Political Voting Records: Wisconsin-WI, Feingold: Budget, Spending and Taxes

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Voting Record for Feingold of Wisconsin-WI
Voting Record on Legislation that Involves Budget, Spending and Taxes

Senate

Russell Feingold
U.S. Senate: Senator
Democratic Next Election Year: 2010

Education:
JD, Harvard Law School, 1979 BA, Rhodes Scholar, Final Honours School of Jurisprudence, Magdalen College, Oxford University, 1977 BA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975

Profession:
Attorney, Foley and Lardner, 1979-1985 Attorney, LaFollette and Sinykin, 1979-1985

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Abortion Issues Agriculture Issues Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues Budget, Spending and Taxes Business and Consumers Campaign Finance and Election Issues Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Congressional and Legislative Affairs Crime Issues Defense Drug Issues Education	Employment and Affirmative Action Energy Issues Environmental Issues Executive Branch Family and Children Issues Federal, State, and Local Relations Foreign Aid and Policy Issues Gambling and Gaming Government Reform Gun Issues Health Issues Housing and Property Issues Immigration	Indigenous Peoples Labor Legal Issues Military Issues National Security Issues Reproductive Issues Senior and Social Security Issues Technology and Communication Trade Issues Transportation Issues Veterans Issues Welfare and Poverty

Voting Record on Legislation Involving Budget, Spending and Taxes

(2009) HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit

Outcome: Bill Passed (60/39)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (57/35)

Summary: -Appropriates $1.11 trillion dollars (not including rescissions, unspecified amounts, or advance appropriations for fiscal year 2010-2011) for fiscal year 2009-2010, including but not limited to the following allocations (Divs. A-E):

-$512.84 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services; -$157.9 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs; and -$77.4 billion for the Department of Transportation; -$67.36 billion for the Department of Education; -$46.98 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; -$28.31 billion for the Department of Justice; -$25.66 billion for Science-related agencies; -$23.69 billion for the Department of Defense; -$15.94 billion for the Department of Commerce; -$16.09 billion for the Department of Labor; -$16.1 billion for the Department of State and related agencies;. -$13.48 billion for the Department of the Treasury; -$6.85 billion for the Judiciary; and -$2.08 billion for the District of Columbia.-Appropriates $105.78 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010-2011, including, but not limited to, the following allocations (Div. D, Titles 1, 2 & 4):

-$86.79 billion for grants to the states for Medicaid; and -$16 billion for Social Security payments.-Rescinds $1.57 billion in unobligated balances of appropriations from past fiscal years (Divs. A-E). -Appropriates $4.36 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, including, but not limited to, $2.5 billion for high-speed rail projects (Div. A, Title I). -Appropriates $11.79 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, including, but not limited to, $9.4 billion for formula and bus grants and $75 million for grants to reduce energy consumption and emissions by public transportation (Div. A, Title I). -Appropriates $233 million for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, including, but not limited to, $65 million for mortgage foreclosure mitigation activities, which includes grants for approved counseling intermediaries that provide foreclosure mitigation assistance in states and areas with high rates of foreclosure and default (Div. A, Title III). -Appropriates $18.72 billion for NASA, including, but not limited to, $6.15 billion for space operations research and development (Div. B, Title III). -Appropriates $16.34 billion for the renewal of section 8 tenant-based annual contributions contracts, including, but not limited to, $200 million for grants in housing revitalization, demolition and replacement programs like HOPE VI, and provides for the renewal of housing vouchers for the Family Unification, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing and Non-elderly Disabled Vouchers programs (Div. A, Title II). -Appropriates $8.58 billion for community planning and development programs, including, but not limited to, $335 million is authorized for housing assistance for individuals living with AIDS (Div. A, Title II). -Appropriates $3.62 billion for state and local law enforcement activities (Div. B, Title II). -Appropriates $10.55 billion for the Employment and Training Administration, including, but not limited to $4.11 billion for federal and state unemployment benefits, and $3.83 billion for employment and training services for unemployed and displaced workers (Div. D, Title I). -Appropriates $6.39 billion for disease control, research, and training, including, but not limited to, $70.72 million in funds for screening and treatment of first response emergency personnel, residents, students, and others related to the attacks on September 11, 2001 (Div. D, Title II). -Appropriates $300 million for International Assistance Programs "Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis" (Div. D, Title II). -Appropriates $431.72 billion for Medicare and Medicaid (not including advance appropriations for fiscal year 2010-2011), including, but not limited to, $220.96 billion for state grants for Medicaid and $207.29 billion for the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (Div. D, Title II). -Authorizes up to $466.80 million in bilateral and multilateral funds for assistance to Iraq, provided that no funds are used to establish a permanent basing agreement between the United States and Iraq (Div. F, Sec. 7042). -Authorizes up to $1.26 billion in funds for climate change and environment programs (Div. F, Sec. 7081). -Specifies that an automotive dealership that is not lawfully terminated before April 29, 2009 has the right, through binding arbitration, to regain its franchising agreement or to be added as a franchisee by a manufacturer (Div. C, Sec. 747). -Prohibits the use of funds provided under this Act for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or allied organizations, and requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an audit to determine if federal funds were misused by ACORN and if so, how to recover such funds and what steps ought to have been taken to prevent misuse (Div. A, Sec. 418; Div. B, Sec. 535). -Prohibits the use of federal funds provided in this Act from being used to fund abortion services, unless a full-term pregnancy would endanger the mother's life, or in the case of rape (Div. B, Sec. 202; Div. C, Sec. 814; Div. D, Sec. 508). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act from being used to distribute needles or syringes for the prevention of blood borne illnesses in locations where the local public health board or local law enforcement authorities deem to be inappropriate (Div. D, Sec. 505). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for activities that support the legalization of any schedule I controlled substance, unless there is significant medical evidence of the therapeutic advantages of the substance (Div. D, Sec. 510). -Prohibits the use of funds to any federal agency that creates a database for monitoring of an individual's use of the Internet, with some exceptions, including, but not limited to, action taken for law enforcement, regulator, or supervisory purposes (Div. C, Sec. 727). -Prohibits funds from being used to transfer a prisoner detained at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the U.S., unless the prisoner is being transferred for the purposes of prosecution or detainment during legal proceedings and the President has submitted a plan to Congress that includes the following (Sec. 14103):

-Determination of any risk to the national security of the U.S. or the safety of inmate populations that is posed by the transfer of the prisoner and a plan for the mitigation of such risk; -Costs associated with transferring the prisoner; -Legal rationale and associated court demands for transfer; and -Copy of a notification sent to the Governor of the State to which the individual will be transferred or, in the case of the District of Columbia, a copy of a notification sent to the the Mayor.-Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act to support or justify the use of torture by any U.S. Government employee (Div. B, Sec. 519; Div. F, Sec. 7069). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act from assisting or providing reparations to Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria including direct loans, credits, insurance, and guarantees of the Export-Import Bank or any of its agents (Div. F, Sec. 7007). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act from directly financing governments whose head of state has been overthrown by a coup d'etat, with the exception of providing assistance in carrying out democratically-run elections (Div. F, Sec. 7008). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for countries that have defaulted payments in excess of one year on loans granted by the U.S., unless the President determines that such assistance is in the best interests of the U.S. (Div. F, Sec. 7012). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for assistance to any government that provides "lethal military equipment" to any country that supports international terrorism, as determined by the Secretary of State (Div. F, Sec. 7021). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for programs that violate internationally recognized workers' rights or that provide financial incentives to U.S. companies to relocate their operations outside of the country if doing so would reduce the number of employees in the United States (Div. F, Sec. 7029). -Prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act for authorizing any guarantee, insurance, or credit to an energy producer or refiner that provides Iran with the ability to manufacture nuclear weapons, including providing, importing, or assisting Iran with producing large amounts of refined petroleum (Div. F, Sec. 7043). -Requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations an annual report outlining the progress the Department of Defense has made in encouraging host countries to increase their share of the common defense burden with the United States, and specifies that the report shall include the following (Div. E, Sec. 118):

-Efforts to secure cash and in-kind contributions for military construction projects; -Efforts to achieve economic incentives offered by host countries to encourage private investment for the benefit of the U.S. Armed Forces; -Efforts to recover funds due to be paid to the U.S. by host countries for assets imparted to host countries upon the cessation of U.S. operations at military installations; -The amount host countries spend on defense; and -For host countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the amount contributed to NATO by host countries as a percentage of the NATO budget.-Authorizes a cash award of up to 10 percent of basic pay to any employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that maintains proficiency in a language deemed critical to their official duties (Div. B, Sec. 219).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (72/28)

Summary: -Extends fiscal year 2009-2010 continuing appropriations (see HR 2918) for departments, agencies and other organizational units of the federal government through December 18, 2009 (Div. B, Sec. 101). -Appropriates a total of $32.39 billion, of which (Div. A, Title I-III):

-$11.08 billion shall go to fund various programs in the Department of the Interior; -$10.29 billion shall go to fund various programs in the Environmental Protection Agency; and -$11.01 billion shall go to fund various programs in related agencies.-Extends the temporary loan limit increase established by HR 5140 (the "Economic Stimulus Act") for mortgages insured by the federal government until the end of 2010 (Div. B, Sec. 104). -Appropriates $4.97 billion in State and Tribal assistance grants, including $2.1 billion in grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds (Div. A, Title II). -Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer up to $475 million for activities that would support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (Div. A, Title II). -Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer $8 million to the Navy to fund clean-up activities at the Treasure Island Naval Station-Hunters Point Annex (Div. A, Title IV, Sec. 415). -Prohibits the distribution of funds from this act to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or its subsidiaries (Div. A, Title IV, Sec. 427). -Prohibits the use of funds from this or any other act to release or transfer to the United States, its territories, or another country, any detainee at the Guantanamo Bay Prison Facility in Cuba (Div. A, Title IV, Sec. 428). -Establishes within the United States Treasury the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund for the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the purpose of which is to cover the costs of suppressing large or complex wildfires and to provide additional funding when Wildland Fire Management appropriation accounts are exhausted (Div. A, Title V, Sec. 502). -Provides additional funds for small business loans at a rate for operations of $80 million (Div. B, Sec. 104). -Provides that up to $200 million in funds shall be available for public housing agencies for the purpose of preventing the termination of funds that provide housing assistance to families (Div. B, Sec. 104).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits

Outcome: Cloture Invoked (87/13)

Summary: -Requires individual's to have exhausted all unemployment compensation available before accepting supplemental federal emergency unemployment compensation (Sec. 2). -Specifies that recipients are eligible to receive the lesser of (Sec. 2):

-50 percent of the total amount of compensation, including benefits paid to dependents, as provided by existing state law during the individual's benefit year; or -13 times the individual's average weekly benefit, including benefits paid to dependents, as provided by existing state law. -Extends the 6.2 percent tax rate imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act on the first $7,000 in wages paid by employers through June 31, 2011, at which point the tax is reduced to 6 percent, whereas existing law required the tax rate be reduced to 6 percent in 2010 (Sec. 3).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (68/29)

Summary: -Authorizes $681.02 billion in appropriations, including $639.32 billion in Department of Defense authorizations for fiscal year 2009-2010, $24.75 billion in military construction authorizations for fiscal years after 2008-2009, and $16.94 billion in Department of Energy national security authorizations and other authorizations for fiscal year 2009-2010. -Expands the legal definition of 'hate crime' to include crimes in which a victim or his/her property is selected as the object of the crime because of the victim's gender identity (Sec. 4703). -Establishes the following penalties for causing (or attempting to cause) bodily injury to a person through use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive because of any person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin (Sec. 4707):

-imprisonment for no more than ten years, a fine, or both; or -if the offense results in death or includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, attempted aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, imprisonment for any term up to life in prison, a fine, or both.-Establishes the following penalties for causing (or attempting to cause) bodily injury to a person through use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive because of any person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability when the offense involves travel across state or national borders, the defendant uses a channel of interstate or foreign commerce or the offense affects such commerce, or when the defendant uses a weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce (Sec. 4707):

-the state does not have jurisdiction; -the state has requested that the federal government assume jurisdiction; -the verdict or sentence under state charges did not "demonstratively" vindicate the federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence; or -a prosecution by the United States is "in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice."-Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit congressional reports pertaining to the procurement of "4.5 generation fighter aircraft", technologically advanced fighter aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F-18, and to the feasibility of procuring additional F-35 aircraft for use by the Air National Guard (Sec. 131). -Repeals funding for the procurement of new F-22A fighter aircraft, and requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress outlining the impact of potential sales of F-22A fighter aircraft to foreign countries (Sec. 132, 1250). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to assess and report to Congress details regarding the Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense system, including its intended use, its capabilities, the infrastructure needed to achieve its capabilities, and the advantages and disadvantages of deploying interceptor missiles (Sec. 232). -Authorizes $309 million for research and evaluation, procurement, or deployment of an alternative Missile Defense System in Europe (Sec. 235). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to bring to Congress by March 1, 2010 a comprehensive plan for testing and evaluating the Ballistic Missile Defense system and its various elements (Sec. 236). -Allows the Secretary of Defense to increase the active-duty number for the US Army to a number greater than otherwise allowed by law up to the 2010 baseline plus 30,000 troops (Sec. 403). -Authorizes $136.02 billion for military personnel for the fiscal year 2010 (Sec. 421). -Requires States to transmit requested absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before an election to ensure sufficient time to vote (Sec. 579). -Increases the monthly pay of uniformed service members by 3.4 percent, effective January 1, 2010 (Sec. 601). -Prohibits funds from being used to transfer a prisoner detained at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the U.S. during the period between October 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 until 45 days after the President has submitted a plan to Congress that includes the following (Sec. 1041):

-findings of an analysis regarding any risk to the national security of the U.S. that is posed by the transfer of the prisoner and a plan for the mitigation of such risk; -costs associated with transferring the prisoner; -a proposal for the disposition of the prisoner, including the location at which the individual will be held; -a certification by the Attorney General that the individual poses little or no security risk under the plan; and -a summary of the consultation between the President and the Governor of the State to which the individual will be transferred or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the Mayor.-Requires the Secretary of Defense to present to Congress a report that shall detail the "responsible redeployment," as well as the military activities and the eventual withdrawal, of U.S. troops from Iraq (Sec. 1227). -Authorizes $3 million for researching and analyzing the implementation of the strategic objectives set forth by the Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, including securing the eastern and southern regions of the country to allow the Afghan government to establish effective control and to provide for the training of Afghan security forces (Sec. 1235). -Requires the President to submit a report detailing and assessing current and future U.S.-Iranian diplomatic relations, and shall include assessments on the extent of Iran's nuclear and missile procurement activities and the narcotics trade between Iran and Afghanistan (Sec. 1241). -Requires the President to provide a summary and analysis of current sanctions against Iran, and recommends that the President consider further sanctions if Iran rejects U.S. diplomatic efforts and if the United Nations does not adopt "significant and meaningful" sanctions against the Iranian government (Sec. 1241, 1254). -Requires the Secretaries of Defense and State to prepare a report to Congress detailing the actions taken within their departments relating to laying the groundwork for the use of armed security teams aboard U.S. commercial ships that travel in areas that are at high risk for pirate attacks (Sec. 3506). -Encourages the Department of Defense to "undertake all feasible efforts" to recover and return to the United States the remains of Armed Forces members killed in the World War II Battle of Tarawa Atoll (Sec. 544).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (47/53)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) HR 2892 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (79/19)

Summary: -Authorizes $34.28 billion in appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations to be allocated as follows (Title II):

-$10.13 billion for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; -$9.88 billion for the Coast Guard; -$7.36 billion for the Transportation Security Administration; -$5.44 billion for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and -$1.48 billion for the Secret Service.-Authorizes $8.73 billion in appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (not including the authorization of appropriations that are contingent upon to the amount of revenue available) to be allocated as follows (Title III):

