by Glen Ford with Patrice Johnson for CBC Monitor
It's been several years since the Black Agenda Report team issued what used to be our annual report card on the Congressional Black Caucus, the cream of our glittering and prosperous black political class. We apologize, and promise you that will not happen again.
Congressional Black Caucus Report Card for 2015, the 114th Congress
by Glen Ford with Patrice Johnson for CBC Monitor
| |
CBC REP
|
SCORE
|
WHICH
VOTES?
|
 |
Conyers
MI – 13th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Edwards
MD– 4th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Ellison
MN – 5th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Lewis
GA – 5th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Scott
VA – 3rd
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Lee
CA – 13th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Waters
CA – 35th
|
90
|
5
|
 |
Bass
CA – 37th
|
80
|
4, 5
|
 |
Cummings
MD – 7th
|
80
|
4, 5
|
 |
Fattah
PA – 2nd
|
80
|
4, 5
|
 |
Jeffries
NY – 8th
|
80
|
4, 5
|
 |
Kelly
IL – 2nd
|
80
|
4, 5
|
 |
Clarke
NY – 9th
|
70
|
4, 5,
no vote 9
|
 |
Clay
MO – 1st
|
70
|
4, 5, 8
|
 |
Davis
IL – 7th
|
70
|
no vote
2, 4, 5
|
 |
Lee
TX – 18th
|
70
|
4, 5, 7
|
 |
Moore
WI – 4th
|
70
|
4, 5,
no vote 9
|
 |
Wilson
FL – 24th
|
70
|
3, 4, 5
|
 |
Johnson
|
60 |
5, no vote 8,
no vote 9,
no vote 10
|
 |
Beatty
OH – 3rd
|
60
|
3, 4, 5, 8
|
 |
Fudge
OH – 11th
|
60
|
no vote 1,
no vote 2,
no vote 4, 5
|
 |
Green
TX – 9th
|
60
|
4, 5, 7, 8
|
 |
Hastings
FL – 20th
|
60
|
4, 5, no vote
9, 10
|
 |
Johnson
TX – 30th
|
60
|
2, 4, 5, 6,
|
 |
Payne
NJ – 10th
|
50
|
no vote 2, 4, 5,
no vote 6,
no vote 7
|
 |
Rangel
NY – 13th
|
60
|
no vote 1,
no vote 2,
no vote 4, 5
|
 |
Thompson
MS – 2nd
|
60
|
no vote 1,
no vote 4, 5, 7
|
 |
Butterfield
NC – 1st
|
50
|
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
|
 |
Carson
IN – 7th
|
50
|
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
|
 |
Cleaver
MO – 5th
|
50
|
3, 4, 5, 8,
no vote 9
|
 |
Clyburn
SC – 6th
|
40
|
1, 3, 4, 5,
no vote 6, 7
|
 |
Veasey
TX – 33rd
|
50
|
3, 4, 5, 7, 8
|
 |
Brown
FL – 5th
|
40
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
|
 |
Richmond
LA – 2nd
|
40
|
no vote1,
no vote 2,
no vote 4, 5,
7, 8
|
 |
Meeks
NY – 5th
|
40
|
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
|
 |
Rush
IL – 1st
|
40
|
no vote 1,
no vote 2,
no vote 3,
no vote 4, 5,
no vote 9
|
 |
Scott
GA – 13th
|
30 |
3, 4, 5, 7, 8,
no vote 9, 10
|
 |
Bishop
GA – 2nd
|
20
|
no vote 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 7, 8,
no vote 9
|
 |
Sewell
AL – 4th
|
20
|
1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8
|
1— H.Amdt.912 to H.R. 4870, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2015, June 19, 2014. A failed effort led by Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to defund U.S. military operations in Iraq, it would have prevented Congress from using the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq as “a blank check for endless war,” in Lee’s words. The amendment was defeated 182-231.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting.
