House Votes

WORKER RIGHTS

1. House Repeals Ergonomics Protection

The UAW and the rest of the labor movement worked for over a decade to establish a federal ergonomics standard to protect workers from repetitive motion injuries. But shortly after taking office the Bush administration backed a Congressional disapproval resolution to repeal this vital workplace health and safety protection. House and Senate Republicans then rammed this disapproval measure through Congress on largely party line votes. The vote in the House to repeal the ergonomics health and safety standard was 223-206 (R 206-13; D16-192; I 1-1). March 7.

2. House Passes Outrageous Economic Stimulus Package

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, House GOP leaders created an outrageous economic stimulus package that provided $100 billion in tax cuts for corporations and the rich, while providing very little assistance to laid-off workers. The UAW and the rest of the labor movement urged Representatives to reject this GOP package, and instead to support a Democratic alternative that would have provided $55 billion in unemployment insurance and health care benefits for laid-off workers, along with tax rebates targeted at low-income
workers. But the House rejected this pro-worker alternative, and went on to pass the GOP economic stimulus package on a mostly partly line vote of 216-214 (R 212-7; D 3-206; I 1-1). October 24.

3. House Rejects Federalization of Airport Screeners

During consideration of airline security legislation, Representative Oberstar (D-Minn.) offered an amendment that would have federalized passenger and baggage screeners at our nation’s airports. The UAW and most unions strongly supported this amendment in order to improve security. Unfortunately, the House GOP leaders vehemently opposed federalization of these workers because they didn’t want them to be unionized. In a mostly party line vote, the House rejected the Oberstar federalization amendment by a vote of 214-218
(R 8-211; D 205-6; I 1-1). November 1.

TRADE

4. House Stops Expansion of Cross Border Trucking

During consideration of the transportation appropriations bill, Representative Sabo (D-Minn.) offered an amendment to prevent any expansion of cross-border trucking operations from Mexico into the United States because of the threat to the safety of American motorists and thousands of American jobs. In the end, the House adopted this labor-backed amendment by a vote of 285-143 (R 82-134; D 201-9; I 2-0). June 26.

BUDGET/TAXES

5. House Repeals Estate Tax

The UAW and our progressive allies strongly opposed legislation crafted by the House GOP leaders that phased out and eventually repealed the estate tax. This outrageous bill gave a huge tax windfall to a tiny handful of the wealthiest families in our country. In addition, this legislation wasted huge amounts of money that are needed to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, education and other important social programs. Unfortunately, the House passed this measure by a vote of 274-154 (R 215-3; D 58-150;
I 1-1). April 4.

6. House Passes Unfair, Unwise Tax Cut Bill

President Bush and Congressional Republicans pushed a tax cut bill that was heavily skewed toward the rich. At the same time, this unfair bill also unwisely used up most of the projected federal surpluses, leaving insufficient funds for strengthening Social Security, providing a Medicare drug benefit, improving education and other key domestic priorities. Despite the strong opposition of the UAW and a broad coalition of progressive organizations, the House approved this tax cut legislation by a vote of 230-197 (R 216-0; D 13-196; I 1-1). May 16.

HUMAN RIGHTS

7. House Approves Anti-Worker Bankruptcy Bill

The UAW and a coalition of labor, consumer, women’s and senior citizen groups strongly opposed a terrible bankruptcy bill that unfairly favored the interests of banks and credit card companies, and made it more difficult for laid-off workers to obtain financial relief under our bankruptcy laws. But despite our vehement opposition, the House approved this bankruptcy bill by a vote of 306-108 (R 212-0; D 93-107; I 1-1). March 1.

8. House Defeats Effort to Undermine Public Education

During consideration of legislation reauthorizing the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, House GOP Majority Leader Dick Armey (Texas) offered an amendment that would have established a private school voucher program under which public funds could be used to pay for the costs of sending children to private or parochial educational institutions. The UAW and our progressive allies strongly opposed this attempt to undermine our system of public education, and the Armey amendment was defeated by a vote of 155-273 (R 152-68; D 2-204;
I 1-1). May 23.

9. House Rejects School Construction Program

During consideration of legislation reauthorizing the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Representative Owens (D-N.Y.) offered a motion to add provisions that would have provided $2 billion for a school construction and modernization program. But this labor-backed motion was defeated by a vote of 207-223 (R 2-218; D 204-4; I 1-1). May 23.

10. House Rejects Attempt to Block Campaign Finance Reform

After the Senate had approved the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, House GOP leaders put forward a sham alternative that would have actually increased the amounts that wealthy individuals may give to federal candidates, while still preserving the soft money loophole in federal campaign law. At the same time, the GOP leaders tried to establish rules for the debate over the competing campaign finance reform measures that would have hamstrung the advocates of real reform. This cynical tactic proved to be too much for many Representatives to swallow, and the House rejected this unfair process by a vote of 203-228 (R 201-19; D 1-208; I 1-1). July 12. The GOP leaders then indefinitely postponed action on the campaign finance reform legislation.

11. House Approves Weakened Bill of Rights for Patients

The UAW has long supported a strong Patients’ Bill of Rights that would guarantee certain fundamental rights to all patients, including the ability to hold health plans accountable when they improperly deny needed care to patients. Unfortunately, at the last minute President Bush and House GOP leaders put forward a much weaker alternative that failed to hold health plans truly accountable. Despite our opposition, the House passed this weaker alternative by a vote of 226-203 (R 220-0; D 5-202;
I 1-1). August 2.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

12. House Rejects Extreme CAFE Amendment

During consideration of comprehensive energy legislation, Representatives Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Markey (D-Mass.) offered an extreme, unfair amendment that would have required light trucks (SUVs, minivans and smaller trucks) to meet the same fuel economy standards as automobiles. The UAW strongly opposed this amendment because it increased the fuel economy standards too much and too quickly. In addition, it would have discriminated against the Big Three automakers whose product mix is more heavily weighted towards larger cars and light trucks. Because of these serious problems, the amendment could have jeopardized the jobs of thousands of UAW members. Thanks to the strong lobbying efforts by UAW members, the House rejected the Boehlert-Markey CAFE amendment by a vote of 160-269 (R 36-182; D 123-86; I 1-1). August 1.

FAST TRACK

13. House Passes Fast Track Legislation

The UAW and a broad coalition of labor, environmental, religious, human rights and other groups strongly opposed the Fast Track trade legislation sponsored by Representative Thomas (R-CA). This legislation did not contain meaningful protections for worker rights and the environment. It also greased the skids for an expansion of NAFTA to South America and Central America, thereby threatening the jobs of thousands of workers. Despite our vehement opposition, the White House and House GOP leaders rammed this legislation through the House by a single vote. The vote on this priority issue was 215-214 (R 194-23; D 189-21; I 0-2). December 6.