2017: Schweikert Voted Against The May 2017 FY 2017 Omnibus Appropriations Bill That Included A Permanent Fix For Health Benefits To Retired Coal Miners. In May 2017, Schweikert voted against the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill that would keep much of the government open and would have provided $1.16 trillion in discretionary spending. According to PBS, "On Monday, lawmakers announced that they had reached a permanent solution for miners by glomming a health care fix onto the new government funding bill on track for passage this week. Funding for the miners provision would rely on trade fees, called customs user fees, that apply to a variety of transactions like merchandise processing, harbor maintenance and passenger transportation. All told, it would net about $1.38 billion over the next ten years, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office estimate --- more than enough to fund those health benefits for the next decade." Overall, the legislation would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] $1.16 trillion in discretionary appropriations through Sept. 30, 2017 for federal departments and agencies covered by the remaining 11 fiscal 2017 spending bills. [...] The measure would also [have] provide[d] $608 million for health benefits for retired coal miners, $296 million for Medicaid payments to Puerto Rico, and $341 million to replace 40 miles of existing fencing along the southwestern border, though the designs of the fencing must have been 'previously deployed'." The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendments. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 309 to 118. The Senate later also agreed to the legislation, sending the bill to the president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 249, 5/3/17; PBS, 5/2/17; Congressional Quarterly, 5/2/17; Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 244]
2017: Schweikert Voted To Extend Health Care Benefits For Retired Coal Miners. In April 2017, Schweikert voted for a one-week continuing resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have "extend[ed] continuing appropriations for federal government operations through May 5, 2017. It would also [have] provide[d] for an extension, through May 5, of health care benefits for retired coal miners." The vote was on passage. The House passed the joint resolution by a vote of 382 to 30. The Senate later agreed to the legislation by voice vote and the president signed it into law. [House Vote 236, 4/28/17; Congressional Quarterly, 4/28/17; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 99]