Life Advocacy Briefing

Breaking for Christmas

WE EXPECT THIS TO BE OUR FINAL EDITION FOR 2015, with Christmas coming this Friday. We thank our readers for your faithful attention, for your prayers and action, and we ask your prayers for Life Advocacy as we prepare to head into another year. We ask, too, that you consider a year-end (or year-opening) financial gift to our work to aid us with the expenses of this publication and our other work to present Life as a winning issue. (2004 E. Sherwood Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004, or via our website) Thank you, and may our Lord richly bless you for all you do for the cause of Life, and may He bring peace to your heart and your family as you celebrate the Savior’s birth and as you draw hope from the sovereignty of our Lord.

Holding Our Lawmakers Accountable

THIS BEING OUR FINAL EDITION FOR 2015, we publish in this Life Advocacy Briefing our annual Voting Record Index for the House of Representatives in the first session of the 114th Congress. We have done our best to compile these votes from the roll calls we have published throughout the year, and we apologize if we have made any errors; it is quite an undertaking! We hope it will prove useful to our readers.

Waiting for the House

THOUGH THE SENATE PASSED THE AMENDED ‘RECONCILIATION’ BILL on Dec. 4, at this writing, we continue to wait for the House to act on the massive Senate amendment to HR-3762 in order that the proposal be sent to the President for his probable veto.

Readers are asked to contact their own Representatives to ask them to vote to accept the Senate’s changes to the Budget Reconciliation bill; they may be contacted via the Capitol switchboard at 1-202/224-3121.

It is this massive bill which incorporates both the disqualification of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding and significant amendments stripping major provisions from ObamaCare.

It is not enough for lawmakers to say “I voted for this,” without its having been sent to the President. The House must act again now in order to define the position of Congress versus the White House.

Poll Shows Effective Messaging

A LEADING POLLSTER HAS RELEASED results of a new survey of 1,009 adults, taken Dec. 3-6, focused on Planned Parenthood and its scandal.

The Polling Company, led by the respected Kellyanne Conway, was hired by the Center for Medical Progress to test public opinion of the abortion goliath. CMP is the organization which videographed undercover investigators exploring Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the harvesting of abortion victims’ body parts and the tissue trafficking racket.

Mrs. Conway’s principal conclusion, reported by Ben Johnson for LifeSiteNews.com: “‘When we communicate three basic truths about Planned Parenthood, support for the organization and their taxpayer funding tumbles. …

“‘After answering a series of questions on the baby-body-parts expose and hearing that Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider, receives a half-billion dollars from the government each year, spends millions of dollars in partisan political activities and was recently exposed on video as bartering the cost of baby body parts and fetal tissue,’” she wrote in a memo provided to LifeSiteNews, “‘a 54% majority say they are “mostly negative” toward Planned Parenthood.”’ …

“More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans supported continuing to investigate the videos’ allegations,” reports Mr. Johnson, “– 76% of self-identified Republicans, 72% of independents and a surprisingly high 54% of Democrats. ‘This,’” Mrs. Conway wrote, “‘marks rare tri-partisan agreement in Washington.’ …

“[Mrs.] Conway said if Republicans hope to win the battle over providing the nation’s largest abortion provider with more than $500 million a year,” writes Mr. Johnson, “they must repeat the targeted, three-part message that resonated with those who took her poll. ‘Attempts to expose more Americans to these horrific practices should be redoubled,’ she wrote, ‘while preparing to defend the predictable and specious attacks and deflections by this well-funded industry suffering its worst PR crisis in years.’”

Christmas Season Vigil

PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE IS LEADING VOLUNTEERS in a special Christmas observance at abortuaries nationwide throughout December.

“Empty Manger Christmas Caroling” will fill the air with joyful tributes to our Savior in more than 30 cities (in more than 20 states) to, as Pro-Life Action League’s Eric Scheidler said in a PLAL news release, “counter [the] walk toward darkness” as abortion-minded expectant mothers approach abortuaries. “It’s particularly sad,” he said, “to think of someone getting an abortion during the time of Christmas, when we remember hope springing forth with the birth of a Child. It can also be a special time,” he noted, “to reach women and help them decide to not go through with the abortion.”

