The House : Earthquake Aid

By a vote of 303 to 107, the House sent to President Bush a catchall spending bill providing disaster aid to California as well as money to run the government in these early weeks of fiscal 1990. The “continuing resolution” (HJR 423) is needed because Congress and President Bush have failed to enact most of the 13 regular appropriations bills for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

The bill provides $1.1 billion for housing grants and other direct aid to victims of the Oct. 17 California earthquake, $1 billion to help California repair highways damaged by the quake and more than $1 billion in Small Business Administration loans.

Members voting yes wanted to enact the continuing resolution including California disaster aid.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Abortion

The House failed to override President Bush’s veto of a fiscal 1990 Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill (HR 2990) that eased restrictions on Medicaid abortions. The 231-191 vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to defeat the veto. Bush objected to language permitting Medicaid abortions when the pregnancy results from rape or incest. Members voting yes supported the pro-abortion language and wanted to override the veto.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Payments to Japanese-Americans

By a vote of 249 to 166, the House amended an appropriations bill (HR 2991) to establish an entitlement program for Japanese-Americans who were interned in U. S. government camps during World War II. This ensures that former internees who are still living, now counted at about 60,000, will receive a single reparations payment of $20,000 each. The money was authorized in a 1988 law but held back by congressional budget cutters.

Members voting yes supported the new entitlement program.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Preferential Funding at HUD

The House voted 250 to 170 in support of 41 specific community projects to be funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development at a cost of at least $28 million. Most of the projects are for areas represented by lawmakers with considerable influence over the HUD budget. This vote swept aside an attempt to make the ventures compete for limited community development funds.

Members voting yes supported the preferential funding arrangement at HUD.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x