2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For A FY 2021 Continuing Resolution, Which
Provided Funding For Federal Agencies From December 20 Through December
21, 2020 And Prevented A Government Shutdown. In December 2020,
Fitzpatrick voted for a joint resolution which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide continued funding for federal
government operations and services through Dec. 21, 2020, at fiscal 2020
levels. It would extend for the duration of the continuing resolution a
number of Medicare, Medicaid and other public health programs and
authorities extended by prior continuing resolutions." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 329-65 and sent to
the President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 248,
12/20/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/20/20;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
110]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For A FY 2021 Continuing Resolution, Which
Provided Funding For Federal Agencies From December 18 Through December
20, 2020 And Prevented A Government Shutdown. In December 2020,
Fitzpatrick voted for a joint resolution which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide funding for federal government
operations and services through Dec. 20, 2020, at fiscal 2020 levels. It
would extend for the duration of the continuing resolution a number of
Medicare, Medicaid and other public health programs and authorities
extended by prior continuing resolutions." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the resolution by a vote of 320-60 and sent to the
President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 247,
12/18/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/18/20;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
107]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Continuing FY2021 Appropriations To
Federal Agencies From December 11 Through December 18, 2020 Which Would
Prevent A Government Shutdown. In December 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions
Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide funding
for federal government operations and services through Dec. 18, 2020, at
fiscal 2020 levels and extend authorizations for a number of expiring
programs and entities. It would extend for the duration of the
continuing resolution a number of Medicare and Medicaid programs,
including state health insurance assistance programs and the community
mental health services demonstration program. For the same period, it
would extend and increase funding for several other public health
programs, including the National Health Service Corps and community
health centers. It would extend through Dec. 19 the delay of scheduled
reductions to Medicaid payments for disproportionate share hospitals. It
would also include provisions of a bill (HR 1375) to modify Medicare
secondary payer reporting requirements to improve coordination of
reimbursement in the case of claims by Medicare beneficiaries whose
expenses are also covered by another plan, such as liability insurance
or workers' compensation and a bill (HR 2281) to require the Justice
Department to revise regulations to allow health practitioners to
dispense up to a three-day supply of narcotic drugs at one time to
patients in drug maintenance or detoxification programs to relieve acute
withdrawal symptoms from opioid use disorder." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 343-67 and was sent to the
President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 240,
12/9/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/9/20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8900]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The $1.31 Trillion Six-Bill FY 2021
Appropriations Package That Blocked A Number Of Trump Policies Including
The Transgender Military Ban And Efforts To Repeal The ACA. In July
2020, Fitzpatrick voted against the FY 2021 six-bill appropriations
package that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide
$1.31 trillion in discretionary funding for six of the twelve fiscal
2021 appropriations bills, including $694.6 billion for the Defense
Department, $75.4 billion for Commerce and Justice departments and
science and related agencies, $49.6 billion for the Energy Department
and federal water projects, $24.6 billion for the Treasury Department,
federal judiciary and executive agencies, $198 billion for the Labor,
Health and Human Services and Education departments and related
agencies; and $75.9 billion for the Transportation and Housing and
Urban Development departments and related agencies. Within total
funding, the bill would provide $68.4 billion in overseas contingency
operations funding and $210 billion in emergency funding for COVID-19
pandemic response activities and infrastructure investments, not subject
to discretionary spending caps. Within emergency funding, the bill would
provide $75 billion for transportation and housing infrastructure; $61
billion to expand broadband services; $43.5 billion for water and
energy infrastructure projects; and $24.4 billion for HHS public health
activities, including $4 billion for an enhanced influenza vaccine
campaign; $3.5 billion for development and production of vaccines and
therapeutics and $1 billion for global preparedness and response." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217-197. The
Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 178,
7/31/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/31/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7617]
The Package Included FY 2021 Appropriations For Defense,
Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Financial Services,
Labor-HHS-Education, And Transportation-HUD. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The spending package includes the
underlying Defense bill, Commerce-Justice Science, Energy-Water,
Financial Services, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD
bills. The Homeland Security and Legislative Branch spending bills
are the only remaining bills held back from floor debate thus far
amid disputes about spending levels and policy." [Congressional
Quarterly, 7/31/20]
The Package Provided $210 Billion In Emergency Money To Help
Federal Agencies Fight The Coronavirus Pandemic. According to
Politico, "The House approved a colossal $1.3 trillion spending
package today that includes $210 billion in emergency money to help
federal agencies fight the coronavirus pandemic [...] The package
also includes billions of dollars in off-the-book spending for state
and local public health departments, public health prevention
efforts, medical research, infrastructure, public housing and more."