And the caroling witness puts a properly loving, faith-filled face on the pro-Life cause and its volunteers at a time when so many people are out on the streets of our cities.

“The message we are offering,” said Mr. Scheidler: “Choose life, not death. That is the path to light, hope and healing.”

PLAL may be contacted at 1-773/777-2900 for information; locations of the planned caroling vigils may be found on the group’s Internet website.

                     HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
VOTING RECORD INDEX – 2015

                                               KEY

A            Motion to close debate on HRes-42 – Rule for Consideration of HR-7 (Make Hyde Amendment Permanent) – Jan. 22 – Passed 239-183

B            Adoption of HRes-42 – Rule for Consideration of HR-7 (Make Hyde Amendment Permanent) – Jan. 22 – Passed 242-179

C            Motion to Recommit (Block) HR-7 – Jan. 22 – Failed 177-240

D            Passage – HR-7 – Make Hyde Amendment Permanent – Jan. 22 – Passed 242-179

E            Motion to Close Debate on HRes-70 – Rule for Consideration of HR-596 (ObamaCare Repeal) – Feb. 3 – Passed 242-176

F            Adoption of HRes-70 – Rule for Consideration of HR-596 (ObamaCare Repeal) – Feb. 3 – Passed 242-178

G            Motion to Recommit (Block) HR-596 – Feb. 3 – Failed 179-241

H            Passage – HR 596 – ObamaCare Repeal – Feb. 3 – Passed 239-186

I            HJRes-43 – Disapproving District of Columbia Forced Employment Ordinance – April 30 –  Passed 228-192

J            Motion to Recommit (Block) HR-36 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – May 13 – Failed 181-246

K            Passage – HR 36 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – May 13 – Passed 242-184

L            Motion to Close Debate on HRes-421 – Rule for Consideration of both HR-3134 (Planned Parenthood Defunding) & HR-3504 (Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act) – Sept. 17 – Passed 243-183

M            Adoption of HRes-421 (Planned Parenthood Defunding & Born-Alive Survivors Protection) – Sept. 17 – Passed 246-179

N            Motion to Recommit (Block) HR-3134 (Planned Parenthood Defunding) – Sept. 18 – Failed 183-245

O            Passage – HR-3134 – Planned Parenthood Defunding – Sept. 18 – Passed 241-187

P            Passage – HR 3504 – Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act – Sept. 18 – Passed 248-177

Q            Motion to Close Debate on HRes-444 – Rule for Consideration of HR-3495 (Planned Parenthood Defunding) – Sept. 29 – Passed 243-182

R            Adoption of HRes-444 – Rule for Consideration of HR-3495 (Planned Parenthood Defunding) – Sept. 29 – Passed 242-183

S            Motion to Recommit (Block) HR-3495 – Planned Parenthood Defunding – Sept. 29 – Failed 184-242

T            Passage – HR-3495 – Women’s Public Health and Safety Act, Planned Parenthood Defunding permitting states to disqualify abortionists from Medicaid – Sept. 29 – Passed 236-193

U            Passage – HCR-79 –Add Defunding Planned Parenthood to Continuing Resolution – Sept. 30 – Passed 241-185

V            HRes-461 – Establish Select Panel to Investigate Planned Parenthood – Oct. 7 – Passed 242-184

W            HRes-483 – Rule for Consideration of HR-3762 – Reconciliation Budget Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood & Gutting ObamaCare – Oct. 22 – Passed 240-187

X            Final Passage – HR 3762 – Reconciliation Defunding Planned Parenthood & Gutting ObamaCare – Oct. 23 – Passed 240-189

