Votes

The Senate voted 59-33 for an amendment that would reduce crop insurance subsidies for the wealthiest farmers.

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) introduced the amendment, which reduces the crop insurance subsidies by 15 percent for farmers with a gross annual income of more than $750,000.

The Senate rejected a farm bill amendment that would have ended all taxpayer subsidies for tobacco farmers.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced the amendment, which failed on a 44 to 52 vote — the amendment was held to a 60-vote threshold.

“Should taxpayers continue to subsidize tobacco? I think the answer is no,” Feinstein said ahead of the vote on Thursday. “We have to say no to tobacco in America.”

The Senate voted 97-0 on Thursday to confirm the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court.

“He has the background and the skills, and perhaps more importantly, the temperament to serve as a judge on the D.C. Court,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said ahead of the vote. “Mr. Srinivasan has a razor sharp legal mind.”

Members passed the Smarter Solutions for Students Act in a 221 to 198 vote, with the support of four Democrats.

The Senate rejected a farm bill amendment that would have clarified that states have the right to label genetically engineered (GE) food.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the amendment, which failed on a 27-71 vote — the amendment was held to a 60-vote threshold.

The House on Thursday advanced a bill that would peg federal student loan interest rates to government interest rates.

In a party line 224-193 vote, members approved a rule for H.R. 1911, the Smarter Solutions for Students Act. The bill is meant as a fix to the annual problem Congress now faces in adjusting interest rates for federally backed Stafford loans.

The House late Wednesday quickly passed two suspension bills by voice vote — one dealing with education, and the other dealing with the reliability of electricity generators around the country.

Members first passed H.R. 1949, the Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students Act. This bill would require the Department of Education to assess how best to present information about college costs to parents and students trying to decide where to attend.

In a 241 to 175 vote, the House approved a bill that would take the decision of building Keystone out of Obama's hands.

The Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would criminalize making fraudulent claims about receiving military metals.

Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) introduced the Stolen Valor Act, which passed in the House on a 390-3 vote earlier this week. Heck served in the military prior to running for office.

The Senate rejected a farm bill amendment that would have reformed the U.S. sugar program.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced an amendment that would have reformed the subsidies and import restrictions on sugar within the United States. The amendment failed on a 45-54 vote Wednesday.