Votes

The Senate confirmed a nominee from President Obama on Tuesday to serve on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

In a 53-45 vote, David Medine was confirmed to serve as chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The vote split down party lines, with Democrats supporting Medine and Republicans opposing his nomination. Sens. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) missed the vote.

The House on Monday easily approved legislation aimed at making it easier for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to collect private donations to build a new education center.

In a 398-2 vote, and after a token debate, the House approved H.R. 588, the Vietnam Veterans Donor Acknowledgement Act. The bill allows the VVMF to acknowledged private donations to build the center inside the center, something it is currently not permitted to do under current law.

Legislation to restructure the federal government's sale of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve easily passed the House on Friday.

Members voted 394-1 in favor of the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act, H.R. 527. The only member against it was Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.).

Legislation allowing the government to re-direct millions of dollars was approved in an overwhelming 361-41 vote.

The Senate advanced a bill to allow states to collect online sales tax and will vote on it May 6.

The House on Thursday approved a rule governing debate on a bill that would alter the way the government sells its helium stocks.

Members approved the rule in a 231-177 vote, after a debate in which Democrats again blamed Republicans for wasting two days to approve the non-controversial bill. The House is expected to consider amendments and hold a final passage vote on the bill on Friday.

The House on Wednesday made quick work of two noncontroversial bills, one dealing with a commemorative baseball coin, and the other dealing with the civil rights movement.

In a voice vote, members approved H.R. 1071, which makes a technical correction to a 2012 law dealing with the production of commemorative coins for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Senate took a second procedural step Wednesday on a a bill that would allow states to collect online sales tax.

In a 75-22 vote, the Senate proceeded to The Marketplace Fairness Act, S. 743, which would empower states to collect taxes on purchases made online by consumers in their states.

On Monday, the Senate voted 74-20 to end debate on the motion to proceed and last month the body passed a non-binding budget resolution supporting the Marketplace Fairness language on a 75-24 vote.

The Senate voted 96-0 to confirm Sylvia Burwell as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The House on Tuesday approved two bills that updated various portions of the U.S. Code, after a brief debate in which no opposition was heard.

In a 409-0 vote, members passed H.R. 1067, which would update portions of U.S. law regarding patriotic and national observances and ceremonies.