-$7.27 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, not including an authorization of an appropriation for Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program that is contingent upon the aggregate charges assessed during fiscal year 2009-2010; -$1.32 billion for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, not including an authorization of an appropriation for the Federal Protective Service that is contingent upon the revenue and collections of security fees credited to this account; and -$139.25 million for the Office of Health Affairs.-Authorizes $1.9 billion in appropriations for Research and Development, Training, and Services, of which (Title IV):

-$1.01 billion for Science and Technology; -$383.04 million for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office; -$282.81 million for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; and -$224 million for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including $137 million for the E-Verify basic pilot program, a voluntary federal program for verifying employment eligibility.-Authorizes $1.25 billion in appropriations for Departmental Management and Operations (Title I). -Prohibits funds from being used to transfer a prisoner detained at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the U.S., unless the prisoner is being transferred for the purposes of prosecution or detainment during legal proceedings and the President submits a plan to Congress that includes the following (Sec. 552):

-Determination of the risk that the individual might instigate an act of terrorism in the U.S., and the plan for mitigating the risk; -Determination of the risk that the individual might advocate, coerce, or incite violent extremism, ideologically motivated criminal activity, or acts of terrorism, among inmate populations at incarceration facilities, and the plan for mitigating the risk; -Assessment of the risk to the national security of the U.S. or its citizens, and the plan for mitigating the risk; -Costs associated with transferring the prisoner; -Legal rationale and associated court demands for transfer; and -Copy of a notification sent to the Governor of the State to which the individual will be transferred or, in the case of the District of Columbia, a copy of a notification sent to the the Mayor.-Prohibits funds from being used to transfer or release a prisoner detained at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to another country, unless the President submits the following information to Congress (Sec. 552):

-Name of the individual and the country to which the individual is being transferred or released; -Assessment of the risk to the national security of the U.S. or its citizens, and the plan for mitigating the risk; and -The terms of agreement between the United States and the country that accepts the individual.-Requires any detainee held at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba be put on the No Fly List, unless the President certifies in writing that the individual does not pose a threat to the national security of the U.S., its citizens, or its allies (Sec. 553). -Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare a report that details the implementation-to-date and necessary costs of maintaining and enhancing border fencing in the United States, including vehicle barriers and other forms of tactical infrastructure and technology, to be reviewed by the Government Accountability Office and presented to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees no later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act (Title II). -Specifies that members of Congress, heads of federal agencies, the U.S. Attorney General, Assistant Attorneys General, U.S. Attorneys, and senior members of the Executive Office are not exempt from Federal passenger and baggage screenings (Title II). -Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit the following reports to the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations (Title III):

-Disaster readiness expenditure plan within 60 days from the enactment of this bill; -Quarterly reports detailing to-date-financial obligations and justification for any changes in spending; and -Monthly disaster relief reports.-Rescinds $41.27 million from unobligated balances of fiscal year 2008-2009 appropriations (Secs. 573-580).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (76/22)

Summary: -Appropriates $126.46 billion for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for fiscal year 2009-2010, including the following allocations (Title I-VI):

-$82.78 billion to Domestic Food programs; -$24.57 billion to Rural Development programs; -$12.54 billion to Agriculture programs; -$3.25 billion to the Food and Drug Administration; -$2.09 billion to the Foreign Agricultural Service; and -$1.01 billion to Conservation programs.-Appropriates $350 million for dairy producer aid, $60 million of which shall go to the purchase of cheese and other dairy products and $290 million of which shall go to the assistance of dairy and other livestock producers that incur economic losses in connection with dairy and other livestock production (Title VII Sec. 748). -Appropriates $4 million to the Secretary of Agriculture for grants for programs that develop and field test food products that are "designed to improve the nutritional delivery of humanitarian food assistance" (Title VII Sec. 724). -Appropriates $3 million to the Hunger Fellowship Program, a program designed to encourage leadership in humanitarian service, to provide training and development opportunities for such leaders, and to increase awareness of the importance of public service (Title VII Sec. 727). -Resolves that combat pay will not be considered income when determining eligibility for free or reduced school lunches for the children of members of the United States Armed Forces, nor for military eligible to apply for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Children, and Infants (Title VII Sec. 734). -Prohibits the use of funds to provide first class travel to employees of agencies that receive funding under this Act (Title VII Sec. 736). -Prohibits the use of funds to establish or implement rules allowing the importation of poultry products from the People's Republic of China, unless the Secretary of Agriculture takes specified steps including conducting audits of inspection systems and on-site reviews of Chinese poultry processing facilities before certifying any such products as eligible for importation (Title VII, Sec. 743). -Resolves that any household with at least 1 eligible child receiving assistance under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act will continue to receive assistance from a state agency plan approved by the Department of Agriculture if the child's school is closed for more than five consecutive days due to a pandemic emergency (Title VII, Sec. 746).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (62/38)

Summary: -Appropriates a total of $2.32 billion to the United States Congress, $926.16 million of which shall fund the operations of the Senate, and $1.37 billion of which shall fund the operations of the House of Representatives (Title I). -Appropriates a total of $2.33 billion to other Legislative offices, including, but not limited to, the following (Title I): -$684.3 million for the Library of Congress; -$556.85 million for the Government Accountability Office; -$551.59 million for the Architect of the Capitol; and -$328.32 million for the Capitol Police. -Reduces the amount that the United States Postal Service is required to pay into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund by September 30, 2009 from $5.4 billion to $1.4 billion (Title II, Sec. 164). -Increases the gross rate of employee compensation in the Offices of the Senators by $50,000 (Title I, Sec. 1). -Mandates that Senate expenditure reports be posted online in a "searchable, itemized format" (Title I, Sec. 2). -Increases allowances for the Office of the House Majority Whip and the Office of the House Minority Whip by $96,000 for each of the offices per fiscal year (Title I, Sec. 102). -Prohibits funds made available under this or any prior act from being provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations (Title II, Sec. 163). -Appropriates $50 million to be used for the "revitalization" of historical buildings and assets of the House of Representatives that are under the purview of the Architect of the Capitol (Title I, Sec. 1304)

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (83/7)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program

Outcome: Bill Passed (60/37)

Summary: -Provides that the funds appropriated in this bill shall remain available until September 30, 2010. -Mandates that $2 billion be transferred from the Department of Energy's Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S Amdt 1469 Repealing Funding for F-22 Aircraft Procurement

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (58/40)

Summary: -Rescinds $1.75 billion from Air Force F-22A procurement funds (Sec.106). -Authorizes an additional $350 million in appropriations to the operation and maintenance of the Army, an additional $100 million in appropriations to the Navy, and an additional $250 million in appropriations to the Air Force (Sec. 106). -Authorizes an additional $150 million in appropriations for the operation and maintenance of Defense-wide activities (Sec. 106). -Authorizes an additional $400 million in appropriations for military personnel (Sec. 106). -Authorizes an additional $500 million in appropriations for Department of Defense divisions A and B (Sec. 106).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (53/43)

Summary: -Recommends the following new budget authorities for specific categories in fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (Sec. 104): -$3.52 trillion for National Defense -$3.02 trillion for Medicare -$2.93 trillion for Income Security -$2.28 trillion for Health -$656 billion for Veterans Benefits and Services -$572 billion for Transportation -$164 billion for Social Security -Requires the Senate Committees on Finance and on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to report legislative changes that reduce the deficit by $1 trillion in each of their jurisdictions for fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2014 (Sec. 201). -Requires the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, on Ways and Means, and on Education and Labor to report legislative changes that reduce the deficit by $1 trillion in each of their jurisdictions for fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2014 (Sec. 202). -Provides Senate and House reserve funds for legislation that would fund health care reform (Sec. 301, 321). -Provides House reserve funds for legislation that would fund renewable energy projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Sec. 323). -Provides Senate and House reserve funds for legislation that would make higher education more accessible and affordable through student financial aid (Sec. 303, 322). -Provides Senate reserve funds for legislation promoting economic growth through manufacturing, tax reform and housing and unemployment assistance (Sec.306). -Sets Senate discretionary spending limits for fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2010 of $1.4 trillion and $1.08 trillion in new budget authorities, respectively (Sec. 401). -Mandates that all committees in the Senate conduct performance reviews of all government programs in their respective jurisdictions, and provide annual recommendations for improvements (Sec. 411). -Mandates that all committees in the House conduct oversight hearings on all aspects of Federal spending and Government operations, and to make recommendations that may reduce the deficit (Sec. 425). -States that Congress supports the extension of $1.75 trillion in tax relief for families defined as middle class, and that such relief may be paid for through higher rates of tax compliance and tax simplification (Sec. 501). -States that Congress supports improved health care for war veterans (Sec. 502, 601).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S Amdt 739 Public Debt Amendment

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (43/54)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion

Outcome: Bill Passed (79/19)

Summary: -Authorizes funding to promote, operate, and expand service-learning programs in elementary and secondary schools through training, curriculum development, program assessment methods, and community outreach (Sec. 1201). -Allows the Secretary of Education to designate up to 25 Campuses of Service, or institutions of higher education where service-learning is an important component of the curriculum to receive a government award to develop or disseminate service-learning models (Sec. 1203). -Establishes Youth Engagement Zones to involve middle and high school students in community service, including Summer of Service programs (Sec. 1204). -Expands AmeriCorps openings over 8 years, allowing for up to 250,000 AmeriCorps volunteers by fiscal year 2017 (Sec. 1301). -Establishes the Education Corps to improve schools, the Healthy Futures Corps to serve unmet health needs within communities, the Clean Energy Corps to work on energy projects, the Veterans Corps to work with veterans and their families, and the Opportunity Corps to work with the economically disadvantaged (Sec. 1302). -Raises the amount of the full-time national service educational award to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant (Sec. 1404). -Aims to increase the percentage of disadvantaged youths in the National Civilian Community Corps to over 50 percent by 2012 (Sec. 1503). -Expands the National Civilian Community Corps' mission to include projects on energy conservation, environmental stewardship or conservation, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, or disaster preparedness needs (Sec. 1506). -Establishes the Serve America Fellowship to assist with areas of national need, as determined by the State Commissions on National and Community Service (Sec. 1805, 1606). -Establishes Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships and expands the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program Grants, and the National Senior Service Corps to encourage community or national service among citizens age 55 and older (Secs. 1805, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2145). -Establishes the Social Innovation Fund, National Service Programs Clearinghouses, and Volunteer Generation Fund to help local groups train, develop, and maintain volunteers (Secs. 1807, 1808).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 146 Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

Outcome: Bill Passed (77/20)

Summary: -Adds land to wilderness areas in 9 states under the National Wilderness Preservation System (Title I). -Affirms that no provision of this act may be used to close public lands to recreational use by the public (Title II). -Authorizes $1 million to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to compensate ranchers for livestock killed by wolves and to assist with non-lethal methods to reduce wolf attacks (Title VI, Subtitle C). -Grants the state of Alaska 1,806 acres of federal land to construct an emergency access road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in exchange for 43,093 acres of non-federal land (Title VI, Subtitle E). -Authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to study and construct specific water projects (Title IX, Subtitle A). -Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out water settlements agreed to in court and creates the Reclamation Water Settlements Management Fund (Title X). -Authorizes appropriations for ocean research, exploration, and conservation (Title XII). -Expands funding for paralysis treatment (Title XIV).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill")

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (60/38)

Summary: -Allows an income tax credit of up to $400 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $800 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Div. B, Sec. 1001). -Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007). -Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002). -Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Div. B, 3001). -Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Div. B, Sec. 1002). -Extends the first-time homebuyer's tax credit to December 1, 2009 and increases the maximum amount of the tax credit to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately (Div. B, Sec. 1006). -Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Div. B, Sec. 1101). -Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Div. A, Title XV). -Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Div. A, Title XIII). -Increases the Hope Scholarship credit by making up to $2,000 of education expenses deductible, plus 25% of such expenses that exceed $2,000 but not $4,000 dollars (Div. B, Sec. 1004). -Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion in 2010 (Div. B, Sec. 1521). -Requires states to periodically verify if documented immigrants receiving benefits still maintain legal immigrant status (Div. B, Sec. 1853). -Appropriates $4.7 billion for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (Div. A, Titles II). -Appropriates $650 million to extend the digital to analog converter box program (Div. A, Title II). -Appropriates $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy (Div. A, Title IV). -Appropriates $100 million for border security, fencing, infrastructure and technology (Div. A, Title VI). -Appropriates $13 billion for education of the disadvantaged, $12.2 billion for special education, and $15.84 billion for student financial assistance, including Pell Grants (Div. A, Title VIII). -Appropriates $27.5 billion for highway, rail, and port infrastructure construction and repair (Div. A, Title XII).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill")

Outcome: Bill Passed (61/37)

Summary: -Allows an income tax credit of up to $500 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $1,000 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Division B, Sec. 1001). -Requires projects funded by this bill to use only iron and steel produced in the United States, unless it is inconsistent with public interest, there are insufficient quantities produced in the United States, or it would increase the cost of the overall project by over 25 percent (Division A, Sec. 1604). -Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Division B, Sec. 1002). -Increases the Hope Scholarship Credit to allow a 100% deduction for the first $2,000 to be spent on tuition and related expenses and a 25% deduction for expenses that exceed $2,000 but are less than $4,000 (Division B, Sec. 1004). -Allows purchasers of a primary residence a tax credit of up to $15,000 (Division B, Sec. 1006). -Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007). -Extends and expands tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Division B, Secs. 1101, 1102, & 1103). -Expands tax credits for qualified energy efficiency improvements in homes and businesses (Division B, Secs. 1121 and 1122). -Grants a $300 payment to recipients of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Benefits, or Veterans Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits (Division B, Sec. 1601). -Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002). -Provides COBRA health insurance assistance of up to 50 percent of the premium amount (Division B, Sec. 3001). -Allows a six month continuation of coverage for families who received Medicaid but became ineligible for coverage (Division B, Sec. 3101). -Permits the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to reimburse up to 75% of the costs of setting up electronic health records (Division B, Sec. 4202). -Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Division A, Title XV). -Appropriates $31.25 billion to the Department of Energy, including $14.4 billion for renewable energy, $4.5 billion for electricity delivery, and $4.6 billion for fossil energy research (Division A, Title IV). -Appropriates $41.57 billion to the Department of Education, including $12.4 billion for disadvantaged children, $13.5 billion for disabled children, and $13.87 billion to increase Pell Grants (Division A, Title VIII). -Appropriates $45.48 billion to the Department of Transportation, including $5.5 billion for surface transportation infrastructure, $27.06 billion highway investment, $2 billion for high-speed rail projects, and $8.4 billion for public transit (Division A, Title XII). -Appropriates $39 billion for a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to restore state support for education to the fiscal year 2008 level (Division A, Title XIV).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S Amdt 538 Tax Credit Substitute Amendment

Outcome: Motion Rejected (35/61)

Summary: -Grants all taxpayers earning less than $250,000 per year a tax credit of $5,143, or $10,286 if filing jointly (Sec. 2).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2009) S Amdt 109 Hollywood Productions Tax Credit

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (52/45)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion

Outcome: Bill Passed (66/32)

Summary: -Allows states to provide pregnancy-related assistance under CHIP for pregnant women whose income is at least 185 percent of their state's poverty level or at least 200 percent of the poverty level for children under 19 years of age (Sec. 111). -Phases out coverage of non-pregnant childless adults by prohibiting the approval or renewal of waivers after September 30, 2009, unless a state requests a one year extension (Sec. 112). -Expands CHIP coverage to children of families whose incomes would exceed 300% of the poverty line but for a general exclusion for blocks of income (Sec. 114). -Expands CHIP to allow states the option of covering children of legal immigrants and pregnant legal immigrants and allows them to bypass the normally required five-year waiting period before eligibility (Sec. 214). -Prohibits states from providing CHIP to any undocumented immigrants (Sec. 214, 605). -Increases the federal excise taxes on tobacco products, including raising the cigarette tax by $0.61 to $1 per pack, in order to fund CHIP (Sec. 701).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S 22 Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

Outcome: Bill Passed (73/21)

