[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 30548-30549]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      EXPLANATION OF MISSED VOTES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE BARTON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, December 15, 2005, I 
was admitted to the hospital upon suffering a heart attack. As a 
result, I missed three days of votes. I ask that my statement be placed 
in the appropriate part of the record to reflect how I would have voted 
on the following rollcall votes, had I been present.


                      Thursday, December 15, 2005:

  Nay: On agreeing to the Jackson-Lee (TX) amendment Failed by recorded 
vote: 162-252 (roll No. 639). An amendment numbered 8 printed in Part B 
of House Report 109-347 to provide guidelines for implementing the 
secured alternatives to detention provision in section 402(a).
  Aye: On agreeing to the Hunter amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 
260-159 (roll No. 640). An amendment numbered 11 printed in Part B of 
House Report 109-347 to mandate the construction of specific security 
fencing, including lights and cameras, along the Southwest border for 
the purposes of gaining operational control of the border. Fencing has 
been designated in sectors that have the highest number of immigrant 
deaths, instances of drug smuggling and illegal border crossings. The 
amendment includes a requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Security 
to conduct a study on the use of physical barriers along the Northern 
border.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as 
amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405--15 (roll 
No. 641).


                       Friday, December 16, 2005:

  Aye: On motion to close portions of the conference. Agreed to by the 
Yeas and Nays: 409-12 (roll No. 642). National Defense Authorization 
Act, FY 06.
  Nay: On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by the 
Yeas and Nays: 228-187 (roll No. 643). National Defense Authorization 
Act, FY 06.
  Aye: On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and 
Nays: 221-200 (roll No. 644). Providing for consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 612) expressing the commitment of the House of 
Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq.
  Aye: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 217-
202 (roll No. 645). Providing for consideration of the resolution (H. 
Res. 612) expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to 
achieving victory in Iraq (roll No. 645).
  Aye: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 
216-203 (roll No. 646). Providing for further consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 4437) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen 
enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border security, and 
for other purposes.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as 
amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413-1 (roll No. 
647). Calling on the international community to condemn the Laogai, the 
system of forced labor prison camps in the People's Republic of China, 
as a tool for suppression maintained by the Chinese Government.
  Aye: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 
279-109, 34 Present (roll No. 648). Expressing the commitment of the 
House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as 
amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421-1 (roll No. 
649). Condemning the Government of Zimbabwe's ``Operation 
Murambatsvina'' under which homes, businesses, religious structures, 
and other buildings and facilities were demolished in an effort 
characterized by the Government of Zimbabwe as an operation to 
``restore order'' to the country.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as 
amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397-17, 7 
Present (roll No. 650). Providing that Hamas and other terrorist 
organizations should not participate in elections held by the 
Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution 
Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408-1 (roll No. 651). 
Recognizing the importance and credibility of an independent Iraqi 
judiciary in the formation of a new and democratic Iraq.
  Nay: On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by the 
Yeas and Nays: 246-175 (roll No. 652). Budget Reconciliation, 2006. The 
instructions contained in the motion seek to require the managers on 
the part of the House to recede to the Senate by eliminating House 
provisions reducing eligibility for food stamps; reducing funding for 
child support enforcement; repealing the Continued Dumping and Subsidy 
Offset; modifying the Mining Law of 1972; eliminating the sections of 
the House amendment that reduce Medicaid benefits and allow increases 
in beneficiary costs; reducing to the maximum extent possible increases 
in interest rates and fees paid by student and parent borrowers on 
student loans; adopting the Senate provision eliminating the 
stabilization fund that makes payments to Medicare Advantage Regional 
Plans; adopting the Senate provision on Medicare Advantage risk 
adjustment; and adopting the Senate provision on Medicare physician 
payments.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Goodlatte amendment Agreed to by recorded 
vote: 273-148 (roll No. 653). An amendment numbered 1 printed in House 
Report 109-350 to eliminate the visa lottery program.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Stearns amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 
420-0 (roll No. 654). An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 
109-350 to prohibit Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Attorney 
General, and all courts from granting any kind of legal immigration 
status (i.e. ``benefits'') to an alien until the relevant databases of 
criminal records and terrorist watch lists are checked.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Sensenbrenner amendment Failed by recorded 
vote: 164-257 (roll No. 655). An amendment numbered 7 printed in House 
Report 109-350 to reduce the maximum sentence for illegal entry and 
illegal presence to six months.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Norwood amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 
237-180 (roll No. 656). Clarifies federal law by explicitly stating 
that states and their political subdivisions have the inherent 
authority of a sovereign entity to investigate, identify, apprehend, 
arrest, detain, or transfer to federal custody aliens in the U.S. while 
enforcing immigration laws in the course of carrying out the routine 
duties.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Westmoreland amendment Agreed to by recorded 
vote: 247-170, 1 Present (roll No. 657). An amendment numbered 15 
printed in House Report 109-350 to set caps on the monetary penalties 
set forth in Title VII of the bill for hiring or employing unauthorized 
aliens of $7,500 for first time offenses, $15,000 for second offenses, 
and $40,000 for all subsequent offenses; Provides an exemption from 
penalty for initial good faith violations; and provides a safe harbor 
for contractors if their subcontractor employees an unauthorized alien 
(provided the contractor did not know the employee was an unauthorized 
alien).
  Nay: On agreeing to the Gonzalez amendment Failed by recorded vote: 
87-332 (roll No. 658). An amendment numbered 16 printed in House Report 
109-350 to increase the fines on businesses for knowingly hiring 
unauthorized aliens to $50,000. Proceeds would be shared with state and 
local government and are restricted for use to help cover the costs 
associated with providing services to undocumented immigrants.
  Aye: On agreeing to the Sullivan amendment Failed by recorded vote: 
163-251, 1 Present (roll No. 659). An amendment numbered 18 printed in 
House Report 109-350 to require all non-citizens who enter or exit the 
country to be processed through the automated entry-exit control system 
Congress mandated in 1996.
  Nay: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 
198-221 (roll No. 660). The instructions contained in the motion seek 
to require the bill to be reported back with an amendment which inserts 
a complete new text entitled ``Border Security and Terrorism Prevention 
Act of 2005''.
  Aye: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 239-182 (roll No. 661). 
Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act.
  Aye: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as 
amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404-5, 1 
Present (roll No. 662). Condemning actions by the Government of Syria 
that have hindered the investigation of the assassination of former 
Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri

[[Page 30549]]

conducted by the United Nations International Independent Investigation 
Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the UNIIIC's 
investigative mandate, etc.


                      Saturday, December 17, 2005:

  Aye: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 
213-190 (roll No. 663). Providing for consideration of motions to 
suspend the rules.
  Aye: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the 
Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413-0 
(roll No. 664). Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act.

                          ____________________