Congressional Key Vote Summary: California Delegation

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Senate Votes

House Votes

*NIO: Not in office

*DNV: Did not vote

Senate Key Votes

H.R. 5140–Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), would have ensured that older and disabled Americans, including the 20 million who primarily depend on Social Security for their retirement incomes, would receive economic stimulus checks. In addition, the amendment included unemployment insurance benefits for workers who face tough times getting back on the job and additional low-income heating assistance for our nation’s most vulnerable families. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation. Status: On Feb. 6, 2008, a minority of senators used a procedural motion to block this bipartisan economic stimulus package in the Senate.

H.R. 5140–Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), ensured that older and disabled Americans, including the 20 million who primarily depend on Social Security for their retirement incomes, would receive economic stimulus checks. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this amendment. Status: On Feb. 7, 2008, the Senate voted in favor of this amendment. An economic stimulus package containing the rebate for older Americans was signed into law by President Bush on Feb. 13, 2008.

S. 3–Medicare Fair Prescription Drug Price Act of 2007
About the Legislation: The Medicare Fair Prescription Drug Price Act of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), would have required the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower drug prices on all medications covered by Medicare Part D. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation. Status: On April 19, 2008, S.3 was blocked from coming up for a vote on the Senate floor by a minority of senators. AARP is working to get this important legislation on the agenda for the next Congress. Ninety percent of the public supports the government negotiating for lower drug prices.

S. 1082–Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 2007
About the Amendment: This amendment, sponsored by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), prohibits the importation of prescription drugs unless they are certified by the secretary of Health and Human Services. The secretary was not likely to provide the certification. The amendment was a “poison pill” that is now preventing access to the safe and legal importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from abroad. AARP Position: AARP supported a NO vote on this amendment. Status: On May 7, 2007, the Senate voted in favor of this amendment. The amendment passed as part of the reauthorization and expansion of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which was signed into law by President Bush on Sept. 27, 2007.

S. 3101–Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
About the Legislation: The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, sponsored by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), would have helped keep Medicare premiums fair, preserved patients’ access to doctors, prevented harmful medical errors by requiring electronic prescribing, and provided assistance to the most vulnerable people on Medicare. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation. Status: On June 12, 2008, S. 3101 was blocked from coming up for a vote on the Senate floor by a minority of senators.

Veto Override of H.R. 6331–Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
About the Legislation: The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), will help keep Medicare premiums fair, preserve patients’ access to doctors, prevent harmful medical errors by requiring electronic prescribing, and provide assistance to the most vulnerable people on Medicare. The President vetoed this bill, and Congress voted to override the veto. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote to override the President’s veto of this legislation. Status: On July 15, 2008, 70 senators voted to override President Bush’s veto, and thus, H.R. 6331 became law.

House Key Votes

H.R. 4–Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act
About the Legislation: The Medicare Fair Prescription Price Act of 2007, sponsored by Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), required the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower drug prices on all medications covered by Medicare Part D. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation. Status: On Jan. 12, 2007, the House of Representatives voted to pass the legislation by a margin of 255–170; however, the measure was blocked in the Senate. AARP is working to get this important legislation on the agenda for the next Congress. Ninety percent of the public supports the government negotiating for lower drug prices.

H.R. 3162–The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP)
About the Legislation: The CHAMP bill, sponsored by Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), would have provided assistance to the most vulnerable people on Medicare, protected patients’ access to doctors, helped keep Medicare premiums fair, provided health coverage to millions of low-income children, and improved the quality and efficiency of our nation’s health care system. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation. Status: On Aug. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CHAMP Act by a 225–204 vote. The Senate did not take up this bill.

Veto Override of H.R. 6331–Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
About the Legislation: This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), will help keep Medicare premiums fair, preserve patients’ access to doctors, prevent harmful medical errors by requiring electronic prescribing, and provide assistance to the most vulnerable people on Medicare. The President vetoed this bill, and Congress voted to override the veto. AARP Position: AARP supported a YES vote to override the president’s veto of this legislation. Status: On July 15, 2008, 383 members of the House of Representatives voted to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 6331, making this bill a law.