Summary: -Designates land in 9 states as potential wilderness areas (Title I). -Grants the state of Alaska a seven-mile easement for constructing a single-lane airport access road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in exchange for the transfer of 43,093 acres of state-owned land to the federal wildlife refuge system (Title VI, Subtitle E). -Expands the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (Title V, Subtitle A). -Adds to the National Trails System (Title V, Subtitle C). -Authorizes $1 million to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to compensate ranchers for livestock killed by wolves and to assist non-lethal methods to reduce wolf attacks (Title VI, Subtitle F). -Allows for the preservation of former President William Jefferson Clintons childhood home as a National Historic Site (Title VII, Subtitle A, Sec. 7002). -Authorizes appropriations for projects to improve water management and conservation (Title IX and Secs. 10101, 10202 of Title X).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2009) S J Res 5 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act

Outcome: Joint Resolution Failed (42/52)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments

Outcome: Bill Passed (74/25)

Summary: - Establishes the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase troubled assets from any financial institution (Div. A, Sec. 101). - Sets the initial authority for purchasing troubled assets at $250 billion, allows for the President to extend the authority up to $350 billion, and allows for an extension of up to $700 billion with both Congressional and Presidential approval (Div. A, Sec. 115). - Requires that any financial institution that has assets directly purchased by the Treasury have limits placed on executive compensation for the five highest paid employees, and allows for the government to recover compensation garnered through false earning statements and prohibits any "golden parachute" payments (Div. A, Sec. 111). - Increases the limitation for the total public debt by $700 billion, for a total of $11.32 trillion, and requires that proceeds from sales of troubled assets under this bill be used to make payments on the national debt (Div. A, Secs. 106, 122). - States that if mortgages or other assets secured by residential real estate are purchased by the Treasury, the Secretary of the Treasury must encourage use of the HOPE for Homeowners program. Also requires the Treasury Department to work with the Federal Housing Finance Agency and other agencies in order to improve the loan modification and restructuring process and reduce foreclosures (Div. A, Sec. 109). - Terminates the Treasury's authority to purchase or insure troubled assets on December 31, 2009 unless the Secretary of the Treasury submits a certified extension to Congress (Div. A, Sec. 120). - Extends tax credits for wind facilities and refined coal production facilities until January 1, 2010, extends tax credits for closed- and open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, small irrigation power facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash combustion facilities, and qualified hydropower facilities until January 1, 2011, and applies this production credit to marine and hydrokinetic energy facilities until January 1, 2012 (Div. B, Secs. 101, 102). - Extends the energy credit for solar energy properties, fuel cell properties, and microturbine properties through the 2016 calendar year (Div. B, Sec. 103). - Provides a tax credit of $2,500 to $15,000 for the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles (Div. B, Sec. 205). - Provides tax benefits for areas in the Midwest affected by flooding and storms, and for parts of Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ike (Div. C, Sec. 702, 704). - States that group health insurance plans offering mental health and substance abuse treatment must offer such coverage with financial requirements and treatment limitations that are no more restrictive than those associated with the medical and surgical coverage provided by the plan (Div. C, Sec. 512). - Extends the business research credit through the 2009 calendar year (Div. C, Sec. 301). - Extends tax deductions for qualified tuition expenses and for school-related expenses for elementary and secondary school teachers until through the 2009 calendar year (Div. C, Secs. 202, 203). - Reduces the tax deduction available for income from the domestic production of oil and gas (Div. B, Sec. 401). - Increases the amount of income exempt from the alternative minimum tax from $66,250 to $69,950 for a joint return or surviving spouse, and from $44,350 to $46,200 for an individual return (Div. C, Sec. 102). - Extends the 6.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act surtax that employers pay with respect to individual employees through 2009 (Div. B, Sec. 404). -Extends the deadline for qualified individuals of 70 1/2 years of age or older to make tax-free charitable donations totaling up to $100,000 from individual retirement plans from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2009 (Div. C, Sec. 205). - Note: The initial House passage of this bill (Roll 101 on March 5, 2008) did not include the economic package. At that time the bill focused on insurance coverage of mental illness and addiction, and employer and insurance practices involving genetic information. Senate vote 213 and House vote 681 contained the economic package.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) HR 2095 Amtrak Reauthorization

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (74/24)

Summary: - Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak for the next five years, including $5.32 billion for capital grants, $2.95 billion for operation grants, and $1.9 billion for intercity passenger rail services (Div. B). - Authorizes $1.5 billion over the next ten years for capital and preventive maintenance projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Div. B, Sec. 601). - Provides $1.63 billion for rail safety programs (Div. A). - Allocates $18 million for 2009-2013 to design, develop, and construct the Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel in Colorado to test and evaluate above-ground and underground rail tunnels to prevent accidents, mitigate and remediate the consequences of any such accidents, and to provide a realistic scenario for training emergency responders (Div. A, Sec 3). - Limits the consecutive workday of train employees to twelve hours and requires ten hours off before resuming duty (Div. A, Sec. 108). - Requires providers of intercity commuter rail passenger transportation to develop a plan to implement a positive train control system, which is a system designed to prevent various types of train accidents, by December 31, 2015 (Div. A, Sec. 104).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 2638 Continuing Appropriations

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (78/12)

Summary: -Appropriates funds necessary to continue until March 6, 2009 projects or activities that were conducted in fiscal year 2008 and for which funds or other authority were made available in divisions A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, and K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (HR 2764) at the same rate for operations provided in those divisions of that Act, with the exception of some minor changes (Div. A, Sec. 101). -Appropriates $22.88 billion for disaster relief and recovery, $480.25 billion for the Department of Defense, $43.48 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, and $119.92 billion for military construction and veterans affairs (Divs. B-E). -Specifies that the funds appropriated in this act are not subject to a prohibition on use for offshore oil and natural gas preleasing and leasing (Div. A, Sec. 152). -Maintains funding levels at $7.51 billion for 2009 to fund loans of up to $25 billion in total principal for automobile manufacturers and component suppliers to pay for up to 30 percent of the cost of equipping themselves to produce vehicles or components which meet specified emissions and fuel economy standards (Div. A, Sec. 129). -Appropriates $5.1 billion for low-income home energy assistance instead of the previous amount of $2.6 billion (Div. A, Sec. 155).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) S 3001 Defense Authorizations Bill

Outcome: Bill Passed (88/8)

Summary: - Provides a 3.9 percent basic pay increase for members of the armed forces (Sec. 601). - Prohibits funds in this bill from being used for permanent stationing of armed forces in Iraq, and from exercising United States control over Iraqi oil resources (Sec. 2913). - Prohibits detainees from being interrogated by contracted personnel (Sec. 1036). - Requires the Department of Defense to develop a plan to increase the roll of the National Guard and Reserves in national defense (Sec. 1053). - Authorizes $153.55 billion for operations and maintenance - Authorizes an additional $19.86 billion for operations in Afghanistan, and an additional $49.63 billion for operations in Iraq - Authorizes $124.5 billion for military personnel and contributions to the Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Fund - Authorizes $103.6 billion for procurement of weapons and supplies

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (83/8)

Summary: -Requires the Secretary of Education to make available online a list of the most expensive and least expensive colleges on a website, along with a list of the colleges that have had the largest increases in tuition and fee rates over a three year period (Sec. 111). -Requires the colleges with the largest increases in tuition and fee rates to submit a report describing the causes of these increases and a description of how the institution will try to reduce costs (Sec. 111). -Requires textbook publishers to disclose the retail cost of textbooks or supplemental materials, copyright dates of any previous editions, a description of the substantial content revisions, and whether any other format is available when college faculty select course materials (Sec. 112). -Requires textbook publishers that bundle textbooks and supplemental materials to also sell them separately (Sec. 112). -Requires colleges and institution-affiliated organizations that participate in a preferred lender arrangement to disclose the maximum amount of Federal grant and loan aid available to students on the organization's website (Sec. 120). -Establishes federal grants to cover 50 percent of costs for colleges related to implementing emergency systems to notify the campus community of a significant emergency or dangerous situation through cellular, text message, or other advanced communication, and to develop procedures for the community to follow in case of an emergency or dangerous situation (Sec. 802). -Requires colleges with on-campus student housing facilities to publish an annual fire safety report disclosing the number of fires and the cause of each fire, the number of injuries related to a fire that result in treatment at a medical facility, the number of deaths related to a fire, and the value of property damage caused by a fire (Sec. 488). -Requires colleges to disclose the report on disciplinary proceedings conducted against an alleged perpetrator of any violent crime or a nonforcible sex offense to the alleged victim upon written request (Sec. 493). -Prohibits private educational lenders from engaging in revenue sharing with a covered college and from directly or indirectly offering gifts to a college in exchange for any advantage or consideration related to its private education loan activities (Sec. 1011). -Expands federal Pell Grants to allow awards of up to two grants for students taking more than two semesters or the equivalent each year (Sec. 401). -Raises the maximum Pell grant from $5,800 to $8,000 per academic year by 2014 (Sec. 401).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 4040 Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (89/3)

Summary: - Increases yearly appropriations for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to $118.20 million for fiscal year (FY) 2010, $115.64 million for FY 2011, $123.99 million for FY 2012, $131.78 million for FY 2013, and $136.41 million for FY 2014 (Sec. 201). - Prohibits children's products from containing 600 parts per million lead content by weight beginning 180 days after the enactment of this bill, 300 parts per million lead content beginning 1 year after the enactment of this bill, and 100 parts per million lead content by weight beginning 3 years after the enactment of this bill (Sec. 101). - Prohibits the manufacturing of any toy or child care article that contains more than 0.1 percent of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) beginning 180 days after the enactment of this bill (Sec. 108). - Prohibits the manufacturing of any child care article that can be placed in a child's mouth that contains more than 0.1 percent of diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), or di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) beginning 180 days after the enactment of this bill (Sec. 108). - Mandates that manufacturers of children's products distribute prototypes of their products to a third party conformity assessment body to test them for compliance with the safety rules of this bill (Sec. 102). - Requires that manufacturers of children's products label the packaging of all products with permanent, distinguishing marks that identify the manufacturer and the location, date, and cohort information of production (Sec. 103). - Mandates that toys and games that are required to contain a cautionary statement due to small size or the small size of components shall also contain a cautionary statement on any advertisements in which they are featured (Sec. 105). - Mandates that 180 days after the enactment of this bill, safety standards from the ASTM International Standard F963-07 Consumer Safety Specifications for Toy Safety shall become official consumer product safety standards and requires the Commission to evaluate and update those standards 1 year after enactment if more stringent standards would further reduce the risk of injury of certain toys (Sec. 106). - Prohibits employers from discharging or discriminating against employees for providing the employer, the Federal Government, or the attorney general of a State with information regarding violations of consumer product safety standards, for personally refusing to violate consumer product safety standards, or for testifying in a proceeding about such violations or assisting with such a proceeding (Sec. 219). - Prohibits the importation or commercial distribution of 3-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) until a mandatory consumer product safety standard applicable to such vehicles is in effect (Sec. 232). - Increases the number of full-time personnel employed at the Commission to at least 500 by October 1, 2013, subject to the availability of appropriations (Sec. 202). - Requires the Commission to establish a publicly available searchable database on the Internet featuring reports of safety hazards presented by consumer products (Sec. 212). - Requires that every importer, retailer, or distributor of a product shall identify the manufacturer of the product upon the request of an officer or designated employee of the Commission (Sec. 215).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (72/13)

Summary: -Increases the national debt limit from $9.82 trillion to $10.62 trillion (Sec. 3083). -Establishes the Home Ownership Preservation Entity Fund to fund the HOPE (Home Ownership Preservation Entity) for Homeowners Program, which will insure up to $300 billion for 30 year refinanced loans for distressed borrowers between October 1, 2008-September 30, 2011 (Sec. 1402). -Provides that the mortgagor and the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development each receive 50 percent of the appreciation value for each eligible mortgage insured under the HOPE program if changes occur to the property value 5 years after the loan is taken over by HOPE (Sec. 1402). -Allocates $3.92 billion in grants to States and other units of local government to redevelop abandoned and foreclosed property and $180 million to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, given that at least 15 percent of the $180 million be provided to housing counseling organizations that provide services for loss mitigation to minority and low-income homeowners (Sec. 2305). -Establishes a Housing Trust Fund to be used to increase and preserve the supply of rental housing for extremely low and very low-income families (Sec. 1131). -Establishes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, with regulatory authority over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Office of Finance (Sec. 1101). -Sets conforming loan limitations for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at a maximum of $417,000 for a single-family residence up to $801,950 for a 4-family residence, adjusted annually (Sec. 1124). -Raises the limits on the size of the principle mortgage obligation that is eligible for insurance for most homeowners, up to 115 percent of the local area median house price for single-family homes (Sec. 2112). -Increases conforming loan limitations in areas where the average house price is over 115 percent of the housing price index (Sec. 1124). -Increases appropriations under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act from $70 million to $100 million for the fiscal year 2009 (Sec. 2901). -Increases housing benefits for specially adapted houses for disabled veterans from $10,000 to $12,000, with increases each year tied to the residential home cost-of-construction index (Sec. 2605). -Changes the limitation on the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property owned by service members from 90 days to nine months after their return from military service, and limits their interest rates to 6 percent during service and one year after their return (Sec. 2203). -Provides first-time home buyers with a tax credit of up to $7,500 for residences purchased on or after April 9, 2008, which the homebuyers will repay over fifteen years following their purchase (Sec. 3011). -Expands home ownership counseling eligibility to include people who have a reduction in income due to divorce or death, or who have an increase in expenses due to medical expenses, divorce, unexpected property damages not covered by insurance, or a large property tax increase (Sec. 2127). -Allows a real property tax deduction on the amount of state and local real property taxes paid during the taxable year of up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for joint returns, applicable to taxable years beginning in 2008 (Sec. 3012).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S 3186 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (50/35)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis

Outcome: Bill Passed (80/16)

Summary: -Establishes a plan to prevent 12 million new HIV infections worldwide, provide support care for 12 million who are already infected with HIV/AIDS including 5 million orphans and children, and help countries reach 80 percent of the targeted group with counseling, testing, and treatment (Sec. 101). -Allows individuals with AIDS to receive a visa to travel into the United States (Sec. 305). -Provides assistance for counseling, testing, and treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men and by providing male and female condoms (Sec. 301). -Requires "balanced funding" for sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS prevention (Sec. 403). -Requires the HIV/AIDS Response Coordinator in the U.S. Department of State to work with host countries to link HIV/AIDS programs with programs to deter prostitution and human trafficking (Sec. 102). -Adds Vietnam to the list of countries that are guaranteed funding under the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (Sec. 102). -States that if host countries use less than 50 percent of their AIDS targeted funding for behavioral change programs (such as abstinence, monogamy, and partner reduction), the Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally must file a report justifying this decision (Sec. 403). -Provides additional nutritional support, health care, and safe drinking water assistance to individuals with HIV/AIDS (Sec. 301). -Provides that $5 billion of the funding authorized in this bill shall be for combating malaria and $4 billion shall be for combating tuberculosis (Sec. 302, 303). -Provides that assistance shall be given to postsecondary institutions in host countries to improve their health infrastructure, with collaboration from historically black colleges and universities in the United States (Sec. 204). -Provides that organizations receiving assistance to combat HIV/AIDS are not required to engage in programs or methods that they find religiously or morally objectionable (Sec. 301). -Establishes the Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health and allocates $2 billion to it for the 5-year period beginning in 2008 (Sec. 601).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 5077 Funding Amendment to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (31/64)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) HR 6331 Medicare Bill

Outcome: Veto Override Passed (70/26)

Summary: -Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102). -Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103). -Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111). -Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113). -Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116). -Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals(Sec. 119). -Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121). -Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123). -Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131). -Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154). -Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146). -Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 6331 Medicare Bill

Outcome: Cloture Invoked (69/30)

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 2642 Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (92/6)

