For theweekendingJuly 31

Y NY N N Civil Service Job Protections: The Housevoted, 256-170, to scale back civil-service job protections to make it easier to fire or demote poorly performing Department of Veterans Affairs employees. A yes vote was to passHR 1994 over arguments it deniesconstitutional due-process rights.

Y NY O N Blockage of New Rules: The House passed,243-165, a bill allowing major new regulationsto take effect only if both houses of Congressvote in advance to approve them. A yes votewas to empower either chamber to kill ruleshaving at least a $100 million impact on theeconomy. (HR 427)

N YN O Y Social Security, Medicare: The Housedefeated, 167-241, a motion by Democrats toprotect Social Security and Medicare underHR 427 (above), in part by preventingchanges such as raising the Social Securityretirement age or privatizing Medicare. A yesvote was to adopt the motion.

Y YY Y Y Patch of Highway Fund: The Houseauthorized, 385-34, funding for highway andtransit construction projects through Oct. 29while adding $8 billion to the Highway TrustFund to keep it solvent through Dec. 18. Ayes vote was to send HR 3236 to the Senate,which later gave its approval.

Y Y Six-Year Transportation Bill: The Senatepassed, 65-34, a bill to authorize $350 billionover six years for road, bridge, tunnel and mass-transit construction projects whilerenewing the Export-Import Bank charter. Ayes vote was to send HR 22 to the House,which declined to take it up.

O Y Export-Import Bank: The Senate voted, 64-29, to advance an amendment to HR 22(above) to revive the Export-Import Bank,which lost its charter June 30 due toopposition from many conservatives. A yesvote backed a U.S. agency that helps foreigncustomers finance purchases of U.S. goods.

In the week of Aug. 3, the Senate will debate and vote on a bill to endfederal funding of Planned Parenthood, then join the House in a summer recess. Both chambers will reconvene on Sept. 8.

KEY VOTES AHEAD 2015 Thomas Voting Reports www.voterama.info