[Politico,
7/31/20]
The House Voted On Nearly 340 Amendments, Most Of Them Bundled
Together In An "En Bloc" Package That Prevented Lawmakers From
Recording Individual Votes. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Lawmakers voted on nearly 340 amendments Thursday in about three
hours, mostly bundled together in giant 'en bloc' packages that
deprived lawmakers of the opportunity to vote on them
individually. A handful of standalone amendments were allowed,
however, such as the lone vote held over to Friday: an effort
by Rick W. Allen, R-Ga., to cut the $209.2 billion
Labor-HHS-Education division of the package by 5 percent. That
amendment was rejected, 123-292. House members voted separately on
an amendment by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to block the
military from recruiting using e-sports platforms like Twitch, which
was defeated." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/31/20]
Included In The En Bloc Amendments Was A Provision To Effectively
End Trump's Transgender Military Ban. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The House adopted by voice vote an amendment to the
fiscal 2021 Defense appropriations bill Thursday that would
effectively bring an end to the Trump administration's severe
restrictions on transgender people serving openly in the U.S.
military. The amendment was tucked into a massive en bloc package of
amendments that were attached to the six-bill spending package that
includes defense funding [...] the amendment would block the use
of funds to implement policy issued in April 2019 that would bar
transgender people from joining the military and even keep some
transgender people who are already serving from staying in."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/30/20]
Another Provision In The En Bloc Amendments Prohibited Funds From
Being Used Towards The Administration's "Zero-Tolerance Police" In
Regards To Persecuting Criminal Immigration Offenses. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Also included in the first en bloc package
are a number of other politically contentious amendments [...] One
such amendment by Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, would prohibit the
use of funds provided by the defense bill to implement an April 2018
Justice Department memorandum regarding a 'zero-tolerance policy' in
the prosecution of criminal immigration offenses along the southwest
U.S. border." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/30/20]
Democrats Pushed Through Additional Amendments To Block The DOJ
From Interfering With State Marijuana Laws And From Gutting The ACA
In Court. According to Congressional Quarterly, "They also voted
on an amendment from Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to block the
administration from intervening with state and tribal cannabis
legalization efforts, and one from Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., to
prevent the White House from trying to gut the 2010 health care law
in court. Both amendments were adopted." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/31/20]
Another Amendment Prohibited Funds To BE Used For Buying Chemical
Weapons For Domestic Riot Control. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "Another, sponsored by Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., would
prohibit the bill's funds from being used for the acquisition of
chemical weapons for domestic riot control. The language comes after
an at times violent response by federal and local enforcement to the
nationwide protests that emerged following the police killing of
George Floyd." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/30/20]
Republicans Tried To Cut A $15 Million Pilot Program Providing
Grants To Nonprofit Organizations Helping Asylum Seekers At The
Mexico Border. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Before final
passage, the House rejected a motion to recommit from Republicans, a
procedural maneuver that would have amended the bill, that would
have eliminated $15 million for a pilot program to provide grants
to nonprofit organizations providing legal representation for asylum
seekers at the Mexico border. Republicans wanted to move that
money to the Byrne grants program, which provides funding for local,
state and tribal police departments [...] the grant program would
help reduce the backlog of claims that has led to crowded conditions
at immigration detention facilities." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/31/20]
The White House Issued A Veto Threat For The Six-Bill Package,
Citing Issues Ranging From Use Of Military Force Authorizations To
Face Mask Requirements. According to Congressional Quarterly, the
White House issued a veto threat and "took issue with everything
from repeal of Bush-era authorizations for the use of military force
to a mandate that airline, rail, and transit passengers wear face
masks [...] the vote margin wasn't large enough to override a
potential veto by President Donald Trump. The final spending bills
will have to be negotiated with the White House and GOP-controlled
Senate, most likely after November elections." [Congressional
Quarterly, 7/31/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The $260 Billion House FY 2021
Four-Bill Appropriations Package That, Among Other Provisions, Required
The Military To Rename Bases That Honor Confederate Soldiers. In July
2020, Fitzpatrick voted against the FY 2021 four-bill appropriations
package that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide
$259.5 billion in discretionary funding for four of the twelve fiscal
2021 appropriations bills, including $65.9 billion for the State
Department and related agencies, $24 billion for the Agriculture
Department and related agencies, $115.5 billion for the Veterans