Summary: -Requires the Secretary of Defense to send a report to Congress detailing performance standards and goals with a timetable for achieving security, economic, and security force training objectives in Iraq, starting with an initial report to be submitted by December 5, 2008 and updating the report every 90 days thereafter through the end of fiscal year 2009 (Sec. 9204). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees regarding the individual transition readiness assessments of security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, starting with an initial report 30 days after enactment of this bill and updating the report every 90 days after the initial submission until October 1, 2009 (Sec. 9205). -Designates differing amounts of payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001 based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued, and specifies that these payments shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled. (Sec. 5003). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to match assistance given to members of the Armed Forces by institutions of higher learning to cover fees and expenses beyond what other provisions of this bill provide (Sec. 5003). -Qualifies unemployed individuals in participating states for emergency unemployment compensation if the individuals have exhausted all rights to regular compensation, have no rights to regular or extended compensation, or are not receiving compensation under the unemployment compensation law of Canada (Sec. 4001). -Allows an individual with an emergency unemployment compensation to receive either 50 percent of the total regular compensation of an individual's benefit year or 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for that year (Sec. 4002). -Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers, removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs, excluding certain social services related to families and children from the Medicaid program, and restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes (Sec. 7001). -Provides $352 million to combat drug trafficking and related violence in Mexico, and $65 million for similar programs in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and certain Central American countries (Sec. 1406, 1407). -Appropriates $25 million for 2009 and authorizes the same amount in each subsequent year for the purpose of reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse (Sec. 7001). -Appropriates $15.26 billion for military construction, veterans affairs, international affairs and other security-related matters, including $8.84 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, $4.76 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, $1.25 billion for the Department of Agriculture, and $270.95 million for the Department of Justice. -Appropriates $1.05 billion for domestic matters, including $210 million for periodic censuses and programs, $178 million for the federal prison system, and $110 million for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations. -Appropriates $8.48 billion for natural disaster relief and recovery, including $5.76 billion for hurricane related expenses in the greater New Orleans area. -Appropriates funds for military matters of the Department of Defense, equaling $99.65 billion for the fiscal year 2008, and $65.92 billion for the fiscal year 2009.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (79/16)

Summary: -Establishes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, with regulatory authority over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Office of Finance (Sec. 1101). -Abolishes the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of the Department of Housing Development and the Federal Housing Finance Board one year after this act becomes law (Sec. 1301, 1311). -Establishes the HOPE (Home Ownership Preservation Entity) for Homeowners Program to insure refinanced mortgages and assist distressed borrowers by reducing the principle balance outstanding and interest rates charged on their mortgages (Sec. 1402). -Provides that the total original obligation of all insured mortgages may be up to $300 billion (Sec. 1402). -Requires the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision to conduct a study to improve default risk evaluation of residential mortgage loans, with emphasis to the technologies and processes that help standardize the risk measurement (Sec. 1602). -Raises the limits on the size of the principle mortgage obligation that is eligible for insurance for most homeowners (Sec. 2112). -Eliminates the General Insurance Fund as a source of mortgage insurance and transfers its responsibilities to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund; increases the initial single premium payment to a maximum of 3 percent from 2.25 percent of the original insured principal obligation of the mortgage and provides that for a first-time homebuyer who completes a program of homeownership counseling the payment shall increase to a maximum of 2.75 percent from 2 percent (Sec. 2114). -Establishes that the costs of energy efficient mortgage program improvements not exceed the greater of 5 percent of the property value of the dollar limitation established under Sec. 2112 of this amendment or 2 percent of the sum of the amount of the mortgage insurance premium paid at the time the mortgage is insured and:

-98.75 percent of the appraised value of the properties appraised at or below $50,000

-97.65 percent of the appraised value of the properties appraised at or below $125,000

-97.15 percent of the appraised value of properties appraised above $125,000 (Sec. 2123).

-Authorizes $25 million each fiscal year between 2009 through 2013 to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of enhancing technology, processes, and program performance, and for eliminating fraud and paying staff in regards to mortgage insurance programs under the National Housing Act (Sec. 2126). -Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount temporarily for veterans' housing to either 25 percent of $417,000, which will be annually adjusted in accordance with the housing price index, or 25 percent of 125 percent of the area median price for the single-family residence (Sec. 2201). -Appropriates $4 billion for the fiscal year 2008 until it is expended as emergency funds to states and local governments for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes (Sec. 2301). -Appropriates $100 million for fiscal year 2008 until September 30, 2008 for housing counseling resources to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (Sec. 2401). -Increases the state low-income housing credit maximum capacity for 2008 and 2009 (Sec. 3001). -Establishes a first-time homebuyer credit for single-family housing at 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence, with a maximum of $8,000 (Sec. 3011). -Allows individuals who do not itemize their income tax deductions to deduct the real property tax deduction (Sec. 3012).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 6124 Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill)

Outcome: Veto Override Passed (80/14)

Summary: -Grants $37 million in technical assistance to specialty crop producers (Sec. 3203). -Prohibits persons with adjusted gross non-farm income of over $500,000 or adjusted gross farm income of over $750,000 from receiving certain types of subsidies (Sec. 1604). -Reauthorizes the Federal Food and Nutrition Program, the Commodity Distribution Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects through 2012 (Sec. 4406). -Establishes a table of market assistance loan rates for 19 commodities including corn, wheat, barley, oats, and soybeans (Sec. 1202). -Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to spend $991 million during 2008-2012 (and $206 million each subsequent fiscal year) for the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and nuts for nutritious foods in domestic nutrition assistance programs and an additional $250 million during 2008-2012 for fruits and vegetables for schools (Sec. 4404). -Establishes a mandatory labeling of countries of origin for goat meat, chicken, ginseng, pecans, and macadamia nuts, and changes the designation criteria for United States country of origin labeling and allows multiple countries to be listed on labels for beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and goat meat (Sec. 11002). -Supports the price of dairy products by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to buy cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk made from milk produced in the United States (Sec. 1501). -Extends the Dairy Export Incentive Program, the Dairy Indemnity Program, and the Dairy Promotion and Research Program through 2012 (Secs. 1503, 1505, 1507). -Lowers the income tax credit for ethanol producers during 2009 and 2010 for a blender amount from 51 cents to 45 cents and for a low-proof blender amount from 37.78 cents to 33.33 cents (Sec. 15331). -Extends the alcohol fuels credit to cellulosic biofuel (Sec. 15321). -Establishes the Biomass Research and Development Initiative to award grants and financial assistance for the research of biofuels and biobased products (Sec. 9001). -Provides assistance for landowners who have lost non-industrial private forestland due to wildfires, hurricanes, excessive winds, drought, ice storms, blizzards, or floods (Sec. 8203). -Increases loan rates for sugar producers (Sec. 1401). -Offers incentive payments for the production of oil seeds that reduce the need for hydrogenated oil (Sec. 1605). -Extends the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program through the 2012 fiscal year (Secs. 2101, 2203). -Renames the Food Stamp Program to the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" and replaces coupons used for the Food Stamp Program with electronic benefit transfer cards (EBTs) which can be used at any retail food store (Secs. 4001 and 4115). -Requires pilot programs to reduce obesity in the United States (Sec. 4141). -Authorizes $25 million for each fiscal year from 2008 through 2012 for loans to broadband internet service providers in rural areas that currently have two or fewer providers in the area and have at least 25 percent of the area serviced by not more than one provider (Sec. 6110). -Eliminates priority status for food aid for countries that demonstrate the potential to become markets for competitively priced U.S. agricultural commodities (Sec. 3005).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 6049 Alternative Energy Tax Incentives

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (52/44)

Summary: -Extends the renewable energy tax credit by one year for new wind facilities (Sec. 101). -Extends the renewable energy tax credit by 3 years for new qualified closed-loop or open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, small irrigation power facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash combustion facilities, and qualified hydropower facilities (Sec. 101). -Designates marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as being qualified energy resources eligible for the renewable energy tax credit (Sec. 102). -Extends for 6 years the 30 percent energy tax credit for qualified fuel cell property and solar energy property and the 10 percent credit for microturbine property (Sec. 103). -Extends the tax credit for certain new residential "energy efficient" property for 6 years and raises the total tax credit for new solar electric property from $2,000 to $4,000 (Sec. 104). -Extends the research tax credit, restaurant property depreciation tax credits, and optional state sales tax deductions for one year (Sec. 221, 225, 201). -Extends tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel for one year, and raises the biodiesel credits and biodiesel mixture credits from 50 cents per gallon to $1 per gallon (Sec. 122). -Provides an additional standard deduction for real property taxes for non-itemizers of up to $350 or $700 for a joint return (Sec. 301). -Increases the child tax credit for low-income parents (Sec. 302). -Delays tax code provisions that would allow companies to allocate interest on a worldwide basis for 10 years (Sec. 402). -Mandates that compensation deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan of a foreign corporation shall be includible in gross income in the absence of a substantial risk of forfeiture of rights to such compensation (Sec. 401).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S 3044 Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (51/43)

Summary: -Establishes a 25 percent tax on the "windfall profits" of major oil companies, defined as those oil companies that produce at least 500,000 barrels of oil per year and meet certain other criteria (Sec. 103). -Defines "windfall profit" as the excess of the adjustable taxable income of a taxpayer for the taxable year that exceeds the "reasonably" inflated average profit for such taxable year (Sec. 103). -Prohibits major oil companies from deducting the receipts from the production, refining, processing, transportation, or distribution of petroleum primary products from their taxable income (Sec. 101). -Reduces the foreign tax credit for foreign oil or gas related income (Sec. 102). -Allows oil companies to deduct investment in alternative energy production (including wind facilities, closed-loop and open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, landfill gas facilities, small irrigation power facilities, trash combustion facilities, and qualified hydropower facilities) from the "windfall profits" tax (Sec. 103). -Establishes the Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund with the revenue created by this bill, with the stated purpose of decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign and "unsustainable" energy sources and combating global warming (Sec. 104). -Authorizes the president to declare a Federal energy emergency for a maximum initial period of 30 days in an area where there is a fuel supply shortage or price anomaly that affects the well-being of citizens (Sec. 204). -Prohibits suppliers from selling fuel at an "unconscionably" excessive price in an area that the president has declared the subject of an energy emergency (Sec. 203). -Suspends the acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008 (Sec. 301). -Authorizes the Attorney General to take action against foreign states or agents thereof that attempt to collectively limit petroleum production, limit petroleum distribution, set the price of petroleum products, or restrain the trade of petroleum products (Sec. 401). -Mandates that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgate regulations to increase margin levels for crude oil trading to reduce oil speculation (Sec. 502).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill)

Outcome: Veto Override Passed (82/13)

Summary: -Prohibits persons with adjusted gross non-farm income of over $500,000 or adjusted gross farm income of over $750,000 from receiving certain types of subsidies (Sec. 1604). -Reauthorizes the Federal Food and Nutrition Program, the Commodity Distribution Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects through 2012 (Sec. 4406). -Establishes a table of market assistance loan rates for 19 commodities including corn, wheat, barley, oats, and soybeans (Sec. 1202). -Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to spend $991 million during 2008-2012 - and $206 million each subsequent fiscal year - for the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and nuts for nutritious foods in domestic nutrition assistance programs and an additional $250 million during 2008-2012 for fruits and vegetables for schools (Sec. 4404). -Establishes a mandatory labeling of countries of origin for goat meat, chicken, ginseng, pecans, and macadamia nuts, and changes the designation criteria for United States country of origin labeling and allows multiple countries to be listed on labels for beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and goat meat (Sec. 11002). -Supports the price of dairy products by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to buy cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk made from milk produced in the United States (Sec. 1501). -Extends the Dairy Export Incentive Program, the Dairy Indemnity Program, and the Dairy Promotion and Research Program through 2012 (Secs. 1503, 1505, 1507). -Lowers the income tax credit for ethanol producers during 2009 and 2010 for a blender amount from 51 cents to 45 cents and for a low-proof blender amount from 37.78 cents to 33.33 cents (Sec. 15331). -Extends the alcohol fuels credit to cellulosic biofuel (Sec. 15321). -Establishes the Biomass Research and Development Initiative to award grants and financial assistance for the research of biofuels and biobased products (Sec. 9001). -Provides assistance for landowners who have lost non-industrial private forestland due to wildfires, hurricanes, excessive winds, drought, ice storms, blizzards, or floods (Sec. 8203). -Increases loan rates for sugar producers (Sec. 1401). -Offers incentive payments for the production of oil seeds that reduce the need for hydrogenated oil (Sec. 1605). -Extends the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program through the 2012 fiscal year (Secs. 2101, 2203). -Renames the Food Stamp Program to the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" and replaces coupons used for the Food Stamp Program with electronic benefit transfer cards (EBTs) which can be used at any retail food store (Secs. 4001 and 4115). -Requires pilot programs to reduce obesity in the United States (Sec. 4141). -Authorizes $25 million for each fiscal year from 2008 through 2012 for loans to broadband internet service providers in rural areas that currently have two or fewer providers in the area and have at least 25 percent of the area serviced by not more than one provider (Sec. 6110). -NOTE: Due to a clerical error, this bill was sent to the President without Title III (concerning trade), and therefore, the veto override votes by the House and Senate are on the bill without this title. On 5/22/2008 the House passed H.R. 6124, a new bill containing 15 farm bill titles.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 4818 Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (70/26)

Summary: - Requires the Secretary of Defense to send a report to Congress detailing performance standards and goals with a timetable for the achievement of security, economic, and security force training objectives in Iraq, starting with an initial report to be submitted by December 5, 2008, and updating the report every 90 days thereafter through the end of fiscal year 2009 (Sec. 11204). - Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the individual transition readiness assessments of security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, starting with an initial report no later than 30 days after enactment of this bill and updating the report every 90 days after the initial submission until October 1, 2009 (Sec. 11205).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) S Amdt 4803 GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (75/22)

Summary: - Designates differing amounts of payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001, based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued, and specifies that these payments shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled (Sec. 4003). - Establishes a program through which assistance voluntarily provided by an educational institution for a member of the Armed Forces that covers a portion of the amount by which tuition exceeds the cost of in-state tuition would be matched by the Secretary of Defense (Sec. 4003). - Allows participating states to establish emergency unemployment compensation accounts for eligible individuals that shall contain an amount equaling up to 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for the benefit year (Sec. 5002). - Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers, removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs, excluding certain social services related to families and children from being included in the Medicaid program, and restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes (Sec. 6001). -Appropriates $14.23 billion for security, military construction, and international matters. -Appropriates $10.39 billion for expenses related to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and other natural disasters, including a total of $450 million for wildland fire management. -Appropriates $4.05 billion for domestic matters, including a total of $590 million for state and local law enforcement, a total of $275 million for the Food and Drug Administration, and $210 million for periodic censuses and programs.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill)

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (81/15)

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions

Outcome: Bill Passed (84/12)

Summary: -Appropriates $4 billion for assistance to states and local governments for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed properties (Sec. 301). -Allows a tax credit of up to $7,000 for the purchase of a qualified principal residence during the taxable year (Sec. 603). -Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to consult with foreclosure prevention organizations and develop a plan to improve the FHA's loss mitigation process (Sec. 125). -Adds people who have a reduction in income due to divorce or death, or who have an increase in expenses due to medical expenses, divorce, unexpected property damages not covered by insurance, or a large property tax increase to the eligibility list for homeownership counseling (Sec. 127). -Allows a real property tax deduction on the amount of state and local real property taxes paid during the taxable year of up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for joint returns (Sec. 604). -Temporarily increases the cap on qualified mortgage bond proceeds that can be used to assist individuals in refinancing sub-prime home loans to $10 billion in 2008 (Sec. 602). -Extends expiring tax credits until Jan 1, 2010 for the establishment of certain facilities that produce power by using wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, refined coal production, and hydropower, while also expanding these tax credits so as to apply to certain new marine and hydrokinetic facilities (Sec. 1011). -Extends certain tax credits for the development of solar energy until January 1, 2017 and for the development of fuel cell energy until December 31, 2017 (Sec. 1012). -Extends the expiration date of the "residential energy efficient property" credit (which provides a tax credit of 30 percent of expenditures on certain types of solar energy) from December 31, 2008 until December 31, 2009, and removes the $2,000 credit limit on solar electric energy (Sec. 1013). -Extends the authority to issue "clean renewable energy bonds" until December 31, 2009, and increases the limitation on the cumulative value of the bonds from $800 million to $1.2 billion (Sec. 1014). -Extends the expiration date of the "new energy efficient home" credit (which applies to certain new homes that meet specific energy conservation criteria) from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2010 (Sec. 1022). -Extends the "energy efficient commercial buildings" deduction until December 31, 2009, and increases the maximum deduction from $1.80 to $2.25 per square foot (Sec. 1023). -Modifies energy efficient appliance credit levels and extends certain credits through the 2010 calendar year (Sec. 1024). -NOTE: This bill was passed by the House as an energy related bill. The Senate substituted the text of this bill to make it a foreclosure related bill with some energy tax provisions.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 4419 to S Amdt 4387 to HR 3221 Energy Tax Credits Amendment