VOTING RECORD

100% Pro-Life: Republicans Aderholt, Brooks, Byrne, Palmer, Roby, Rogers/AL; Franks, Gosar, Salmon, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, Cook, Hunter, Issa, LaMalfa, McCarthy, McClintock, Nunes, Rohrabacher, Royce, Valadao, Walters/CA; Lamborn, Tipton/CO; Bilirakis, Buchanan, Clawson, Crenshaw, DeSantis, Nugent, Posey, Ros-Lehtinen, Ross, Webster, Yoho/FL; Allen, Carter, Collins, Graves, Loudermilk, A.Scott, Woodall/GA; Labrador, Simpson/ID; Bost, R.Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, Roskam, Shimkus/IL; Brooks, Bucshon, Messer, Rokita/IN; Blum, Young/IA; Huelskamp, Jenkins, Pompeo, Yoder/KS; Barr, Guthrie, Massie, Rogers, Whitfield/KY; Abraham, Boustany, Fleming, Graves, Scalise/LA; Harris/MD; Benishek, Bishop, Huizenga, Miller, Moolenaar, Trott, Upton, Walberg/MI; Emmer, Kline, Paulsen/MN; Harper, Palazzo/MS; Graves, Hartzler, Long, Luetkemeyer, Smith/MO; Zinke/MT; Smith/NE; Amodei, Hardy, Heck/NV; Guinta/NH; Garrett, Lance, LoBiondo, MacArthur, Smith/NJ; Pearce/NM; Collins, King/NY; Ellmers, Foxx, Holding, McHenry, Pittenger, Rouzer, Walker/NC; Cramer/ND; Chabot, Gibbs, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, Renacci, Stivers, Tiberi, Turner, Wenstrup/OH; Bridenstine, Cole, Lucas, Mullin, Russell/OK; Walden/OR; Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Marino, Meehan, Murphy, Perry, Pitts, Rothfus, Shuster, Thompson/PA; Duncan, Gowdy, Mulvaney, Rice, Sanford, Wilson/SC; Noem/SD; Black, Blackburn, DesJarlais, Duncan, Fleischmann/TN; Babin, Barton, Burgess, Conaway, Farenthold, Flores, Gohmert, Hensarling, Hurd, McCall, Neugebauer, Olson, Poe, Ratcliffe, Sessions, Thornberry, Weber/TX; Bishop, Chaffetz, Love, Stewart/UT; Brat, Goodlatte, Griffith, Rigell, Wittman/VA; McMorris-Rodgers, Newhouse/WA; Jenkins, McKinley, Mooney/WV; Duffy, Grothman, Ribble, Ryan, Sensenbrenner/WI; Lummis/WY; no Democrats.

100% Pro-Life when voting (absences shown by capital letter/s following Member name): Republicans Young(A,E,F,G,H)/AK; Denham(G), Knight(W)/CA; Diaz-Balart(C), Mica(W), Rooney(W)/FL; Price(G), Westmoreland(L,M,Q)/GA; Stutzman(G), Walorski(V), Young(I)/IN; Poliquin(I)/ME; Wagner(I,L,M,N,O,P,V)/MO; Fortenberry(N,O,P)/NE; Hudson(Q,R,S,T,U,V)/NC; Barletta(J,K)/PA; Fincher(L,M,N,O,P), Roe(E,F,G,H)/TN; Brady(U), Carter(A,B,C,D), Culberson(U), Granger(V), S.Johnson(A,B,C,D), Marchant(A,B,C,D), L.Smith(R,V), Williams(V)/TX; Comstock(S,T), Forbes(A,B,C,D), Hurt(S)/VA; Herrera-Beutler(I), Reichert(Q,R,S,T,U)/WA. LaHood (elected mid-term – not voting until L)/IL; Kelly (elected mid-term – not voting until L)/MS; no Democrats.

Mostly Pro-Life (anti-Life votes shown by lower-case letter/s following Member name; absences shown by capital letter/s): Republicans McSally(i)/AZ; Buck(x)(I), Coffman(i)/CO; Curbelo(i,t), Jolly(i,t,v)/FL; Hice(“present” on k)/GA; King(“present” on o,u)/IA; Amash(r,w)/MI; Frelinghuysen(k)(R)/NJ; Gibson(i,t), Katko(i,t), Reed(i)(S), Stefanik(i,t)/NY; Jones(w,x), Meadows(x)/NC; Costello(i)/PA. Donovan(elected mid-term – not voting until J)(t)/NY; no Democrats.