Affairs Department, military construction, and related agencies, and
$36.8 billion for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection
Agency, and related agencies. Within total funding, the bill would
provide $8.35 billion in overseas contingency operations funding and
$37.5 billion in emergency funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic,
veterans' healthcare, and infrastructure projects, not subject to
discretionary spending caps. Among other provisions, the bill would
provide approximately $10 billion across a number of foreign assistance
accounts for COVID-19 preparedness and response, including $1.3 billion
for the United Nations global humanitarian response plan; $9 billion
for international security assistance, including at least $3.3 billion
for foreign military financing for Israel and $1.4 billion for
narcotics control activities. It would provide loan authority of $25.3
billion for Agriculture Department rural housing service loans. It would
provide $9.4 billion in discretionary funding for the Environmental
Protection Agency, as well as $13 billion in emergency supplemental
funding for infrastructure investments; and it would provide $2 billion
in emergency infrastructure investment funding for Indian health and
education programs. It would provide $90.9 billion for the Veterans
Health Administration and $10.1 billion for military construction
activities, and it would prohibit the use of funds provided for
construction of a physical barrier on the southern U.S. border or for
construction on a military installation named for a confederate officer,
unless a process to rename the installation has begun. As amended, the
bill would provide an additional $529 million for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program in Puerto Rico and an additional $500
million for EPA safe drinking water grants to states and tribes. It
would also prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill to withdraw
the U.S. from the World Health Organization, or to implement a number of
Trump administration policies, including a rule related to environmental
impact assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act and an
executive order related to Defense Production Act authority to ensure
continued meat and poultry production during the COVID-19 national
emergency." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 224-189. The Senate did not take up the bill. [House Vote 166,
7/24/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/24/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7608]
The Package Funded The Departments Of Agriculture, Interior,
Environment, VA, And State. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The House voted 224-189 to approve a $259.5 billion four-bill
measure consisting of the Agriculture, Interior-Environment,
Military Construction-VA and State-Foreign Operations bills. The
package includes $27.5 billion in emergency spending that
Republicans and the White House contend busts the budget caps deal
reached last summer and contains numerous policy riders they labeled
'poison pills.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/20]
The White House Opposed, Among Other Provisions, Overturning An
Administration Ban On Funds For Overseas Groups Promoting Abortions,
Food Stamps Restrictions, And Renaming Bases Named For Confederate
Soldiers. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The 13-page White
House veto threat delivered Thursday took issue with provisions that
would, among others, "overturn a Trump administration ban on funds
for overseas groups that perform or promote abortions. Prevent the
administration from shuttering Peace Corps activities in China.
Block food stamps restrictions for able-bodied adults with children.
Require the National Park Service to take down plaques, statues and
other items commemorating the Confederacy, and rename military bases
named for Confederate soldiers. Block the White House from shifting
funds from military construction projects to President Donald
Trump's prized border wall project." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/20]
Republicans Attempted To Shift $102.5 Million From A Fund That
Helped Developing Nations Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Towards A
New "Countering Chinese Influence Fund." According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The GOP motion to recommit, a procedural
move that would have had the same effect as an amendment, would have
shifted $102.5 million from the foreign aid account that funds
economic support initiatives to the account that funds anti-poverty
and democracy-building activities. Republicans said the intent was
to take the money out of $500 million set aside for 'a dedicated
international' fund to help developing nations reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, such as the United Nations' Green Climate Fund. Instead,
the $102.5 million would be shifted to a newly established
'Countering Chinese Influence Fund,' which was funded at 'not less
than' $300 million in fiscal 2020 " [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/20]
The House Rejected GOP Amendments To Reduce Interior And EPA
Amendments And Passed An Amendment To Prevent The EPA From Rolling
Back Regulations On Soot. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"In the last series of votes Friday, the House rejected GOP
amendments that would have reduced spending at the Interior
Department and EPA [...] The House on Friday voted 233-176 to
adopt an amendment from several Democrats that would cut off funding
for the EPA to finish and implement a regulation it proposed in
April, when it decided not to require more stringent air standards
for fine particulate matter, sometimes referred to as soot.