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (88/8)

Summary: -Extends tax credits until January 1, 2010, for the establishment of certain facilities that produce power by using wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, refined coal production, and hydropower, while also expanding these tax credits so as to apply to certain new marine and hydrokinetic facilities. -Extends certain tax credits for the development of solar energy until January 1, 2017 and for the development of fuel cell energy until December 31, 2017. -Extends the expiration date of the "residential energy efficient property" credit (which provides a tax credit of 30 percent of expenditures on certain types of solar energy) from December 31, 2008, until December 31, 2009, and removes the $2,000 credit limit on solar electric energy. -Extends the expiration date of the "new energy efficient home" credit (which applies to certain new homes that meet specific energy conservation criteria) from December 31, 2008, to December 31, 2010. -Extends the "energy efficient commercial buildings" deduction until December 31, 2009, and increases the maximum deduction from $1.80 to $2.25 per square foot. -Modifies energy efficient appliance credit levels and extends certain credits through the 2010 calendar year. -Extends the authority to issue "clean renewable energy bonds" until December 31, 2009, and increases the limitation on the cumulative value of these bonds from $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Con Res 70 Concurrent Budget Resolution

Outcome: Resolution Passed (51/44)

Summary: -Recommends the following new budget authorities for specific categories in fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013: -$3.56 trillion for National Defense -$2.79 trillion for Medicare -$2.49 trillion for Income Security -$2.03 trillion for Health -$577.28 billion for Veterans Benefits and Services -$479.81 billion for Transportation -$155.31 billion for Social Security -Provides a total of $4.52 trillion for Social Security Revenues in fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 (Sec. 102). -Prohibits the consideration in the Senate of bills, joint resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports that would produce an increase in deficits in any of the four 10-year periods after the adoption of the most recent budget resolution, unless approved by a three-fifths majority (Sec. 201). -Sets discretionary spending limits at $1.01 trillion in new budget authority and $1.11 trillion in outlays for fiscal year 2009 (Sec. 211). -Mandates that budget resolutions in the Senate must contain debt disclosure sections that specify the effect that the budget resolution would have on the gross federal debt, as well as the amounts from the Social Security surplus that the budget resolution projects will be spent on things other than Social Security (Sec. 223). -Discloses that this budget resolution will increase the gross federal debt by $2 trillion -- representing an increase of $6,440 per citizen -- during the period from fiscal years 2008 to 2013 (Sec. 224). -Discloses that this budget resolution projects $800 billion of the Social Security surplus (which represents 70 percent of the surplus) will be spent on things other than Social Security during the period from fiscal years 2009 to 2013 (Sec. 224). -Allows the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels to extend tax credits; to provide economic assistance to needy families, needy children, or the unemployed; to provide housing assistance; to reinstate pre-1993 rates for the Alternative Minimum Tax for individuals; or to repeal the 1993 increase of the income tax on Social Security benefits, provided that such revisions would not increase the budget deficit (Secs. 301, 309-310). -Allows the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels to provide increased funding for education, education-related programs, or education reform efforts, provided that such revisions would not increase the budget deficit (Secs. 302, 329). -Allows the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels to provide for investment in "clean energy," environmental preservation efforts, or efforts to increase energy efficiency, provided that such revisions would not increase the budget deficit (Secs. 304, 311). -Allows the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels to provide for medical care and other benefits and programs for veterans; to provide for the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); to expand Medicare; to fund traumatic brain injury programs; or to fund efforts to increase Americans' access to "quality and affordable health insurance," provided that such revisions would not increase the budget deficit (Secs. 305-306, 319, 331). -Allows the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels to fund immigration reform, enforcement of immigration laws, and border security efforts, provided that such revisions would not increase the budget deficit (Secs. 312-313). -Expresses the Senate's strong support for legislation that would legalize the importation of prescription drugs from "highly industrialized countries with safe pharmaceutical infrastructures" and expresses the Senate's desire to have an up or down vote to pass such legislation during 2008 (Sec. 336).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium

Outcome: Motion Rejected (29/71)

Summary: -Defines "earmark" as language providing a specific amount of spending authority for a specific state, locality, or congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process. -Defines a "limited tax benefit" as a tax deduction, credit, exclusion, or preference provided for specific beneficiaries. -Defines a "limited tariff benefit" as a tariff modification applying to ten or fewer entities. -Provides that the consideration of legislation that contains earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits is out of order, and prevents the legislation from being considered unless the point of order is waived by a two-thirds vote or the out of order sections are removed. -Applies this moratorium to the 2009 fiscal year only.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 4309 to S Con Res 70 Restriction of Federal Assistance Based on Compliance with Federal Immigration Laws

Outcome: Amendment Tabled (58/40)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 4040 Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill

Outcome: Bill Passed (79/13)

Summary: -Raises the Consumer Product Safety Commission's budget each year until 2015, at which time the agency's budget would be $156 million (Sec. 3). -Increases the number of full-time personnel employed at the Consumer Product Safety Commission to at least 500 by 2013 (Sec. 4). -States that the presence of two members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission from different political parties shall constitute a quorum for the nine-month period after the enactment of this bill (Sec. 5). -Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a searchable database featuring reports of safety hazards presented by consumer products (Sec. 7). -Mandates that children's products be tested by a third party laboratory to ensure that they meet safety standards (Sec. 10). -Requires that every importer, retailer, or distributor of a product shall identify the manufacturer of the product upon the request of an officer or designated employee of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Sec. 14). -Raises maximum civil penalties for consumer product safety violations (Sec. 16). -Allows state attorneys general to take civil action against parties whose violation of consumer safety standards has affected the residents of their states (Sec. 20). -Provides legal protection for employees who provide information relating to consumer safety standard violations to the government, testify in court about such violations, or refuse to participate in activities that they reasonably believe to be in violation of regulations enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Sec. 21). -Bans children's products containing more than trace amounts of lead, defined as 0.03 percent by weight (Sec. 22).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S 1200 Health Care for Indigenous Peoples

Outcome: Bill Passed (83/10)

Summary: - Makes grants and educational scholarships available for the recruitment of Native Americans into health professions and for health professionals who serve Native American populations (Sec. 101). - Authorizes the expenditure of funds for health promotion and disease prevention programs for Native Americans, including screening for diabetes, screening for cancers including breast cancer, monitoring of environmental and nuclear health hazards, and preventing communicable diseases (Sec. 101). - Establishes an Office of Indian Men's Health within the Indian Health Service to promote health among Native American men (Sec. 101). - Makes funds available for mental health, physical disease prevention, suicide prevention and intervention, and alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs that are aimed at Native American youth and urban Native American youth (Sec. 101). - Establishes five health care delivery demonstration projects to test alternative means of delivering health care and services to Native Americans, and allows up to ten additional projects to be established each year (Sec. 101). - Authorizes the expenditure of funds for the construction, renovation, and modernization of health care facilities, and allows tribes to use maintenance and improvement funds to build a replacement health facility if the renovation costs are too expensive (Sec. 101). - Increases access of Native Americans to Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) (Sec. 101). - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of treating the Navajo Nation as a state for the purposes of Medicaid delivery services (Sec. 101). - Authorizes the expenditure of funds for the development a comprehensive behavioral health prevention and treatment program which emphasizes collaboration among alcohol and substance abuse, social services, and mental health programs (Sec. 101). - Establishes programs to prevent and treat Native American victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse (Sec. 101). - Prohibits any funds in this bill from being used to perform abortions, except in cases in which the pregnancy resulted from incest involving a minor or rape, or in cases in which an abortion is medically necessary to save a pregnant woman's life (Sec. 101). - Apologizes to Native Americans, on behalf of the people of the United States, "for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States" (Sec. 101).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) S Amdt 3896 Prohibiting the Funds in S 1200 from Being Used for Abortions

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (52/42)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2008) HR 2082 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (51/45)

Summary: - Authorizes classified dollar amounts to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security (Sec. 101). - Requires $39.00 million to be transferred from the Director of National Intelligence to the Attorney General for the National Drug Intelligence Center (Sec. 104). - Authorizes $262.50 million for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund (Sec. 201). - Directs the Director of National Intelligence to implement a multi-level security clearance system for persons proficient in foreign languages or with cultural, linguistic, or other subject matter expertise "critical to national security," and to annually report to Congress regarding the foreign language proficiency of the intelligence community (Sec. 303, Sec. 414). - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress no later than March 31, 2008, regarding the use and impact of private contractors in the intelligence community, as well as the accountability mechanisms that govern their performance (Sec. 307). - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress no later than March 31, 2008, outlining plans to increase the recruiting, hiring, and retaining of diverse candidates (Sec. 309). - Directs the Director of National Intelligence to conduct vulnerability assessments for major systems, which are defined as significant programs of the intelligence community with projected total development and procurement costs exceeding $500.00 million (Sec. 311). - Directs the Director of National Intelligence to present annual reports to Congress regarding the acquisition of any major systems and to notify Congress within 60 days if development costs for any programs significantly exceed the baseline costs (Sec. 313, Sec. 314). - Increases the time of potential imprisonment for disclosing the identity of undercover intelligence officers and agents from 10 to 15 years (Sec. 324). - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress within 45 days after the date of the enactment of this bill regarding the detention and interrogation methods used by the intelligence community (Sec. 326). - Mandates that no person in the custody or within the control of an element of the intelligence community, regardless of that individual's physical location or nationality, shall be "subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by the United States Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations" (Sec. 327). - Requires all members of the Congressional intelligence committees to be fully updated on intelligence regarding the Israeli military action in Syria on September 6, 2007, before more than 30 percent of authorized appropriations may be expended (Sec. 328). - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress regarding the nuclear intentions and capabilities of Iran and North Korea (Sec. 407). - Establishes an Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community to objectively investigate and audit the conduct of the intelligence community (Sec. 413).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan

Outcome: Bill Passed (81/16)

Summary: - Allows a tax credit in 2008 of an amount equal to an individual's net income tax liability or $600 (or $1,200 for a joint return), whichever is less (Sec. 101). - Allows at least a $300 tax credit (or a $600 credit for a joint return) for taxpayers who have a qualified income of at least $3,000 (Sec. 101). - Defines "qualified income" as earned income, social security benefits for seniors and tier 1 railroad retirees, and certain veterans' compensations and pensions (Sec. 101). - Allows a $300 tax credit per child (Sec. 101). - Denies eligibility to undocumented immigrants (Sec. 101). - Appropriates an additional $266.31 million for the Department of Treasury, to remain available until September 30, 2009 (Sec. 101). - Increases the limits on the maximum original principal obligation of mortgages for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and for the Federal Housing Administration (Sec. 201, 202).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2008) HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill

Outcome: Bill Passed (91/3)

Summary: -Allows the President to grant immunity to Iraq for certain cases brought in U.S. courts for money damages due to state sponsored terrorism if the immunity is deemed to be in the national security interest of the U.S. and it will promote the reconstruction of Iraq (Sec. 1083). -Increases the basic monthly pay for members of the uniformed services by 3.5 percent starting January 1, 2008 (Sec. 601). -Permits veterans who are 100 percent disabled to receive all of both their retirement pay and their disability pay (Sec. 642). -Provides that drugs prescribed under the TRICARE pharmaceutical program will be treated as a part of the Department of Defense procurement, and that these drugs are then subject to the pricing restrictions applicable to the procurement of drugs by federal agencies (Sec. 703). -Establishes the National Security Personnel System as a human resources management system for the Department of Defense, and requires that this system allows employees to practice collective bargaining through labor organizations of their own choosing (Sec. 1106). -Provides that the Inspector General of the Department of Defense and Inspectors General for Iraq Reconstruction and Afghanistan Reconstruction shall develop plans for auditing contracts made by the Department of Defense and other federal agencies (Sec. 842). -Authorizes $187.14 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 2764 Inclusion of Consolidated Appropriations

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (76/17)

Summary: - Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to enter into a "permanent basing rights agreement" between the United States and Iraq (Division J, Sec. 680). - Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used "in any way whatsoever to support or justify the use of torture, cruel or inhumane treatment by any official or contract employee of the United States Government" (Division B, Sec. 521; Division J, Sec. 681). - Extends the implementation deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires a passport for travel by land or sea to Canada or the United States, to after June 1, 2009 (Division E, Sec. 545). - Allows individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada, so long as the drugs are not controlled substances and the amount does not exceed a 90-day supply (Division E, Sec. 558). - Sets the maximum Pell Grant award for students at $4,241 during the 2008-2009 award year (Division G, Title III). - Expresses the support of Congress for a nationwide program of "mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases" to abate the growth of such emissions, in a manner that will not "significantly harm the United States economy" (Division E, Sec. 430). - Prohibits the Department of the Interior from conducting oil or natural gas offshore pre-leasing, leasing, or related activities in certain coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico (Division F, Sec. 104-105). - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the U.S. southwest border, including 370 miles to be completed by December 31, 2008 (Division E, Section 564). - Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to establish a cross-border motor carrier program that would allow Mexico-based motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the border between the United States and Mexico (Division K, Sec. 136). - Grants certain Iraqi and Afghan refugees access to resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits for up to six months (Division G, Sec. 525). - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Arab League boycott of Israel is an "impediment to peace in the region," that the boycott should be immediately terminated, and that all Arab League states should normalize relations with Israel (Division J, Sec. 635). - Directs the President to submit a report to Congress that outlines in classified and unclassified terms a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites are secure by 2012 (Division J, Sec. 699M). - Allows a woman to breastfeed her child on federal property if she and her child are authorized to be at the location (Division D, Sec. 727). - Prohibits funds from being used for "research, development, or demonstration activities related exclusively to the human exploration of Mars" (Division B, Title III). - Appropriates $90.9 billion for the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration, with $1.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $89.6 billion (Division A). - Appropriates $57.0 billion for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Science, with $3.2 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $53.8 billion (Division B). - Appropriates $32.9 billion for the Departments of Energy and Interior and water development projects, with $2.0 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $30.9 billion (Division C). - Appropriates $34.5 billion for the Department of the Treasury, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, and the District of Columbia, with $1.4 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $33.1 billion (Division D). - Appropriates $41.2 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, with $2.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $38.6 billion (Division E). - Appropriates $27.2 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, with $81.6 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $27.1 billion (Division F). - Appropriates $410.3 billion for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, with $1.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $408.7 billion (Division G). - Appropriates $4.2 billion for the legislative branch, with $3.8 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $4.2 billion (Division H). - Appropriates $108.6 billion for military construction and veterans' affairs, with $128.5 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $108.5 billion (Division I). - Appropriates $35.8 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, with $158.0 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $35.7 billion (Division J). - Appropriates $311.3 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, with $6.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $305.0 billion (Division K).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (70/25)

Summary: - Prohibits these funds from being used to enter into an agreement with the government of Iraq that would subject members of the Armed Forces of the United States to the jurisdiction of Iraq criminal courts or punishment under Iraq law (Division L, Title VI, Sec. 612). - Requires the Department of Defense to provide Congress with periodic reports regarding the political, security, economic, and security force training objectives in Iraq, as well as a national timetable for achieving these goals (Division L, Title VI, Sec. 609).

