to preserve the domestic RV manufacturing industry in the future. Opponents said that since taxpayer dollars should be used only on the highest priority energy-saving research, that it would not be appropriate to finance research and development for recreational vehicles. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 369 ayes to 62 noes.

Yeas: Luján, Teague

Nays: Heinrich

House vote 6

Aid for existing efficient vehicle technologies: The House passed an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., to the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act (H.R. 3246) to clarify that research and development funding under the Act could go to public-private entities to assist in the commercial application of existing technologies or those developed in future public-private partnerships. Proponents said that it was important to clarify that the R&D made under the legislation could go to public-private partnerships that are already established, as well as to future partnerships for the commercial application of energy-efficient vehicle technologies. Opponents said they were concerned about the lack of specificity in the amendment and that it could potentially be used to benefit a specific manufacturer. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 416 ayes to 14 nays.

Yeas: Heinrich, Luján, Teague

House Vote 7

R&D of energy-efficient vehicle technologies: The House passed the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act (H.R. 3246) sponsored by Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., to authorize the Energy Secretary to set up a program to research, develop and set up demonstration programs for the commercial application of energy-efficient vehicle technologies. Proponents of the measure said "this legislation will build upon the current research efforts of the Department of Energy and the private sector by providing an increased Federal investment in passenger and heavy duty vehicle research and development." Opponents said that at a time of record federal deficits, and when new federal funding under the energy and stimulus packages enacted earlier this year was already financing similar kinds of R&D, this was not the time to obligate new expenditures. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 312 yeas to 114 nays.

Yeas: Heinrich, Luján

Nays: Teague

House vote 8

Student financial aid: The House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221), sponsored by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., to provide further government-based funding for grants and loans for secondary education, as well as for early childhood education programs. Proponents said the legislation would "increase affordability, accessibility, and college completion rates, particularly for first-generation college, low-income, minority and middle class students [by investing] $40 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010, and by 2019 increase it to $6,900" and that it would provide low-income and middle class families with reliable, affordable, high-quality direct Federal student loans. Opponents said the legislation would "completely and permanently eliminate the private sector's role in originating and raising capital for Federal student loans [in favor of] a one-size-fits-all Federal loan model that requires the U.S. Treasury to directly lend tens of billions of dollars each year," from money that isn't available. The vote, on Sept. 17, was 253 yeas to 171 nays.

Yeas: Heinrich, Luján, Teague

Senate votes

Senate vote 1

ACORN barred from funds: The Senate passed an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Act (H.R. 3288) that would stop new taxpayer funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Proponents of the amendment said that ACORN is under federal investigation for misusing federal funding in several pending actions and has a long record of past transgressions, and that it should not receive any further funding until all federal investigations are concluded. The vote, on Sept. 14, was 83 yeas to 7 nays.

Yeas: Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

Senate vote 2

Rejecting Transportation, HUD appropriations: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288) that would have taken $1.7 billion of earmarked spending to instead fund the NextGen program for modernizing air traffic control systems. Proponents said replacing wasteful spending with an investment in NextGen would "enable more flights to occupy the same airspace," improving on-time performance while tripling capacity. Opponents said providing the NextGen funding too quickly would not "ensure the responsible use of the federal dollars". The vote to table the amendment, on Sept. 15, was 68 yeas to 26 nays.

Yeas: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 3

Lower-priority spending under roads bill: The Senate rejected an amendment, sponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and John McCain, R-Ariz., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288) that would have barred funding of transportation museums and similar projects under the bill. Proponents said funds "should be prioritized to build roads, bridges, and highways." Opponents said the museums would provide "a great payoff for a lot of kids" by inspiring them to pursue scientific careers. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 41 yeas to 57 nays.

Nays: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 4

Allowing firearms on Amtrak trains: The Senate approved an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288) to allow Amtrak passengers to transport firearms in their checked baggage. Proponents said they hoped the vote will result in Amtrak ending the practice of forbidding checked firearms and that they will follow other transportation carriers in permitting checked firearms. Opponents said "this amendment is going to put a severe burden on" Amtrak by forcing it to establish a system for processing firearms to maintain its federal funding. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 68 yeas to 30 nays.

Yeas: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 5

Economic stimulus funds for signage: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288) that would have barred the use of economic stimulus funds to build signs telling the public that the project was funded by the stimulus package. Proponents said the signs were "a total waste of money" and that they only served to pat lawmakers on the back for funding projects. Opponents said the signs would better inform people about how a project was funded. The vote, on Sept. 16, was 45 yeas to 52 nays.

Nays: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 6

New Orleans public housing: The Senate rejected an amendment, sponsored by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288) to prohibit federal fiscal 2010 housing funds from going to public housing tenants who are convicted of drug, domestic violence or gang offenses. Proponents said the amendment would exclude convicted drug dealers, domestic violence offenders and gang members from New Orleans public housing at a time when the federal government is spending huge sums to rebuild housing lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Opponents said the amendment was unnecessary since public housing officials already have the authority to exclude these offenders or gang members, and they also opposed setting the precedent of Congress enacting provisions which apply to only one city, in lieu of national provisions. The vote, on Sept. 17, was 34 yeas to 62 nays.

Nays: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 7

Funds for Transportation, Housing, Urban Development: The Senate passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288), sponsored by Rep. John Olver, D-Mass., that set appropriations levels for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Departments for fiscal 2010. The bill includes $75 billion for the Transportation Department to support investments in transportation infrastructure, $11 billion to support and expand public transit, $1.1 billion to continue surface grants programs, $3.5 billion in capital improvements at all U.S. airports, $50 million for new programs in railroad safety technology, $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, $46 billion for HUD including $100 million for HUD's housing counseling program, $18 billion for tenant-based rental assistance or section 8, including an increase of over $1 billion for the renewal of section 8 vouchers and increased funding for the operation of public housing. Proponents said the bipartisan bill "addresses the very real housing and transportation needs of American families across all regions of the Nation". The vote, on Sept. 17, was 73 yeas to 25 nays.

Yeas: Bingaman, Udall

Senate vote 8

Funds for association of community organizations for reform: The Senate passed an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2996), which would bar ACORN from receiving any federal funds for interior or environmental programs. Proponents said that federal funds should not go to ACORN because of "allegations of illegal activity." Opponents said that ACORN would not receive any funds under the legislation, so that the amendment was unnecessary. The vote was 85 yeas to 11 nays.

Yeas: Udall

Nays: Bingaman