Democrats argued not implementing stricter soot standards is a
disservice to Americans and would disproportionately impact
communities of color." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/20]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The FY 2021 Budget
Resolution, Which Set Annual Budgetary Levels For Federal Revenues And
Provided Reconciliation Instructions. In February 2021, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the
rule (H Res 101) that would provide for automatic agreement to the
fiscal 2021 budget resolution (S Con Res 5)." The vote was on adoption
of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 219-220, thus
adopting the FY 2021 budget resolution automatically. [House Vote 27,
2/5/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/5/21; Congressional
Actions, S.Con.Res.
5;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
101]
The Budget Resolution Allowed For The Passage Of A $1.9 Trillion
Coronavirus Relief Package With A Simple Majority In Both
Chambers. According to The Guardian, "The US Senate has passed a
budget resolution that allows for the passage of Joe Biden's $1.9tn
(£1.4tn) Covid-19 relief package in the coming weeks without
Republican support [...] The House passed its own budget measure
on Wednesday. Congress can now work to write a bill that can be
passed by a simple majority in both houses, which are controlled by
Democrats." [The Guardian,
2/5/21]
After Over A Day Of The "Marathon Senate Debate Session," Where
Unlimited Amendments Were Offered As A "Vote-A-Rama," The Budget
Resolution Was Voted On At 5:30 AM On February 5th, 2021.
According to The Guardian, "The vote came at 5.30am on Friday at the
end of a marathon Senate debate session, known among senators as a
'vote-a-rama', a procedure whereby they can theoretically offer
unlimited amendments." [The Guardian,
2/5/21]
The Senate Adopted By Voice Vote An Amendment By Senator Ernst
That Would Prohibit The Federal Government From Raising The Minimum
Wage During The Pandemic. According to The Guardian, "There was
dissent from Republicans in the Senate overnight, particularly over
plans for a $15 federal minimum wage. Iowa's Republican senator,
Joni Ernst, raised an amendment to 'prohibit the increase of the
federal minimum wage during a global pandemic', which was carried by
a voice vote." [The Guardian,
2/5/21]
The Budget Resolution Allowed For The Passage Of A Relief Package
To Expedite The Distribution Of COVID-19 Vaccines, Extend
Unemployment Benefits, And Provide Relief Payments To Individuals.
According to The Guardian, "The $1.9 trillion relief package
proposed would be used to speed Covid-19 vaccines throughout the
nation. Other funds would extend special unemployment benefits that
will expire at the end of March and make direct payments to people
to help them pay bills and stimulate the economy." [The Guardian,
2/5/21]
Almost 900 Amendments Were Submitted For The "Vote-A-Rama," In
Which Republicans Attempted to Tackle Partisan "Topics Such As
Illegal Immigration, Reopening Public Schools and Nursing Home
Deaths During The Pandemic." According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Senate adoption came in the wee hours of Friday morning after a
'vote-a-rama' session that began at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 900
amendments were filed, featuring numerous GOP messaging ploys on a
range of hot-button topics such as illegal immigration, reopening
public schools and nursing home deaths during the pandemic."
[Congressional Quarterly,
2/4/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The FY 2021 Budget
Resolution. In Febuary 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous question
(thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res
101) that would provide for automatic agreement to the fiscal 2021
budget resolution (S Con Res 5)." The vote was on a motion to order the
previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 220-210.
[House Vote 26, 2/5/21;
Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21;
Congressional Actions, S.Con.Res.
5;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
101]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2021 Budget Resolution, Which
Would Establish Budgetary Levels For FY 2021 Through FY 2030 And Provide
Reconciliation Instructions For Any Bills That Increase The Deficit.
