The U.S. House of Representatives voted on six bills this week. Here’s what Hawai‘i’s lawmakers cast their vote toward.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
A budget bill providing appropriations to the Department of Defense for various military construction projects. Hawai‘i Rep. Ed Case has opposed the measure in committee, warning that it does not include sufficient funding for projects in the Indo-Pacific, which includes Hawai‘i. Case and fellow Hawai‘i Rep. Jill Tokuda joined 204 other Democrats to vote against the bill Wednesday, although it passed 218-206 nonetheless.
Special Interest Alien Reporting Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide monthly reports on foreign nationals who attempt to enter the U.S. illegally. Democrats broadly opposed the measure, which passed 231-182, Case and Tokuda voting against.
Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect our Communities from DUIs Act
A bill that makes DUIs grounds for barring foreign nationals from entering the U.S. or for deporting them. The bill is named after an Alabama couple who were killed in 2009 by a drunk driver who was found to be an illegal immigrant, and also an Arizona police officer killed in similar circumstances in 2014. The bill passed 246-160, although Case was one of 37 Democrats to vote in support of the bill; Tokuda voted against.
Sanction Sea Pirates Act
A bill requiring the U.S. President to impose visa-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals or entities determined to knowingly engage in piracy. The measure cites an uptick in pirate attacks by Houthi and Somali pirates in recent years. The proposal was popular, passing 392-14, with opposition split between seven Republicans and seven Democrats. Case and Tokuda joined the majority in support of the measure.
Promoting Opportunities for Non-Traditional Capital Formation Act:
This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide educational resources for small businesses owned by underrepresented people, in rural areas or in areas affected by natural disasters. It passed 321-87, with no Democrats voting against it.
Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act:
A measure that allows more people to be considered an “accredited investor” by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purposes of private securities exchanges. An uncontroversial bill, it passed 397-12. Those 12 no votes all came from Democrats, but not from Hawai‘i's representatives.
Impeachment:
The House also voted on a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump. The resolution was introduced by Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green, although the proposal was unpopular among Democrats, too: a vote to table the resolution passed 344-79, with all Republicans and 128 Democrats voting to shut it down.
Case voted to table the resolution, while Tokuda did not. Case’s office later told Aloha State Daily: “Impeachment is among the most serious votes for any U.S. House member. It should only be brought before the full House where a clear and convincing record for impeachment has been thoroughly developed through the legislative process. There are various actions President Trump has taken and may take that might result in a fully developed impeachment vote. This is not that situation or time.”
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