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill)

Outcome: Bill Passed (79/14)

Summary: -Creates a tax penalty for transactions designed exclusively to avoid federal tax (Sec. 12522). -Lowers an income tax credit for ethanol blenders from 51 cents to 46 cents after the sale of 7.50 billion gallons (Sec. 12315). -Establishes the Agriculture Disaster Relief Trust Fund to provide disaster assistance for crop losses (Sec. 12101). -Ends assistance by the year 2010 for persons who have an average adjusted gross income of $750,000 or more and earn less than two-thirds of their average adjusted gross income from farming, ranching, or foresting (Sec. 1704). -Reauthorizes the Federal Food and Nutrition Program, the Commodity Distribution Program, and the Nutrition Information and Awareness Pilot Program (Secs. 4801, 4802, 4803). -Extends the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program through 2012 (Sec. 2311, 2321). -Establishes programs to provide assistance for improving land for wildlife and forests (Sec. 2313, 2331). -Establishes a mandatory labeling of country of origin on meats (Sec. 10003). -Increases loan rates for sugar producers (Sec. 1501). -Requires the Department of Agriculture to purchase certain dairy products to support their prices, extends the Dairy Export Incentive Program and the Dairy Indemnity Program, and extends the Dairy Promotion and Research Program (Sec. 1601, 1603). -Provides a tax credit for energy generated from wind (Sec. 12301). -Expands and extends programs that provide credits for renewable fuel production (Sec. 12311, 12312, 12313, 12314).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 6 Energy Act of 2007

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (86/8)

Summary: -Increases Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020 (Sec. 102). -Requires a minimum standard of 27.5 miles per gallon for domestic passenger vehicles (Sec. 102). -Requires an increase in the production of renewable fuels from 4.0 billion gallons to 36.0 billion gallons by 2022 (Sec. 202). -Stipulates that all renewable fuel refineries built after enactment of this bill reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent of the current baseline (Sec. 202). -Increases energy efficiency standards for certain household appliances, battery chargers, walk-in coolers and freezers, electric motors, light bulbs, and other devices (Title III). - Establishes the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program to provide training to veterans, unemployed individuals, and workers impacted by energy and environmental policies (Sec. 1002).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (56/43)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (48/47)

Summary: - Increases funding for certain programs, including an additional $100.00 million for beginning farmer and rancher development programs over fiscal years 2013 through 2017, an additional $20.00 million for organic agriculture research over fiscal years 2013 through 2014, an additional $70.00 million for grants for state initiatives to improve broadband service over fiscal years 2009 through 2017, and an additional $40.00 million for biomass crop transition assistance programs over fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (37/58)

Summary: -Reduces direct subsidy payments to 25 percent of the traditional payment in the 2008 and 2009 crop years, to 20 percent in the 2010 and 2011 crop years, and eliminates direct payments for 2012. -Establishes supplemental insurance based on an area yield and loss basis in order to cover the crop loss not covered by the individual yield and loss insurance of a producer. -Requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to offer an indemnity to individual producers of every commodity for which a futures price is available if the revenue or yield per acre in the producer's county is below 85 percent of the average revenue or yield for the county, at no cost to the producers. -Provides that the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation will offer a whole farm insurance indemnity for producers whose actual gross revenue is below 80 percent of the average gross revenue of that producer, at no cost to the producer. -Establishes a migratory bird habitat conservation program and provides funding for conservation of the greater Everglades ecosystem -Provides funding and technical assistance to selected units of local government for conservation of forested land.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 3996 Temporary Alternative Minimum Tax Adjustment Act of 2007

Outcome: Bill Passed (88/5)

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 3996 Temporary Tax Adjustments Act of 2007

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (46/48)

Summary: -Extends the alternative minimum tax limit for nonrefundable personal credits to 2007 and increases the amounts of exemption from $62,550 to $66,250 for joint tax returns and from $42,500 to $44,350 for individual tax returns (Secs. 101, 102). -Extends the deduction for state and local sales taxes to Jan. 1, 2009 (Sec. 301). -Extends the deduction for qualified tuition to Dec. 31, 2008 (Sec. 302). -Extends the deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers to the taxable year starting in 2008 (Sec. 307). -Designates a state legislature as being in session for any day on which it is formally called into session without regard to whether legislation was considered, for the purposes of determining legislators' living expenses based on days in session starting in the taxable year 2008 (Sec. 313). -Treats any net income or loss for partners providing investment management services to partnership as ordinary income or loss, unless the partner is providing capital investment services (Sec. 611).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 4156 Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense and Timeline for Withdrawal from Iraq

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (53/45)

Summary: -States that no person in the custody of the U.S. Government can be subject to any interrogation methods not listed in the U.S. Army Field Manual FM2-22.3 Human Intelligence Collector Operations (Sec. 102). -Sets a goal for the President to begin redeploying U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq within 30 days after enactment of this act, starting with units that have been deployed over 365 days, to be completed no later than December 15, 2008 (Sec. 105). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report by February 1, 2008 to Congressional defense committees that describes the current plan and status for the reduction of U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq, and delays any additional funding until this report is submitted to Congress (Sec. 105, 106). -Requires that none of the appropriated funds may be used to establish a permanent military installation in Iraq or to control any oil resources in Iraq (Sec. 210).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S 2340 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (45/53)

Summary: -$8.65 billion for military personnel. -$49.20 billion for operation and maintenance. -$10.45 billion for procurement. -$575.70 million for the Defense Health Program.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 1495 Water Resources Development Act of 2007

Outcome: Veto Override Passed (79/14)

Summary: -Sets authorizations at $2.20 billion for Florida water resource projects, including $1.12 billion for the Indian River Lagoon and $682.07 million for Everglades restoration. -Sets authorizations at $3.49 billion in appropriations for Louisiana coastal restoration projects. -Sets authorizations at $4.05 billion for Upper Mississippi River projects, including navigation improvements and ecosystem restoration.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Outcome: Bill Passed (56/37)

Summary: -Provides that Iraqi and Afghan immigrants who are granted special immigrant status are eligible for up to six months of resettlement assistance and entitlement programs available to refugees (Sec. 525). -Prohibits funds in the bill from being used to implement a totalization agreement between the Social Security programs of the United States and Mexico (Sec. 526). -$13.63 billion for the Department of Labor, including $3.37 billion for training and employment services, $3.47 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations, and $1.65 billion for the office of the Job Corps -$480.03 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $30.01 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $401.41 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and $27.32 billion for the Administration for Children and Families -$63.58 billion for the Department of Education, including $16.38 billion for student financial assistance, $15.93 billion for education for the disadvantaged, and $12.36 billion for special education -$53.98 for related agencies, including $51.81 billion for the Social Security Administration, $1.35 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, and $420.00 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP)

Outcome: Bill Passed (64/30)

Summary: -Allows states to provide pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income pregnant women if the minimum eligibility level is at least 185 percent of the poverty level or at least 200 percent of the poverty level for children under 19 years of age (Sec. 111). -Prohibits the approval, extension, or renewal of CHIP waivers to parents of targeted low-income children and nonpregnant childless adults (Sec. 112). -Prohibits payments for providing child heath assistance for children whose family income would exceed 300 percent of the poverty line unless a waiver is granted by the state (Sec. 114). -Appropriates $100.00 million through 2012 for outreach and enrollment grant programs designed to increase the enrollment and participation of eligible children in CHIP (Sec. 201). -Requires states to submit the names and social security numbers of children eligible for CHIP and to make a "reasonable effort" to address any inconsistencies in social security numbers and the declaration of citizenship or nationality while continuing to provide medical assistance until the problem is resolved, and allows state programs to enter an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security to provide for the electronic submission of documents (Sec. 211). -Appropriates $25.00 million from the U.S. Treasury Department for programs designed to reduce child obesity (Sec. 401). -Restates that Federal payments for Medicaid or CHIP cannot be made to people who are not legal residents (Sec. 605). -Increases the tax on cigars from $1.828 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigars weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from 20.719 percent of the retail price to 52.988 percent of the retail price for cigars weighing more than three pounds per thousand, with a cap of $3.00 per cigar (Sec. 701 [a]). -Increases the tax from $19.50 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigarettes weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from $40.95 per thousand to $105.00 per thousand for cigarettes weighing more than 3 pounds per thousand (Sec. 701 [b]). -Increases the taxes on cigarette paper from $0.0122 to $0.0313 per fifty papers and on cigarette tubes from $0.0244 to $0.0626 per fifty tubes (Sec. 701 [c-d]). -Increases the taxes on snuff from $0.585 to $1.50 per pound and on chewing tobacco from $0.195 to $0.50 per pound (Sec. 701 [e]). -Increases the taxes on pipe tobacco from $1.0969 to $2.8126 per pound and on roll-your-own-tobacco from $1.0969 to $8.8889 per pound (Sec. 701 [f-g]).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S 294 Amtrak Reauthorization

Outcome: Bill Passed (70/22)

Summary: -Requires Amtrak and the Secretary of Transportation to develop a standardized method for allocating Federal funding equally among the states for capital and operating costs on Amtrak routes (Sec. 206). -Requires Amtrak to complete studies within a year to determine if the Pioneer Route and the North Coast Hiawatha Route between Seattle and Chicago through Southern Montana should be reinstated as passenger routes (Sec. 207). -Encourages Amtrak to increase partnerships and funding received from the private sector in order to minimize Federal subsidies (Sec. 220). -Requires that recipients of Federal grants for capital investment supporting intercity passenger rail service must purchase only supplies and materials that are produced in the United States or articles that are manufactured in the United States from materials and supplies primarily produced in the United States (Sec. 301). -Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study comparing the passenger rail system in the United States to those in Canada, Germany, Great Britain, and Japan (Sec. 306). -Requires Amtrak to consult with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the owners of relevant railroad infrastructure to develop a plan that expands passenger rail service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene, Oregon, during the 2010 Olympic Games (Sec. 401).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3453 Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (28/66)

Summary: -Prohibits Federal funds from being used for the operation of Amtrak train routes that have per passenger subsidies of over $200 during the first fiscal year after the date of enactment and over $100 after the fifth fiscal year of enactment. -Requires Inspector General to submit a report that lists the new subsidy levels and states that Amtrak will terminate train routes that have per passenger subsidies above the set limits.

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Outcome: Bill Passed (75/19)

Summary: -Provides that Iraqi and Afghan immigrants who are granted special immigrant status are eligible for up to six months of resettlement assistance and entitlement programs available to refugees (Sec. 529). -Prohibits funds in the bill from being used to implement a totalization agreement between the social security programs of the United States and Mexico (Sec. 530). -Prohibits Social Security payments from being dispersed for claims of credit for work done under a social security number that was not the worker's (Sec. 531). -$13.80 billion for the Department of Labor, including $3.59 billion for training and employment services, $3.25 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations, and $1.66 billion for the office of the Job Corps -$479.12 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $29.91 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $401.38 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and $6.58 billion for the Administration for Children and Families -$62.98 billion for the Department of Education, including $16.37 billion for student financial assistance, $15.87 billion for education for the disadvantaged, and $12.33 billion for special education -$44.23 billion for related agencies, including $42.23 billion for the Social Security Administration, $880.91 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service, and $420.00 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3330 Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (41/52)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008

Outcome: Bill Passed (75/19)

Summary: -Prohibits the use of funds in this bill to purchase first class or premium airline seats under most circumstances (Sec. 537). -$9.36 billion for the Department of Commerce, including $4.22 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $1.92 billion for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and $1.24 billion for the Bureau of the Census -$24.12 billion for the Department of Justice, including $6.58 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), $5.65 billion for the Federal Prison System, $1.85 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, $622.50 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, and $7.85 million for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety program -$25.02 billion for sciences, including $18.46 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and $6.55 billion for the National Science Foundation -$899.70 million for related agencies, including $390.00 million for the Legal Services Corporation, $378.00 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and $68.4 million for the International Trade Commission

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 3117 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (95/1)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 1585 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Outcome: Bill Passed (92/3)

Summary: -Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should support a political settlement in Iraq that would create a loose federal system (Sec. 1537). -Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should officially designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran as a foreign terrorist organization and assign it to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (Sec. 1538[b]). -Reaffirms support for all men and women of the United States Armed Forces, strongly condemns any attacks on General David Petraeus and all members of the US Armed Forces and specifically condemns Moveon.org's advertisement about General David Petraeus (Sec. 1079). -Establishes criteria to regulate private security contracts in areas of combat and require contractors to provide reports to the Department of Defense on operations and incidents (Sec. 871). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congressional defense committees a report on the total requirement numbers, funding, transportation schedule, safety issues, and long term sustainment capabilities of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP), and authorizes $23.60 billion for the procurement of 15,200 MRAP Vehicles (Secs. 1517, 1543). -Allows the U.S. Attorney General to assist law enforcement agencies in the criminal investigation or prosecution of crimes of violence that are "motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim" and sets a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a possible fine for hate crimes (Sec. 1023). -Allows the Secretary of State to authorize a reward of $50.00 million for the capture or death, or information leading to the capture or death, of Osama bin Laden (Sec. 1219). -Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a process for assessing the cognitive functioning of members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed outside the United States both prior to and after deployment (Sec. 1632). -Authorizes $15.00 million to be appropriated for the Army to conduct a program for Gulf War Illness Research (Sec. 214). -Authorizes $150.91 billion for appropriations for the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -Authorizes $23.82 billion for Defense Department, armed forces, and veterans health services appropriations -Authorizes $142.88 billion for military operations and maintenance appropriations -Authorizes $109.35 billion for military personnel appropriations -Authorizes $109.27 billion for military procurement appropriations

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (67/29)

Summary: -Appropriates $9.13 billion for fiscal year 2008, $10.68 billion for fiscal year 2009, $11.85 billion for fiscal year 2010, and $13.75 billion for fiscal year 2011 for CHIP (Sec. 101). -Creates an incentive pool for states whose CHIP enrollment numbers exceed baseline projections (Sec. 104). -Prohibits the issuance of CHIP waivers to non-pregnant childless adults after passage, and terminates existing waivers on September 30, 2008 (Sec. 112). -Allows a state to apply for Medicaid waivers to continue coverage for non-pregnant childless adults whose waivers have been terminated (Sec. 112). -Allows states to continue providing child health assistance to parents of eligible children under an existing waiver through 2012 and provides additional funding for states meeting certain outreach and coverage benchmarks (Sec. 112). -Allows states to provide pregnancy-related assistance to targeted low-income pregnant women if they have a Medicaid eligibility level for pregnant women that is at least 185 percent above the poverty level, among other requirements (Sec. 111). -Appropriates $100 million for grants to eligible private or public entities to conduct outreach efforts designed to increase CHIP enrollment among eligible children and sets aside 10 percent of the allocated money for the administration of a national CHIP enrollment campaign (Sec. 201). -Permits states to verify citizenship or nationality as a requirement for inclusion in Medicaid and CHIP programs, and requires that no funds in this act may go towards payments for individuals who are not legal residents. (Sec. 211). -Requires employers to allow 26 work weeks of leave for certain family members responsible for the care of a recovering member of the armed services, and forbids employers from denying the family member employment, promotion or benefits. (Sec. 621-622). -Increases the tax on cigars from $1.828 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigars weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from 20.719 percent of the retail price to 52.988 percent of the retail price for cigars weighing more than three pounds per thousand, with a cap of $3.00 per cigar (Sec. 701 [a]). -Increases the tax from $19.50 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigarettes weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from $40.95 per thousand to $105.00 per thousand for cigarettes weighing more than 3 pounds per thousand (Sec. 701 [b]). -Increases the taxes on cigarette paper from $0.0122 to $0.0313 per fifty papers and on cigarette tubes from $0.0244 to $0.0626 per fifty tubes (Sec. 701 [c-d]). -Increases the taxes on snuff from $0.585 to $1.50 per pound and on chewing tobacco from $0.195 to $0.50 per pound (Sec. 701 [e]). -Increases the taxes on pipe tobacco from $1.0969 to $2.8126 per pound and on roll-your-own-tobacco from $1.0969 to $8.8889 per pound (Sec. 701 [f-g]).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 2792 Bridge Repair Funding

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (60/33)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (79/12)

