How members of Congress voted on key bills and amendments last week.

How members of Congress voted on key bills and amendments last week.
HOUSE
FCC amendment
The House rejected an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and State departments appropriations bill to prohibit funding for the Federal Communications Commission to relax media-ownership rules.
Proponents said the loosened rules would allow a harmful concentration of newspapers and television and radio stations. Opponents argued that the FCC rules would promote competition in the press industry. The vote was 174 yes to 254 no.
YES Ohio: Tim Ryan, D-17th, and Ted Strickland, D-6th.
NO Ohio: Steven C. LaTourette, R-14th.
Pa.: Phil English, R-3rd, and Melissa A. Hart, R-4th.
Medicinal weed
The House rejected an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and State departments appropriations bill to prohibit the government from trying to override with state laws that allow the medicinal use of marijuana. The vote was 152 yes to 273 no.
Proponents said the federal government should respect state laws. Opponents argued that state medicinal marijuana laws interfered with enforcement of federal drug laws.
YES Ohio: Ryan and Strickland.
NO Ohio: LaTourette.
Pa.: Hart and English.
Commerce funding
The House, by a vote of 400-21, approved a bill to fund the departments of Commerce, Justice and State and other agencies for fiscal 2004.
The bill included a provision barring the Federal Communications Commission from enforcing its rule allowing a company to own television stations that reach up to 45 percent of American households.
YES All local representatives.
Free trade
The House approved a bill to implement a free-trade pact between the United States and Singapore. Proponents said the treaty would help the American and Singaporean economies. Opponents argued it lacked sufficient environmental and workers-rights safeguards and would lead to the exporting of American jobs. The vote was 272-155 nays.
YES Ohio: LaTourette.
Pa.: English and Hart.
NO Ohio: Strickland and Ryan.
Chile free trade
The House approved a bill to implement a free-trade pact between the United States and Chile. Proponents said the treaty would help the American and Chilean economies. Opponents argued it lacked sufficient environmental and workers-rights safeguards and would lead to the exporting of American jobs. The vote was 270-56.
YES Pa.: English and Hart.
NO Ohio: Ryan, Strickland and LaTourette.
School readiness act
The House, by a tight vote of 216-215, approved a bill, to reauthorize Head Start and shift responsibility for the program to states through block grants. Proponents said it would allow new innovations that would help disadvantaged children. Opponents argued cash-strapped states were likely to cut Head Start funding and that many children would lose access to the program.
YES Pa.: English and Hart.
NO Ohio: Ryan, Strickland and LaTourette.
Prescription drugs
The House approved a bill to allow people to re-import American-made prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. Proponents said it would reduce the prices of prescription drugs in the United States. Opponents argued that it would allow unsafe medicines into the country. The vote was 243-186.
YES Ohio: Strickland, Ryan and LaTourette.
NO Pa.: Hart and English.
SENATE
Security amendment
The Senate failed to overcome procedural objections to an amendment to the homeland security appropriations bill to increase funding for firefighter assistance grants by $150 million.
Proponents said the additional funding would help local fire departments cover rising homeland security costs. Opponents argued the bill already included sufficient funds. The vote was 48 yes to 49 no, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural objections to the amendment.
YES Pa.: Arlen Specter, R.
NO Ohio: Mike DeWine, R, and George V. Voinovich, R.
Pa.: Rick Santorum, R.
Border security
The Senate failed to overcome procedural objections to an amendment to the homeland security appropriations bill to provide $200 million for new security personnel on the border between the United States and Canada.
Proponents said the additional security personnel would help prevent terrorists and other criminals from sneaking into the country. Opponents argued the bill already included sufficient funds. The vote was 45 yes to 51 no, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural objections to the amendment.
NO All Ohio and Pennsylvania senators.
Security expenses
The Senate failed to overcome procedural objections to an amendment to the homeland security appropriations bill to repeal recent tax cuts and redirect the funds to first-responders and other homeland security expenses.
Proponents said homeland security should be a higher priority than tax cuts. Opponents argued that the amendment wasn't germane and that the tax cuts would jumpstart the economy. The vote was 41 yes to 54 no, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural objections to the amendment.
NO Ohio: DeWine and Voinovich.
NOT VOTING Pa.: Santorum and Specter.
Specter amendment
The Senate rejected an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter, to the homeland security appropriations bill to increase funding for grants for high-threat urban areas.
Proponents said certain cities need more money to cover homeland security expenses. Opponents argued it was unnecessary and too expensive. The vote was 48 yes to 48 no.
YES Ohio: Voinovich.
Pa.: Specter and Santorum.
NO Ohio: DeWine
Homeland bill
After action on all amends, the Senate approved a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal 2004. The vote was 93-1.
YES All Ohio and Pennsylvania senators.
Source: States News Service