Mixed (anti-Life votes shown by lower-case letter/s following Member name; absences shown by capital letter/s): Republicans Dold(i,k,o,t,u,x)/IL; Hanna(d,i,k,o,t,u,x)(D,M)/NY; Dent(i,k,o,t,u)/PA; Democrats Lipinski(a,c,e,f,h,l,q,w,x)/IL; Peterson(a,c,e,f,g,h,l,q,w)/MN.

Mostly Anti-Life (pro-Life votes shown by lower-case letter/s following Member name; absences shown by capital letter/s): no Republicans; Democrats Garamendi (“present” on p)/CA; Kaptur(c)/OH; Cartwright(p)/PA; Langevin(k,p)(E,F)/RI; Cuellar(d,i,j,k,p,t,u)/TX; Welch(m)(G)/VT.

100% Anti-Life when voting (absences shown by capital letter/s following Member name): no Republicans; Democrats Sinema(V)/AZ; Capps(J,K), Cardenas(E,N), Chu(E,F,G,H), Eshoo(M), Huffman(G), Lee(E,F,G,H), Lofgren(E,F,G,H), Lowenthal(B), McNerney(X), Loretta Sanchez(L,M,Q,R), Speier(B), Thompson(L,M,N,O,P), Waters(L)/CA; Perlmutter(A,B,C,D)/CO; Larson(Q,R,S,T)/CT; Castor(W,X), Deutch(C,D,X), Hastings(A,B,C,D), Wasserman-Schultz(I), Wilson(E,F,M)/FL; Lewis(I)/GA; D.Davis(E), Duckworth(A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H), Gutierrez(E,F,G,H), Kelly(Q,R,S,T,U,W,X), Rush(C,E,F)/IL; Yarmuth(I)/KY; Pingree(U); Cummings(I), Delaney(P)/MD; Tsongas(E,F)/MA; Dingell(L,M,V)/MI; Ellison(Q)/MN; Thompson(D)/MS; Payne(Q,R,W,X)/NJ; Lowey(G), S.Maloney(C), Meeks(C,U), Rangel(P), Rice(W)/NY; Boyle(J,K), Brady(J,K)/PA; G.Green(C,D), Hinojosa(A,B,C,D,I,J,K,V)/TX; McDermott(Q,R), Smith(A,B,C,E,F,I,L,M,N,O,P)/WA; Kind(P)/WI.

100% Anti-Life: no Republicans; Democrats Sewell/AL; Gallego, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick/AZ; Aguilar, Bass, Becerra, Bera, Brownley, Costa, Davis, DeSaulnier, Hahn, Honda, Matsui, Napolitano, Pelosi, Peters, Roybal-Allard, Ruiz, Linda Sanchez, Schiff, Sherman, Swalwell, Takano, Torres, Vargas/CA; DeGette, Polis/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Esty, Himes/CT; Carney/DE; Brown, Frankel, Graham, Grayson, Murphy/FL; Bishop, Johnson, D.Scott/GA; Gabbard, Takai/HI; Bustos, Foster, Quigley, Schakowsky/IL; Carson, Visclosky/IN; Loebsack/IA; Richmond/LA); Edwards, Hoyer, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, VanHollen/MD; Capuano, Clark, Keating, Kennedy, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal/MA; Conyers, Kildee, Lawrence, Levin/MI; McCollum, Nolan, Walz/MN; Clay, Cleaver/MO; Ashford/NE; Titus/NV; Kuster/NH; Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Sires, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Lujan, Lujan-Grisham/NM; Clarke, Crowley, Engel, Higgins, Israel, Jeffries, C.Maloney, Meng, Nadler, Serrano, Slaughter, Tonko, Velazquez/NY; Adams, Butterfield, Price/NC; Beatty, Fudge, Ryan/OH; Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader/OR; Doyle, Fattah/PA; Cicilline/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen, Cooper/TN; Castro, Doggett, A.Green, Jackson-Lee, E.B.Johnson, O’Rourke, Veasey, Vela/TX; Beyer, Connolly, Scott/VA; DelBene, Heck, Kilmer, Larsen/WA; Moore, Pocan(WI).

Note: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) did not vote, as is customary for the Speaker; he resigned as of the end of October, 2015, and was succeeded by now-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), whose 2015 session votes are listed above in the 100% Pro-Life category.