House Votes
Economy
1. House Backs Extended UI Benefits
In response to the economic downturn, the UAW and other progressive groups called on Congress to approve legislation providing 13 weeks of extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for the long-term unemployed in all states, and an additional 13 weeks in high unemployment states. In an effort to overcome opposition from the Bush administration and GOP Congressional leaders, House Democrats attached these provisions on extended UI benefits to a supplemental appropriations bill. With our support, this package passed the House by a vote of 256-166 (R 32-159; D 224-7). May 15.
2. House Approves Economic Stimulus Package
With the continuing deterioration in the economy, the UAW and the rest of the labor movement called on Congress to approve additional measures to create jobs and stimulate the economy. House Democratic leaders put forward a package that included extended UI benefits for unemployed workers, assistance to hard-pressed states and localities, additional funding for job-creating infrastructure, school construction and mass transit projects, food assistance for seniors and the poor, job training for dislocated workers, and investments in measures to promote energy security. The UAW strongly supported this economic stimulus package, and it passed the House by a vote of 264-158 (R 41-150; D 223-8). Sept. 26.
Worker Rights
3. House Approves Mine Safety Legislation
The UAW and other unions supported legislation to strengthen safety requirements for our nation’s mines to help prevent fatalities, injuries and illness. This measure was crafted in response to the Sago and other fatal coal mining disasters. The House passed this worker protection measure by a vote of 214 to 199 (R 7-183; D 207-16). Jan. 16.
4. House Passes Combustible Dust Bill
The UAW and the rest of the labor movement backed legislation to require OSHA to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts that can build up to hazardous levels and explode. These regulations would help to prevent explosions that have killed many workers. With our support, the House passed this bill by a vote of 247 to 165 (R 22-165; D 225-0). April 30.
Trade
5. House Suspends Fast Track
The Bush administration tried to force the House to take up the Colombia free trade agreement under fast-track procedures requiring an up-or-down vote after limited debate, with no amendments allowed. The UAW and the rest of the labor movement strongly opposed the Colombia trade deal because of the continuing wave of murders and violence against trade union officials in that country. Fortunately, House Democratic leaders refused to allow the Bush administration to move forward with its misguided trade policies. Instead, they offered a resolution suspending the fast-track requirements for considering the Colombia free trade agreement. With the support of the labor movement, the House passed this resolution by a vote of 224-195 (R 6-185; D 218-10). April 10. This action effectively blocked consideration of the Colombia trade deal.
Health Care
6. House Fails to Override S-CHIP Veto
The UAW and a broad coalition of progressive groups strongly supported legislation that would have expanded the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover 4 million uninsured children. The House and Senate approved this legislation by wide margins. But President Bush vetoed it because he opposed an expansion of government health care programs. With our support, House Democrats tried to override this ill-advised veto. But they failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority when most Republicans backed the President’s veto. The vote on overriding the veto of the S-CHIP legislation was 260-152 (R 42-151; D 218-1). Jan. 23.
Budget/Taxes
7. House Approves Democratic Budget Plan
The UAW and other progressive groups supported the budget plan crafted by Democratic leaders for FY 2009. It rejected the enormous cuts in Medicare and Medicaid proposed by the Bush administration, as well as the administration’s proposals to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for the rich. Instead, this budget plan provided increased funding for health care, education, infrastructure, veterans and other important domestic programs, including $50 billion to expand SCHIP to cover millions of uninsured children. It also included increased funding for greencollar jobs initiatives, such as the program backed by the UAW to provide low-interest loans to encourage auto manufacturers to retool facilities in the United States to produce advanced technology vehicles and their key components. In addition, this budget plan extended various tax provisions that benefit middle and low-income families. With our support, the House approved the conference report on this budget plan on a largely party line vote of 214-210 (R 0-196; D 214-14). June 5.
Civil and Human Rights
8. House Passes Paycheck Fairness Act
The UAW and our allies in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) supported the proposed “Paycheck Fairness Act” (H.R. 1338), which would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to help close the pay gap between men and women and ensure equal pay for equal work. This legislation would make it easier for women to bring lawsuits challenging unequal pay, strengthen the penalties for violations of the law, and prohibit retaliation against workers who inquire about their employer’s wage practices. With our backing, the House passed this important civil rights measure by a vote of 247-178 (R 14-178; D 233-0). July 31.
