How They Voted
United States Senate
110th Congress
| Bill # | Bill Description | Status |
S. 1Section 220 |
Regulation of so-called "grassroots lobbying" groups | passed 55 - 43 |
| S. 5 | "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007" (S. 5): passage | passed 63 - 34 |
| S. 3 | Medicare prescription drug price controls (S. 3) | rejected 55 - 42 |
Bill Description
Regulation of so-called "grassroots lobbying" groups
This roll call occurred on an amendment offered by pro-life Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) to S. 1, an "ethics reform" bill. The bill contained a provision, Section 220, to require registration and reporting by certain activists and groups who spend money to encourage members of the general public to communicate with members of Congress or other federal officials about legislative and policy matters, which Section 220 called "grassroots lobbying." Violations to these proposed new requirements would have been punishable by fines of up to $200,000 and prison terms of up to 10 years in certain circumstances. The Bennett Amendment, which struck the entire Section 220 from S. 1, was strongly supported by NRLC and by many other issue-oriented groups, which warned that Section 220 infringed on rights protected by the First Amendment, and would inhibit groups from providing timely motivating information to members of the public about matters under consideration in Congress. The Bennett Amendment was adopted, 55 to 43. The amendment was supported by 48 Republicans and seven Democrats; it was opposed by 43 Democrats. Roll call no. 17, January 18, 2007.
"Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007" (S. 5): passage
The "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act" (S. 5), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.), would mandate federal funding of the type of stem cell research that requires the killing of human embryos. This bill would overturn President Bush's policy that prohibits such funding. NRLC strongly opposes S. 5. On this roll call, the Senate approved S. 5 by a vote of 63 to 34. The bill was supported by 44 Democrats, two independents, and 17 Republicans. It was opposed by two Democrats and 32 Republicans. (Three Democratic supporters of the bill -- Senators Dodd, Johnson, and Landrieu -- were absent.) The bill was then sent to the House for further action. President Bush has vowed to veto the bill.
Medicare prescription drug price controls (S. 3)
NRLC opposed this bill (S.3), sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mt.), because it would create the conditions for effectively preventing older people from being allowed to spend their own money, if they choose, to save their own lives through access to unrationed prescription drugs under Medicare. Under the guise of allowing “government negotiation” the bill would authorize the imposition of price controls that would limit access to and discourage the development of innovative life-saving medicines. On the vote shown here, 55 senators voted in favor of a "cloture motion" to advance the bill. This was five votes short of the 60 votes necessary to "invoke cloture" and overcome a “filibuster” led by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), so the bill did not advance. A vote against cloture reflected the NRLC position. [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) supported the bill, but was recorded among the 42 senators opposed to the cloture motion, because this allowed him to preserve the right to move to "reconsider" the vote at a later date if he so chooses.) Roll call no. 132, April 18, 2007.
109th Congress
| Bill # | Bill Description | Status |
| S 600 | Funding of Overseas Pro-Abortion Organizations | Agreed to 52 - 46 |
| HR 810 | Embryonic Stem Cell Enhancement | Passed 63 - 37 |
| SJ Res 1 | Marriage Amendment | Failed 49 - 48 |
| S 403 | Child Custody Protection Act | Passed 65 - 34 |
| S Amdt 4689 | Federal Funding for Sex Education | Failed 48 - 51 |
| S 3 | Partial Birth Abortion Ban | Passed 64 - 34 |
| S.J. Res. 12 | Flag Protection | Failed 66 - 34 |
Bill Description
Funding of Overseas Pro-Abortion Organizations
In 2001, President George W. Bush, by executive order, adopted a policy that U.S. funds for overseas "population assistance" programs could not go to private organizations that perform abortion or promote abortion (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape and incest) -- for example, by working to repeal pro-life laws. This pro-life policy is known as the "Mexico City Policy." During consideration of the foreign aid authorization bill (S. 600), pro-abortion Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.) offered an amendment to nullify the Mexico City Policy.
Embryonic Stem Cell Enhancement
H.R. 810 was a bill to overturn the President's pro-life policy and order federal funding of such research. The bill required funding of human embryonic stem cells taken "from human embryos that have been donated from in vitro fertilization clinics, were created for the purposes of fertility treatment, and were in excess of the clinical need of the individuals seeking such treatment," if "it was determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded."
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. J. Res. 1 ) 3/5 necessary.
The Child Custody Protection Act (S. 403), sponsored by Senator John Ensign (R-Nv.) would prohibit the transportation of a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, if this abridges the right of her parents to be involved in her abortion decision under their home-state law, with certain exceptions.
Federal Funding for Sex Education
Lautenberg Amendment proposing federal funding for comprehensive sex education to the child custody bill.
The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (S. 3) prohibits performance of a partial-birth abortion, defined as an abortion in which the baby is delivered feet-first outside the body of the mother past the baby's navel, or the entire head is delivered outside the body of the mother, before the baby is killed.
Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Desecration of the United States flag. 2/3 majority required.