In February 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against a concurrent resolution
which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "set annual budgetary
levels for federal revenues, new budget authority, outlays, deficits and
public debt for fiscal years 2021 through 2030, including to outline
annual levels of new budget authority and outlays for each of the 20
major budget function categories. The concurrent resolution would direct
12 House committees to make recommendations within their respective
jurisdictions for budget reconciliation legislation that combined could
increase the deficit by up to $1.9 trillion through fiscal 2030,
intended to be used as a vehicle for further COVID-19 relief. It would
require the committees to report their recommendations to the House
Budget Committee by Feb. 16, 2021, and specify amounts by which each
committee's recommendations could increase the total deficit, including
$940.72 billion for the Ways and Means Committee, $357.08 billion for
the Education and Labor Committee, $350.7 billion for the Oversight and
Reform Committee and $188.5 billion for the Energy and Commerce
Committee. The concurrent resolution would include two reserve funds for
the House Budget Committee to revise committee allocations and other
budgetary levels for budget reconciliation legislation within the
deficit limits established by the concurrent resolution, and for any
other legislation that would not increase the deficit for a five-year
time period through fiscal 2025 or a ten-year time period through fiscal
2030. Among other provisions, it would authorize the House and Senate
Appropriations committees to receive a separate discretionary budget
allocation for administrative expenses related to the Social Security
Administration and the United States Postal Service, and it would
continue for fiscal 2021 certain existing limitations on advance
appropriations." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
concurrent resolution by a vote of 218-212. [House Vote 21,
2/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/3/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Con.
11]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2021 Continuing Resolution That
Would Fund The Government Through December 11, 2020. In September
2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2021 continuing resolution that
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide funding for
federal government operations and services through Dec. 11, 2020, at
fiscal 2020 levels and extend authorizations for a number of expiring
programs and entities. It would allow for increased funding rates for
certain activities, including FEMA disaster relief, Navy shipbuilding,
Small Business Administration loans and the 2020 census [...] It would
extend through fiscal 2021 a number of pandemic-related nutrition
benefits, including waivers for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program. It would expand certain benefits to provide meals for children
affected by reduced hours at schools or child care center closures. It
would provide for the reimbursement of funds to the Agriculture
Department Commodity Credit Corporation to continue providing aid to
farmers, and it would prohibit the use of such funds for payments to any
fossil fuel refiner or importer. It would also provide $49 million for
activities related to the presidential transition and the January 2021
inauguration; extend for the duration of the continuing resolution a
number of Medicare and Medicaid programs and other health-related Health
and Human Service Department programs; limit the maximum increase in
Medicare Part B premiums; extend for two years a number of programs for
veterans related to healthcare and housing; and permit the Citizenship
and Immigration Services Agency to increase fees for expediting certain
immigration applications to use for adjudication and naturalization
services." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 359-57. [House Vote 198,
9/22/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/22/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.8337]
The Stopgap Deal Centered On A Debate For Farm Payments, Which Was
Included In The Final Bill As Well As A Provision Barring Such
Payments From "Being Misused For A Big Oil Bailout." According to
Congressional Quarterly, "the House swiftly passed a stopgap funding
measure needed to avert a partial government shutdown in eight days
after top congressional leaders reached a deal resolving a fight
over farm payments [...] The bipartisan pact would restore money
for farm payments sought by lawmakers from both parties that House
leaders had rejected in an earlier stopgap bill [...] The
agreement also contains language Pelosi said would prevent 'funds
for farmers from being misused for a Big Oil bailout,' after earlier
reports surfaced that the administration has been planning to divert
Commodity Credit Corporation funds to refiners" [Congressional
Quarterly, 9/23/20]
The Continuing Resolution Extended Coronavirus Pandemic-Related
Flexibilities Such As Food Stamps And School Meals. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The measure includes new provisions that
would extend pandemic-related flexibilities in the food stamp
program for another year and expand the school meals program to
those attending child care centers that were closed because of the
pandemic, among other things." [Congressional Quarterly,
9/23/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For $519 Billion In Funding For Eight
Appropriations Bills, Including Funds For The Departments Of Labor,
Health And Human Services, Education, Energy, Transportation, Housing
And Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, State, Agriculture, And Funds
To Counter Chinese And Russian Influence. In December 2020,
Fitzpatrick voted for the second portion of the FY2021 Omnibus
Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief package which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide approximately $519 billion in
discretionary funding for eight of the twelve fiscal 2021 appropriations
bills including $197 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services
and Education departments and related agencies; $49.5 billion for the
Energy Department and federal water projects; $75.4 billion for the
Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related
agencies; $113.1 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, military
construction, and related agencies; $55.5 billion for the State
Department and related agencies; $49.5 billion for the Interior
Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies;
$23.4 billion for the Agriculture Department and related agencies; and
$5.3 billion for legislative branch entities. It would provide $114
billion in mandatory spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program; $42.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health; $18
billion for the Federal Aviation Administration; $9.2 billion for the
Environmental Protection Agency; and $7.9 billion for the Centers for
Disease Control. It would provide a combined $590 billion to assist
developing countries in countering Chinese and Russian economic and
political influence." The vote was on concurring in Senate amendment
with portion of the amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote
of 359-53 and sent to the President and ultimately became law. [House
Vote 251, 12/21/20;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/21/20; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
133]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted To Appropriate $860 Billion In Funding For FY
2021 To Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Homeland Security, And
Financial Services. In December 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the first
portion of the FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations And Coronavirus Relief
package which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide
approximately $860 billion in discretionary funding for four of the
twelve fiscal 2021 appropriations bills, including $696 billion for the
Defense Department; $69 billion for the Homeland Security Department;
$71.1 billion for the Commerce and Justice departments and science and
related agencies; and $24.4 billion for the Treasury Department,
federal judiciary and a number of executive agencies. Within total
funding, the bill would provide $68.7 billion in overseas contingency
operations funding for defense activities, not subject to discretionary
spending caps. Among other provisions, the bill would provide $142.9
billion for military procurement; $33.7 billion for the Defense Health
Program; and a 3% military pay increase. It would provide $8 billion
for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, including funding for around
34,000 detention beds; $17.1 billion for FEMA disaster response and
recovery activities; and $1.38 billion for construction of a barrier
system along the southern U.S. border. It would require CBP to submit an
expenditure plan to Congress before obligating any procurement and
construction funds. Within Justice Department funding, it would provide
over $3 billion for grants to state and local law enforcement,
including for DNA-related programs to address unsolved civil rights
crimes and a number of police training programs. It would require the
Justice Department to develop national standards for police
accreditation and provide training related to civil rights protection
and use of force. It would provide $23.3 billion for NASA and $11.9
billion for the Internal Revenue service." The vote was on concurring in
Senate amendment with portion of the amendment. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 327-85 and sent to the President and ultimately
became law. [House Vote 250,
12/21/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
133]
2020: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Omnibus Appropriations
And Coronavirus Relief, Which Would Provide Automatic Continuation Of
Appropriations For Federal Agencies Through December 28, 2020. In
December 2020, Fitzpatrick voted against adoption of the rule that
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for floor
consideration of the legislative vehicle (HR 133) for the fiscal 2021
omnibus appropriations and coronavirus relief package; provide for
automatic passage of a seven-day continuing resolution (HR 1520); and
provide for floor consideration of a veto message to accompany the
fiscal 2021 defense authorization bill (HR 6395). Specifically, the rule
would provide for a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to HR 133,
with a further House amendment, debatable for up to one hour, and
provide for a division of the question on passage of the bill [...] It
would also provide for automatic passage of HR 1520, via motion to
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with a further House
amendment, which would provide continued funding for federal government
operations and services through Dec. 28, 2020, at fiscal 2020 levels. It
would extend for the duration of the continuing resolution a number of
Medicare, Medicaid and other public health programs and authorities
extended by prior continuing resolutions. Finally, it would provide that
if a veto message is received on the fiscal 2021 defense authorization
bill (HR 6395), consideration of the veto message and the bill shall be
postponed until Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at which point the House shall
proceed consideration of the veto message." The vote was on adoption of
the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 227-180. [House Vote
249, 12/21/20;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/21/20; Congressional
Actions, H. Res.
1271]