2—H.Amdt.928 to H.R.4870, June 20, 2014. A failed effort led by Barbara Lee to prohibit the the use of funds for the purpose of conducting combat operations in Afghanistan after Dec. 31, 2014, the date by which President Obama promised all American servicemen and women would return home. It was defeated 153-260.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting.
3— H.R. 5461 Sept. 16, 2014. Sponsored by Andy Barr (R-Ky.). To clarify the application of certain leverage and risk-based requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to improve upon the definitions provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction, and for other purposes. BAR considers the bill an attempt by Republicans to make substantial modifications to Dodd-Frank. Passed 327-97.
Penalty for voting AYE or not voting.
4— H.Amdt. 918 to HR 4870 June 19, 2014. Known as Grayson Amendment, sponsored by Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) Prohibited the Department of Defense's 1033 program from transferring "aircraft (including unmanned aerial vehicles), armored vehicles, grenade launchers, silencers, toxicological agents (including chemical agents, biological agents, and associated equipment), launch vehicles, guided missiles, ballistic missiles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, mines, or nuclear weapons" to local police. The amendment would have prevented the military from distributing to local police forces some of the heavy weapons and vehicles that have been deployed in response to unrest in Ferguson, Mo. It failed 62-355.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting.
5— H.Res. 657 July 11, 2014. Sponsored by Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), the resolution reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives for Israel's right to defend its citizens and ensure Israel's survival. Condemns the unprovoked rocket fire at Israel and calls on Hamas to cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel. Passed House without amendment. Agreed to without objection. Support for this resolution ignores Israel’s attacks on Palestinian lives in Gaza and its apartheid policies regarding Muslims.
Penalty for agreeing by voice vote.
6—H.R. 2146 June 18, 2015. Titled Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act, it was sponsored by David Reichert (R-Wash.). Originally introduced as a bill to address issues with retirement funds of federal law enforcement officers and firefighters, the bill would grant the President fast-track trade promotion authority (TPA). This bill is considered bad for American workers because it would establish a process that allows no amendments and limited debate on trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could lead to more exporting of jobs overseas and reduction of workers’ rights. Passed 218-208.
Penalty for voting AYE or not voting.
7—H.R.5682 Nov. 14, 2014. To approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the bill says the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. may construct, connect, operate, and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities described in the application filed on May 4, 2012, by TransCanada Corporation to the Department of State (including any subsequent revision to the pipeline route within the State of Nebraska required or authorized by the State of Nebraska). The bill eliminates the State Department’s ability to assess whether the pipeline is in the national interest and the President’s authority to ultimately approve or reject the project. Environmentalists say the pipeline. which will pump tar sands crude oil from Canada to U.S. refineries, will lead to massive amounts of carbon pollution for years to come and would seriously threaten surrounding communities, ecosystems, and watersheds. Passed 252-161.
Penalty for voting AYE or not voting.
8—H. Con. Res. 55 June 17, 2015 Sponsored by James. P. McGovern (-Mass.). Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after August 7, 2014, other than Armed Forces required to protect United States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq and Syria. Failed 139-288. A vote against the resolution can be seen as a vote against withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and Syria.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting
9—H.Amdt. 655 to H.R. 10 May 9, 2014 Kathy. Castor’s (D-FL) amendment to the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. Castor’s amendment to HR 10 would require the Secretary of Education to develop and enforce conflict of interest guidelines for all charter schools receiving federal assistance. Failed 190-205
None of the CBC members voted against the amendment, but eight failed to vote, which should be considered a deliberate attempt to avoid confronting the privatization of education in inner cities.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting.
10—H.R. 3461 Sept. 11, 2015. Sponsored by John Boehner (R-Ohio), this bill was to approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to Iran’s nuclear program. It failed, with all House Republicans voting against it, bowing to pro-Israel groups.
Penalty for voting NAY or not voting.
Sources: Library of Congress (Congress.gov); The United States House of Representatives (House.gov)
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