N.M. congressional delegation voting

| New Mexican wire services

5/9/2008 - 5/10/08

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

House votes

Support for National Teacher Day: The House on May 5 passed a resolution (H.Res. 952) sponsored by Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., to express the House's desire to establish a National Teacher Day to recognize teachers for their efforts in education. The House also resolved to request a presidential proclamation about teachers and their service. The vote was unanimous at 368 yeas and 0 nays.

Yeas: Rep. Tom Udall D-N.M. (3rd); Rep. Heather Wilson R-N.M. (1st); Rep. Steve Pearce R-N.M. (2nd);

Recognizing the achievements of charter schools: The House on May 6 agreed to a resolution (H.Res. 1168) sponsored by Rep. Charles Boustany, R.-La., congratulating charter schools for contributing to the strength of the U.S. education system. The resolution noted that charter schools are authorized in 40 of the 50 states and were particularly focused on serving low-income and minority students. There were no speakers in support or opposition. The vote, which required a two-thirds majority, was 391 yeas to 2 nays.

Yeas: Pearce; Wilson

Not voting: Udall

Amendment to Neighborhood Stabilization Act rejected: The House on May 8 rejected an amendment to the Neighborhood Stabilization Act (H.R. 5818), sponsored by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, that would have stricken all references to the provision of grants to states but would have left the underlying loan program intact. Proponents said the bill without the amendment bailed out lenders without making a distinction between simply misguided lenders and predatory ones. Opponents said the amendment removed stimulus packages from local communities. The vote was 190 yeas to 219 nays.

Yeas: Pearce; Wilson

Nays: Udall

Amendment to Neighborhood Stabilization Act approved: The House on May 8 accepted an amendment to the Neighborhood Stabilization Act (H.R. 5818), sponsored by Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., that would prohibit illegal immigrants from being eligible for financial assistance. Proponents said such assistance should be available only to law-abiding, tax-paying citizens. The vote was 391 yeas to 33 nays.

Yeas: Pearce; Udall; Wilson

HUD to make loans to states to acquire foreclosed homes: The House on May 8 passed the Neighborhood Stabilization Act (H.R. 5818), sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., which would allow the Housing and Urban Development Department to give loans and grants to states to cover costs related to the acquisition of foreclosed homes. Proponents said the bill would help a sagging economy begin to recover as housing was stabilized and communities were rebuilt with more affordable housing. Opponents called the rule "oppressive" and said it would strip rights from minorities. The vote was 239 yeas to 188 nays.

Yeas: Udall

Nays: Pearce; Wilson

Senate votes

Combining wind and flood insurance: The Senate on May 7 rejected an amendment to the National Flood Insurance Reauthorization Program, a bill (S. 2284) that would have expanded a federal flood insurance program to allow homeowners to include wind and flood damage from storms in a single insurance policy. Supporters said the amendment would enhance coverage by spreading insurance for wind damage across the U.S. rather than only within vulnerable states. They said the amendment would not increase costs for the program, since the expanded coverage would pay for itself. Opponents said the cost of claims under the expanded coverage would threaten the viability of the flood insurance program. The vote was 74 nays to 19 yeas.

Nays: Sen. Jeff Bingaman D-N.M., Sen. Pete V. Domenici R-N.M.

Delaying federal flood insurance requirement: The Senate on May 7 rejected an amendment to a bill (S. 2284) that would have eliminated a requirement that owners of property behind human-made flood control structures acquire federal flood insurance. Supporters said the requirement would have been imposed without sufficient study of resulting costs. Opponents said the amendment would have needlessly delayed a necessary change that would put the national flood insurance program on sounder financial footing. The vote was 62 nays to 30 yeas.

Yeas: Bingaman

Nays: Domenici