[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11972-11973]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, due to the celebration of my daughter's 
wedding, I was unable to be in Washington, DC for votes during the week 
of July 18. Had I been present for the votes that week, I would have 
voted as follows:
  Rollcall vote 602: I would have voted in favor of H.R. 33, 
legislation amending the Securities Act of 1933 to specify when certain 
securities issued in connection with church plans are treated as 
exempted securities for purposes of that Act.
  Rollcall vote 606: I would have voted against H.R. 2560, legislation 
submitting a constitutional amendment to the States that would 
irresponsibly limited the government's ability to respond to wars, 
disasters, or other challenges as well as changing Congressional voting 
procedures that would end majority rule.
  Rollcall vote 611: I would have voted against H.R. 2553, legislation 
that, while extending the operations of the Federal Aviation Authority, 
would undermine labor relations.
  Rollcall vote 621: I would have voted against H.R. 1315, legislation 
undermining consumer protections implemented as part of the Dodd-Frank 
Act.

[[Page 11973]]

  Rollcall vote 629: I would have voted against H.R. 2551, 
ideologically driven legislation that cuts funding for House and joint 
operations by $227 million (6.4 percent) from FY11 enacted levels, 
which is $472 million (12.4 percent) below the requested amount. These 
cuts risk possible layoffs and pay-cuts for legislative branch staff, 
which will damage Congress' ability to fulfill its Constitutional 
duties and responsibilities to the public. For example, the Library of 
Congress, which is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and 
provides critical resources to Members of Congress, was severely cut to 
13.7 percent below the request. I was also dismayed by the cuts to 
related agencies such as Congressional Research Service, Government 
Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office, which provide 
crucial assistance and oversight to Congress. These cuts will make the 
Legislative Branch less effective, not more efficient.

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