Summary: -Appropriates $33.60 billion to gradually increase Pell Grant amounts to $5,400 by 2012 and maintains funding through 2017 (Sec. 102). -Incrementally lowers the current 6.8 percent interest rate for Federal Subsidized Student Loans and Federal Direct Stafford Loans every year until the rate is set at 3.4 percent for loans disbursed after July 1, 2011, and before July 1, 2012 (Sec. 201). -Establishes an auction for each state to determine the lenders who will provide Federal PLUS Loans to colleges and universities in the state, to be held every two years in order to determine the two lenders with the lowest bids for special allowance payments (Sec. 701). -Appropriates $57.00 million a year through 2011 for Upward Bound programs that did not receive funding in 2007 but have been given a grant score over 70 (Sec. 103). -Creates $4,000 a year TEACH Grants to encourage teachers to take courses in mathematics, sciences, foreign languages, bilingual education, special education, reading, and other high-need fields and requires teachers to teach the subject they took courses in for at least four years (Sec. 104). -Allows members of the military services to defer loan payments for up to 180 days after demobilization for Federal Family Education Loans, Stafford Loans, and Perkins Loans (Sec. 202). -Allows loan forgiveness for employees who have made 120 monthly payments on student loans while employed in public service (Sec. 401). -Raises the income protection allowance through 2013 to $6,000 for dependent students, $9,330 for single independent students without dependents or married independent students without dependents who are both enrolled in college, and $14,960 for married independent students where one is enrolled in college. Adopts a table detailing allowances for independent students with dependents through 2013 (Sec. 601). -Raises the maximum income required to automatically attain a zero expected family contribution from $20,000 to $30,000 a year and adjusts the required income level in future years based on the Consumer Price Index (Sec. 602). -States that if a borrower's income level is above 150 percent of the poverty line, student loan repayments can be capped at 15 percent of the amount that their income exceeds that rate (Sec. 203). -Eliminates the "exceptional performer" status through which lenders are entitled to 100 percent payment of unpaid principles and interests from guaranty agencies (Sec. 302).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization

Outcome: Bill Passed (68/31)

Summary: -Appropriates $9.13 billion for fiscal year 2008, $10.68 billion for fiscal year 2009, $11.85 billion for fiscal year 2010, and $13.75 billion for fiscal year 2011 for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) [Title I (Sec. 101)]. -Creates an incentive pool for states whose CHIP enrollment numbers exceed baseline projections [Title I (Sec. 105)]. -Prohibits the issuance of CHIP waivers to non-pregnant childless adults after passage, and terminates existing waivers on September 30, 2008 [Title I (Sec. 106)]. -Allows a state to apply for Medicaid waivers to continue coverage for non-pregnant childless adults whose waivers have been terminated [Title I (Sec. 106)]. -Allows states to continue providing child health assistance to parents of eligible children under an existing waiver through 2012 and provides additional funding for states meeting certain outreach and coverage benchmarks [Title I (Sec. 106)]. -Allows states to change their child health plans to provide pregnancy-related assistance to targeted low-income pregnant women if they have a Medicaid eligibility level for pregnant women that is at least 185 percent above the poverty level, among other requirements [Title I (Sec. 107)]. -Establishes a CHIP Contingency Fund to eliminate the Federal share of shortfalls in state CHIP allotments [Title I (Sec. 108)]. -Appropriates $100 million for grants to eligible private or public entities to conduct outreach efforts designed to increase CHIP enrollment among eligible children and sets aside 10 percent of the allocated money for the administration of a national CHIP enrollment campaign [Title II (Sec. 201)]. -Allows states to offer subsidies for qualified employer-sponsored group health coverage to all targeted low-income children who are eligible, if such coverage is more cost-effective than enrollment in the State child health plan [Title IV (Sec. 401)]. -Requires the publication of a recommended core set of child health quality measures, including full insurance coverage and the availability of a full range of services and treatment, for use by state CHIP programs by January 1, 2009 [Title V (Sec. 501)]. -Increases the tax on cigars from $1.828 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigars weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from 20.719 percent of the retail price to 53.13 percent of the retail price for cigars weighing more than three pounds per thousand, with a cap of $3.00 per cigar [Title VII (Sec. 701 [a])]. -Increases the tax from $19.50 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand for cigarettes weighing less than 3 pounds per thousand, and increases the tax from $40.95 per thousand to $104.9999 per thousand for cigarettes weighing more than 3 pounds per thousand [Title VII (Sec. 701 [b])]. -Increases the taxes on cigarette paper from $0.122 to $0.313 per fifty papers and on cigarette tubes from $0.244 to $0.626 per fifty tubes [Title VII (Sec. 701 [c-d])]. -Increases the taxes on snuff from $0.585 to $1.50 per pound and on chewing tobacco from $0.195 to $0.50 per pound [Title VII (Sec. 701 [e])]. -Increases the taxes on pipe tobacco from $1.0969 to $2.8126 per pound and on roll-your-own-tobacco from $1.0969 to $8.8889 per pound [Title VII (Sec. 701 [f-g])].

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 1 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (85/8)

Summary: -Establishes the Urban Area Security Initiative to provide grants to assist high-risk urban areas in "preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism," and authorizes $5.3 billion to be appropriated through fiscal year 2012 [Title I (Sec. 101)]. -Establishes the State Homeland Security Grant Program to assist state, local, and tribal governments in "preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism," authorizes $950 million to be appropriated each fiscal year through 2012, and gradually decreases the minimum grant level per state from 0.375 percent of the total appropriated grant funds in fiscal year 2008 to 0.35 percent in fiscal year 2012 [Title I (Sec. 101)]. -Establishes the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program to assist states in carrying out initiatives to improve international emergency communications and authorizes $400 million to be appropriated each fiscal year from 2009-2012 [Title III (Sec. 301)]. -Establishes the International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project in no fewer than six border communities, three on each border, to help identify and implement solutions to cross-border communications and cooperation [Title III (Sec. 302)]. -Requires the secretary of homeland security to establish department-wide procedures by which to receive and analyze intelligence from state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector [Title V (Sec. 501)]. -Establishes the Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) to improve interagency communications, creates an ITACG Advisory Council composed of representatives from federal agencies to set policies to improve communication within the information sharing environment, and establishes an ITACG Detail comprised of State, local, and tribal homeland security and law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts to work in the National Counterterrorism Center [Title V (Sec. 521)]. -Requires the director of national intelligence to disclose the aggregate amount of appropriated funds for the National Intelligence Program within thirty days of the end of each fiscal year [Title VI (Sec. 601)]. -Requires that the secretary of homeland security, in consultation with the secretary of state, determine that a country's participation in the visa waiver program will not compromise the security and law enforcement interests of the United States, the country has cooperated with the U.S. Government in counter-terrorism initiatives, the country has demonstrated a continuing sustained reduction in the rate of visa refusals, and there is demonstrated a low visa overstay rate, before allowing its participation in the visa waiver program [Title VII (Sec. 711 [c])]. -Exempts any passenger on a bus, train, plane, or ship who, in good faith, reports terrorist or suspicious activity, from civil liability [Title XII (Sec. 1206)]. -Authorizes funding levels for various efforts of Transportation Security Administration, including $1.99 billion for railroad security, $95 million for over-the-road bus and trucking security, and $36 million for hazardous material and pipeline security through fiscal year 2011 [Title XV (Sec. 1503[a])]. -Requires that, within three years of passage, the secretary of homeland security establish a system that screens 100 percent of cargo transported on passenger aircraft [Title XVI (Sec. 1602 [a])]. -Requires all maritime cargo to be scanned by non-obtrusive imaging equipment by July 1, 2012, and allows the secretary of homeland security to extend the deadline by two year increments if certain benchmarks are not met [Title XVII (Sec. 1701 [a])].

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 2638 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations

Outcome: Bill Passed (89/4)

Summary: -Authorizes $50 million to be appropriated for competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in border communities with populations totaling less than 50,000 to provide additional resources to address criminal activity along the border (Sec. 602). -$3 billion for the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish operational control of 100 percent of the international land border between the United States and Mexico, including the hiring of 23,000 full-time border agents and the construction of 300 miles of vehicle barriers, the 700 linear miles of fencing required by the Secure Fence Act of 2006, the establishment of 105 ground-based radar and camera towers, and the deployment of four unmanned aerial vehicles (sec. 1002). -$8.84 billion for United States Customs and Border Protection, including $1 billion for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. -$4.43 billion for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. -$6.39 billion for the Transportation Security Administration. -$8.32 billion for the Coast Guard. -$1.40 billion for the U.S. Secret Service. -$7.21 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $3.13 billion for state and local programs and $1.70 billion for disaster relief.

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations

Outcome: Amendment Adopted (89/1)

Summary: - Requires that within 2 years of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security must establish 100% operational control of the international land border between the United States and Mexico (Sec. 1002[a(2)]). - Requires the United States Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol to hire, train, and report for duty 23,000 additional full time agents (Sec. 1002[a(3)]). - Requires the United States Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol to build a 700 linear mile fence, install 300 miles of vehicle barriers, install 105 ground-based radar and camera towers, and place 4 unmanned aerial vehicles and supporting systems along the United States-Mexico international land border (Sec. 1002[a(3)]). - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to detain all undocumented immigrants apprehended crossing the international land border between the United States and Mexico, unless specifically mandated by humanitarian circumstances (Sec. 1002[a]). Allocates any remaining funds to maintain control over international land and maritime borders, improve employment eligibility verification, and increase removal and detention of immigrants who have overstayed their visas and immigrants who have reentered the United States without proper documentation (Sec. 1003).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding

Outcome: Amendment Tabled (50/44)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants

Outcome: Bill Passed (78/18)

Summary: -Repeals existing tuition sensitivity provisions, which limit Pell Grant awards for students attending lower-cost schools [Title I (sec. 101)]. -Appropriates $32.9 billion from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2017 for PROMISE grants to low-income and high-need students that are eligible for federal Pell Grants [Title I (sec. 102)]. -Increases authorized deferments for federally insured student loans, interest subsidies, direct loans, and Perkins loans from three years to six years of economic hardship [Title II (sec. 201)]. -Limits monthly payments on loans to 15 percent of discretionary income [Title II (sec. 203 [c (2 [c])]. -Reduces the percentage of student loans guaranteed by the federal student loan insurance program from 98 percent to 97 percent [Title III (sec. 301)]. -Decreases the loan guaranty agency collection fee from 23 percent to 16 percent of funds collected from loan defaults beginning October 1, 2007 [Title III (sec. 302)]. -Eliminates the "exceptional performer" status for lenders, which entitles them to 100 percent payment of unpaid principles and interests from guaranty agencies [Title III (sec. 303)]. -Increases the loan origination fee from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of principal on loans made after October 1, 2007 [Title III (sec. 305 [b])]. -Releases public servants with incomes of less than $65,000 a year from federal student loan obligations after ten years of repayment [Title IV (sec. 401)]. -Raises the income protection allowance to $6,000 for dependent students and $14,960 for independent students without dependents by 2013. Adopts a table detailing allowances for independent students with dependents through 2013 [Title VI (sec. 601)]. -Increases the maximum income required to automatically attain a zero expected family contribution from $20,000 to $30,000 a year [Title VI (sec. 602)]. -Creates a biennial competitive auction process by which eligible lenders submit bids for the right to originate and disburse federal PLUS loans [Title VII (sec. 701)]. -Makes it unlawful to carry out a death sentence on a pregnant woman [Title VII (sec. 702)]. -Expresses the sense of the Senate that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay should not be released into American society or transferred into American facilities [Title VIII (sec. 801)].

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 6 Energy Act of 2007

Outcome: Bill Passed (65/27)

Summary: - Increases Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020 (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 502))). - Establishes an applicable volume of renewable fuel for commercial motor oil and oil used for home heating in the contiguous United States to be 8.5 billion gallons by 2008, and steadily increasing per year until 2022. It also establishes an applicable volume of biofuels within the renewable fuel to be 3.0 billions of gallons by 2016, 6.0 billion gallons by 2017, and steadily increasing per year until 2022. For each year 2023 and after, at least sixty percent of the minimum applicable volume shall be advanced biofuel (Title 1(Subtitle A(Sec. 111(a(2(A)))))). - Establishes that the facilities which produce renewable fuel that commence after the enactment of this Act must reduce greenhouse emissions by 20% compared to gasoline (Title 1(Subtitle A(Sec. 111(a(2(D)))))). - Permits the President, with consultation from the Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to accept state petitions for waivers for the sustainable fuel requirements if it is established that the requirements severely harm the economy or environment of the state or region or the United States or extreme and unusual circumstances arise (Title 1(Subtitle A(Sec. 111(f)))). - Provides exemptions to small refineries as defined by section 45H(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 until 2013 and permits the extension of the exemptions if disproportionate economic hardship would be imposed on the small refineries (Title 1(Subtitle A(Sec. 111(g(1))))). - Provides up to ten competitive grant pilot programs that are geographically-dispersed to State governments, Indian tribal governments, local governments, metropolitan transportation authorities, or partnerships of those entities for the purpose of refueling infrastructure corridors, installing infrastructure and equipment necessary to ensure adequate distribution of renewable fuels and installing infrastructure and equipment that directly supports vehicles powered by renewable fuels. The maximum amount provided for through this grant shall not exceed $20,000 and shall not exceed two years in time (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 121))). - Provides grants to institutions of higher education or consortium of institutions of higher education, industry, State agencies, Indian tribal agencies, or local government agencies located in the State with proven experience and capabilities for the purpose of conducting research, developing, and implementing renewable fuel production technologies that would produce low rates of ethanol production and low rates of cellulosic biomass ethanol (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 125))). - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to provide grants to Indian tribal or local governments and other eligible entities the Secretary sees fit for the purpose of promoting the development and infrastructure to support the separation, production, processing, and transportation of biomass to local biorefineries (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 126))). - Establishes that the Secretary of Agriculture must make transitional assistance payments to an agricultural producer for the first year in which that producer devotes land to the production of a cellulosic crop that meets the requirement for being sold to a cellulosic refiner and produced within 70 miles from a cellulosic refinery (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 131))). - Amends Section 211 of the Clean Air Act to include a prevention of air quality deterioration regulation that within 3 years of the enactment of the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, appropriate measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on air quality as a result of the increased volumes required by the said Act must be implemented unless the administrator makes a "determination that no such measures are necessary" (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 164))). - Amends Section 553 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act by requiring that by October 1, 2013, all general purpose lighting in Federal buildings shall be Energy Star products or products that are designated under the Federal Energy Management Program (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 211))). - Amends the Standards for Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps Section 325(i) to strike paragraph (1) and instead insert higher minimum standards of general service fluorescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps to lamp efficacy and CRI standards (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 212(b(1))))). - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to create more stringent standards for heating and cooling products for up to two specific regions so long as the more stringent standards would contribute to energy savings that are substantially greater than that of a single national energy standard and are economically justified (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 222(a(2))))). - Amends Section 324(a) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require labels that disclose the energy use of televisions, personal computers, cable or satellite set-top boxes, stand-alone digital video recorder boxes, and personal computer monitors (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 226(a)))). - Amends Section 340(13) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act by striking subparagraph A and increasing the efficiency standards for electric motors (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 229))). - Amends Section 321(6)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act by requiring refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, residential clothes washers, dishwashers and dehumidifiers to have a higher Energy Factor (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 230))). - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy, beginning October 1, 2007, to grant competitive financial awards for the manufacture of high efficiency consumer products (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 232))). - Requires an oil saving target and action plan to be produced no later than 270 days after the enactment of this Act and would be required to reduce the number of barrels of oil consumed annually (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 251))). - Sets a goal of improving overall energy productivity of at least 2.5 percent per year by 2012 and to build upon that rate of improvement annually through 2030 (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 252))). - Establishes target goals for the modernization of the electricity grid system, which includes maximizing the capacity and efficiency of electricity networks, enhancing electricity grid reliability, reducing line losses, facilitating the transition to real time electricity pricing, allowing grid incorporation of more onsite renewable energy generators, and enabling electricity to displace a portion of the petroleum used for transportation purposes (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 254))). - Requires all Federal agency fleets to have at least a 20 percent reduction in petroleum consumption by October 1, 2015, while simultaneously increasing alternative fuel consumption by 10 percent annually. To achieve this goal, this Act proposes several measures that could be taken, such as using alternative fuels, acquiring vehicles with higher fuel economies such as hybrid vehicles, substituting cars for light trucks, increasing vehicle load factors, decreasing the mileage placed on vehicles, decreasing fleet size, telecommuting by Federal employees, using public transit, carpooling, or bicycling to work (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 261))). - Requires the amount of renewable energy consumed by the Federal Government to increase by not less than 10 percent by 2010 and not less than 15 percent by 2015 (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 262))). - Creates an initiative which would develop technologies and practices that can assist commercial buildings to be more energy efficient by 2030, allowing energy efficiency to be optional to any new building until 2040, where then half of all commercial buildings must meet the initiative, and where by 2050, all commercial buildings must be energy efficient (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 268))). - Establishes a Federal purchasing requirement, where if an Agency purchases an eligible product, they must purchase a product that uses not more than 1 watt in standby power or an eligible product with the lowest available standby power wattage (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 270))). - Creates a sustainable and comprehensive public education program that trains, in particular veterans of the Armed Forces, workers affected by the national energy and environmental policy, workers displaced by the impact of economic globalization, at-risk youth, formerly incarcerated and non-violent offenders, and individuals who need updated training in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, for jobs related to higher energy efficiency and renewable energy (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 277))). - Establishes that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission does not have the authority to approve or license a current energy project on the outer Continental Shelf and also requires that any lease, easement, or right of way under the Secretary of Commerce must be issued on a competitive basis and also meet the established criteria of being placed for the purposes of meteorology or marine data collection and does not have a term longer than five years (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 283))). - Establishes a carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration program in which the Secretary of Energy ensures that research is being invested in the development of new or improved technologies for capture and storage of carbon dioxide, development of new or improved technologies that reduce the cost and increase the efficacy of advanced carbon compression, modeling and simulation of geological field demonstrations, assessment of the risks involved with field testing, and research and development for the purposes of carbon use, recycling carbon, reusing carbon, and technology to separate oxygen from air (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 302))). - Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a methodology for carbon dioxide storage by a year after the enactment of this Act, while taking into consideration storage factors such as the geographical formation in all States, the capacity of the potential storage formations, an estimate of potential volumes of gas and oil recoverable from injection into potential storage formations, and also requiring the Secretary of Energy to take well log data, core data, and fluid sample data to supplement geographic surveys (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 303))). - Establishes that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other relevant agencies shall create a voluntary guideline for States regarding development and implementation of an environmental health program that teaches students and staff about health, safety, and productivity and disabilities or special needs that impact the school community. The guide includes information on pollutant emissions from materials and products, natural day lighting, ventilation choices and technologies, moisture control and mold, maintenance, cleaning, and pest control, and acoustics (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 445))). - Establishes that in times of energy emergency as declared by the President, price gouging and market manipulation is prohibited and punishable by a civil penalty up to $1,000,000 fine or a criminal penalty of up to a $5,000,000 fine or up to 5 years in prison (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 609))). - Defines "price gouging" as charging an unconscionably excessive price charged by a supplier. Defines "unconscionably excessive price" as a price that has a gross disparity from the average price at which the item was offered for sale in the usual course of the supplier's business prior to the President's declaration of an energy emergency, a price that grossly exceeds the prices at which similar crude oil gasoline or petroleum that is obtainable from other purchasers, represents an unfair leverage on the part of the supplier, or if the price cannot be attributable to increased wholesale or operational costs (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 602))). - Authorizes the President to declare a state of energy emergency if the President finds that the health, safety, welfare, or economic well being of the people is at risk because there is a shortage in crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum dude to a major disaster or disruption. The emergency may not exceed 30 days and must list the conditions or circumstances that would remove the emergency. The scope and regions the emergency affects must also be listed (Title 1(Subtitle B(Sec. 606))).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 1704 Alternative Energy Subsidies

Outcome: Cloture Not Invoked (57/36)

Summary: -Extends the renewable electricity, refined coal, and Indian coal production credit through Jan. 1, 2014 (sec. 801). -Provides $3.6 billion for clean renewable energy bonds in 2008-2011 (sec. 802). -Provides $3.8 billion in tax credits for advanced coal technology (sec. 810). -Extends the Bio-Diesel income tax credit to Dec. 31, 2010 (sec. 825). -Extends the alternative fuel credit to Dec. 31, 2012 (sec. 827). -Provides a $2,500 tax credit for plug in electric vehicles, including an increased tax credit for larger electric vehicles and provisions for battery capacity (sec. 842). -Extends the Energy Efficient Home tax credit to Dec. 31, 2011 (sec. 852). -Includes tax credits for energy efficient appliances (sec. 854). -Increases the oil spill liability trust fund tax to 10 cents and extends the tax to 2017 (sec. 883). -Extends foreign ethanol tariff to 2011 (sec. 831).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007

Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (80/14)

Summary: --States that the US strategy in Iraq will be determined by the Iraqi Governments ability to meet specified benchmarks (Title I(Chapter 3(Sec 1314 (b)))) -Increases the federal minimum wage to $5.85 per hour on the 60th day after the enactment of HR 2206, $6.55 per hour 12 months after that 60th day, and $7.25 per hour 24 months after that 60th day (Title VIII (Subtitle A (Sec 8102 (a (1))))) -Enacts business tax modifications, including such adjustments as extending the work opportunity tax credit to 2011(Title VIII (Subtitle B (Part 1 (Subpart A (Sec 8211))))), extending and increasing expensing for small business (Title VIII (Subtitle B (Part 1 (Subpart A (Sec 8212))))), waiving alternative minimum tax limits on work opportunity credit and credit for taxes paid on employee tips (Title VIII (Subtitle B (Part 1 (Subpart A (Sec 8214))))), and other adjustments -$101.11 billion for the Department of Defense, including $99.50 billion for non-civil purposes and $1.61 billion for civil purposes -$1.79 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $1.34 billion for medical related expenses -$989.50 million for the Department of Agriculture -$356 million for the Department of Justice -$5.16 billion for the Department of Homeland Security -$5.60 billion for the Department of State

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (52/40)

Summary: -Appropriates $7.48 trillion for Social Security, including $2.95 trillion for Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. -Appropriates $3.22 trillion for national defense. -Appropriates $2.59 trillion for Medicare. -Appropriates $2.36 trillion for Income Security. -Appropriates $1.90 trillion for health. -Appropriates $572.31 billion for education, training, employment, and social services. -Appropriates $121.19 billion for agriculture. -Appropriates $9.84 billion for energy. -Establishes deficit-neutral reserve funds for SCHIP legislation, veterans and the wounded, tax relief, Medicare improvements, health care "quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency", higher education, the farm bill, energy legislation, immigration reform in the Senate, Medicaid, and other purposes. -States that the Senate cannot consider bills that would increase the budget deficit, and cannot use prior budget surplus or the Pay-As-You-Go ledger (Sec. 201). -Requires that by Sepetember 10, 2007 the House Committee on Education and Labor to report to the House changes in laws that will reduce the deficit by $750 million for the time period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 (Sec. 601). -Requires that by September 10, 2007, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will report changes in laws to reduce the deficit by $750 million for the time period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 (Sec. 602).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline

Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (51/46)

Summary: -States that American forces will begin to be redeployed from Iraq by October 1, 2007 if the President determines that certain benchmarks are being made, or in failing to meet those benchmarks, to begin redeployment by July 1, 2007 with most being redeployed by March 2008, leaving a limited number of troops remaining to protect American personnel and infrastructure, to train and equip Iraqi forces, and to conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations (Title I (Chapter 9 (Sec 1904 (b)))) -Withholds 50 percent from the Economic Support Fund and International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund appropriations made in this bill if the Iraqi government does not meet certain benchmarks, including establishing a system to "equitably" share oil revenues among all Iraqis, implementing a system and schedule for provincial and local elections, and executing a plan to spend $10 billion in reconstruction projects on an "equitable" basis (Title I (Chapter 9 (Sec 1904 (f)))) -States that the funding in this bill cannot be used to establish a permanent military base in Iraq or to control oil fields in Iraq (Title I (Chapter 3 (Sec 1311))) -$969.5 million for the Department of Agriculture, including $500 million for the war on terror, and $37.50 million for Emergency Farm Relief. -$366 million for the Department of Justice, including $316 million for the war on terror, and $50 million for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes -$96.96 billion for the Department of Defense, including $95.53 billion for the war on terror and $1.43 billion for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes -$150 million for the Department of Energy for its efforts in the war on terror -$6.25 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including $2.25 billion for the war on terror and $4 billion for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes -$5.75 billion for the Department of State for its efforts in the war on terror -$253.4 million for the Department of Commerce, including $145 million for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes -$123.19 million for the Department of Interior, including $10 million for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes and $113.19 million for other matters -$913 million for the Department of Health and Human Services -$60 million for the Department of Education for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes -$1.79 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs -$35 million for the Department of Transportation for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline

Outcome: Bill Passed (51/47)

Summary: -Appropriates $969 million for the Department of Agriculture, including $557 million for the war on terror, and $412 million for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $615.69 million for the Department of Justice, including $445.69 million for the war on terror, and $170 million for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $98.52 billion for the Department of Defense, including $93.68 billion for the war on terror and $4.85 billion for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $63 million for the Department of Energy for its efforts in the war on terror. -Appropriates $6.31 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including $2 billion for the war on terror and $4.31 billion for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $5.77 billion for the Department of State for its efforts in the war on terror. -Appropriates $221.9 million for the Department of Commerce for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $146.19 million for the Department of Interior for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $1.53 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $57.41 million for the Department of Education for Katrina recovery efforts and other purposes. -Appropriates $1.77 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. -Appropriates $75 million for the Department of Transportation. -Requires certain federal agencies to develop plans to minimize the use of no-bid and cost-reimbursement contracts (Sec. 204). -Raises the federal minimum wage to $5.85 per hour starting the 60th day after enactment of this Act, $6.55 per hour one year after that 60th day, and $7.25 per hour two years after that 60th day (Sec. 501). -Creates additional tax credits for businesses and waives the alternative minimum tax limits on the work opportunity credit and the credit for taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips (Sec. 510-515). -States that most American forces will be redeployed from Iraq by March 31, 2008, with a limited number of troops remaining to protect American personnel and infrastructure, to train and equip Iraqi forces, and to conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations (Sec. 1315). -Withholds $1.41 billion from the Economic Support Fund and International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund appropriations made in this bill if the Iraqi government does not meet certain benchmarks, including establishing a system to "equitably" share oil revenues among all Iraqis, implementing a system and schedule for provincial and local elections, and executing a plan to spend $10 billion in reconstruction projects on an "equitable" basis (Sec. 1710).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment

Outcome: Amendment Rejected (48/50)

Summary:

Feingold's Vote

N

(2007) S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution

Outcome: Resolution Passed (52/47)

Summary: -Appropriates $2.95 trillion for Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. -Appropriates $3.49 trillion for national defense. -Appropriates $2.58 trillion for Medicare. -Appropriates $2.36 trillion for Income Security. -Appropriates $1.94 trillion for health. -Appropriates $570.24 billion for education, training, employment and social services. -Appropriates $209.31 billion for natural resources and environment. -Appropriates $125.46 billion for agriculture. -Appropriates $31.83 billion for administrative Social Security expenses. -Appropriates $9.88 billion for energy. -States that the Senate cannot consider bills that would increase the budget deficit, and cannot use prior budget surplus for the Pay-As-You-Go ledger (Sec. 201). -Makes it a point of order that the Senate cannot consider any bills that would increase the budget deficit before resolving the 75-year solvency of the Social Security Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds (Sec. 209). -Indicates that the Senate cannot consider any bills to increase the Federal income tax rate without a three-fifths majority vote to suspend this section of the resolution (Sec. 210). -Makes it a priority for the Senate to enact bills relating to the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and allows for the consideration of a tobacco tax increase to offset costs of SCHIP (Sec. 301). -Creates a deficit-neutral reserve fund for tax relief, higher education, Medicare, health care reform, child care, immigration reform, extension of energy tax incentives, etc. (Secs. 301-343). -Creates a reserve fund for the improvement of the health care system (Sec. 341).

Feingold's Vote

Y

(2007) S 4 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act

Outcome: Bill Passed (60/38)

Summary: -Establishes the Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG), to be composed of representatives from various Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and located at the National Counter-terrorism Center of the office of the Director of National Intelligence, to help facilitate communications between these levels (Sec. 131). -Establishes the State Homeland Security Grant Program to assist State, local, and tribal governments in protecting against terrorism, authorizes $913.2 million to be appropriated each fiscal year from 2008 to 2010, and sets the minimum grant level per state at 0.45 percent of total appropriated funds (Sec. 202). -Establishes the Urban Area Security Initiative for grants to assist high-risk urban areas in protecting against terrorism and authorizes $3.84 billion to be appropriated through fiscal year 2010 (Sec. 202). -Establishes Emergency Communications Operability and Interoperable Communications Grants to assist states in initiatives necessary to facilitate statewide, regional, national, and international emergency communications and authorizes $3.3 billion to be appropriated through fiscal year 2012 for (Sec. 301). -Establishes the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project in no less than six border communities, three on each border, to help identify and implement solutions to cross-border communications (Sec. 302). -Requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determine that a country's security risk mitigation measures provide assurance that participation in the visa waiver program will not compromise the security and law enforcement interests of the United States, the country has cooperated with the U.S. Government in counter-terrorism initiatives, the country has demonstrated a continuing sustained reduction in the rate of visa refusals, and there is demonstrated a low visa overstay rate, before allowing its participation in the visa waiver program (Sec. 501). -Allows federal airport screeners to appeal adverse action, as well as to engage in collective action over working conditions, but does not allow such action to extend to pay or the right to strike (Sec. 904). -Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement a plan detailing a benchmark schedule of the percentage of cargo containers scanned, and an analysis of the scanning equipment, personnel, and technology necessary to scan 100 percent of the cargo containers destined for the United States (Sec. 905). -Requires the President to disclose the aggregate amount of appropriations each fiscal year requested in the budget for the National Intelligence Program, and requires Congress to disclose the aggregate amount of funds appropriated (Sec. 1201). -Authorizes $537 million to be appropriated for rail security through fiscal year 2010 (Sec. 1437). -Requires that, within three years of passage, the Secretary of Homeland Security establish a system that screens 100 percent of cargo transported on passenger aircraft operated by an air carrier for the purpose of air transportation (Sec. 1462).

Feingold's Vote

Y

READ REVIEWS
Posted by: Brian Anderson		Posted: 2009-09-08
He SUCKS, He supports illegal immigration in WI! He should be removed, without pay!
Posted by: Brad Dutro		Posted: 2009-11-26
Votes straight party 85% of the time yet calls himself a maverick.
Posted by: Chris Groshek		Posted: 2009-12-22
This individual is prochoice/proabortion advocate who follows the abortionist's money. What shortsided people like Russ fail to realize is;without life there is nothing. Who speaks for and protects the most defenseless in our society? I will be doing all I can to see that Russ no longer represents Wisc. in the federal government.
Posted by: Lori Manning		Posted: 2010-01-10
� To support Feingold is to support gun control; the out-of-control,not-so-stimulating massive spending of taxpayer $ during a recession; enforced unconstitutional bailouts; unprecedented future taxation; gov�t takeovers of entire INDUSTRIES such as healthcare,energy, education; legislation that encourages/simplifies voting fraud; senators that knowingly vote against the majority of their constituency, while facades-of-otherwise, via �listening sessions�, are scheduled/promoted after-the-fact but poorly publicized in as little as 12 hours in advance. Congressional voting records can�t be disputed and collectively they tell an encumbent�s story. Actions or lack thereof that align with the story are very telling, as well.