NATO Support Act (H.R. 676), introduced by Representative Jimmy Pannetta (CA-20), prohibits funds from being used to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In the wake of President Trump’s wavering commitment to NATO, this legislation was a critical signal to allies that Congress supports the alliance. The House passed the bill by a vote of 357-22. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
SAFE Act (H.R. 2722), introduced by Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), improves election security by establishing federal election requirements and awarding grants to carry out certain activities to increase election security. In the face of increased cyber attacks, it is vital that the United States take action to defend our electoral systems and our democracy. The House passed the bill by a vote of 225-184. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Corporate Transparency Act (H.R. 2513), introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), improves financial transparency and cracks down on money laundering schemes by requiring the disclosure of beneficial ownership of corporate entities. Transparency measures mitigate the risks associated with corrupt money laundering operations. The House passed the bill by a vote of 249-173. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Global Gag/Mexico City Policy (H.R. 1055), introduced by Representative Nita Lowey (NY-17), would end the dangerous Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule,” which threatens to pull U.S. funding from foreign NGOs who discuss a full range of reproductive health and family planning options with women. Under President Trump, the Mexico City Policy was dramatically expanded, impeding U.S. partnerships with health organizations on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 and Ebola. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 197 cosponsors in the House. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Kaine War Powers
Two-State Solution H.Res. 326, introduced by Representative Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) introduced, expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that U.S. efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be through a negotiated two-state solution and that unilateral Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank will make a peaceful resolution to the conflict more difficult to achieve. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 226-188. Foreign Policy for America supported the resolution.
Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019, H.J.Res. 46, introduced by Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), terminates the national emergency President Trump declared to bypass Congress and use unrelated military construction funding to build a border along the U.S.-Mexico border. President Trump’s border wall was a costly and ineffective approach to illegal immigration, rooted in racist rhetoric, and his declaration of national emergency was an obvious attempt to circumvent congressional authority. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 245-182. Foreign Policy for America supported the resolution.
Trans Ban H.Amdt. 509 to H.R. 2500, offered by Representative Jackie Speier (CA-14), requires that qualifications for eligibility to serve in in the military account only for the ability of an individual to meet gender-neutral occupational standards, effectively overturning the Trump administration’s discriminatory ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military. Anyone who meets the necessary qualifications should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. The House passed the amendment by a vote of 242-187. Foreign Policy for America supported the amendment.
Strikes the provision relating to the prohibition on the use of funds for the deployment of low-yield ballistic missile warheads and requires the SECDEF to certify on the availability of proportional response options. H.Amdt. 553 to H.R. 2500, introduced by Representative Michael Turner (OH-10), would have struck language prohibiting the deployment of the W76-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile, considered a “low-yield” nuclear warhead. A so-called “low-yield” nuclear weapon is largely seen as a more “usable” nuclear weapon, which raises concerns that it could be used on the battlefield as part of a military escalation. This House rejected the amendment by a vote of 201-221. Foreign Policy for America opposed the amendment.
Funding for Climate Cooperation, H.Amdt. 343 to H.R. 2740, introduced by Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-04), would have prohibited funds from being used for U.S. contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or the Green Climate Fund, all three of which are crucial to the global fight against climate change. This House rejected the amendment by a vote 174-244. Foreign Policy for America opposed the amendment.
H.R. 550 (H.R. 2456) Legislation introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13) repeals the 2002 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF). The 2002 AUMF to invade Iraq has long since outlived its original mission, but because it included no sunset, it continues to be exploited and used beyond Congress’ original intent. The House passed the legislation as an amendment to the No War with Iran Act by a vote of 236-166. Foreign Policy for America supported the amendment.
H.R. 2214 (NO BAN Act) The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act (H.R. 2214), introduced by Representative Judy Chu (CA-27), reverses the Trump administration’s discriminatory Muslim travel ban. The travel ban did nothing to protect Americans or enhance U.S. national security. The House passed the legislation as an amendment to an unrelated bill by a vote of 233-183. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Nuclear Security Cost Savings Report, H.Amdt. 563 to H.R. 2500, offered by Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), requires an independent assessment of potential cost savings with respect to the nuclear security enterprise and force structure, with a goal of reducing the amount of funding for replacing the nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years. The extraordinary costs, and potential risks, of the selected nuclear modernization program demand careful scrutiny. The House passed the amendment by a vote of 230-189. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Supporting gender equality means empowering women across every aspect of their lives. In reflection of that, Foreign Policy for America chose to score a collection of legislation that encompasses many of the areas in which women are either excluded or disproportionately affected across the world. We scored positively members who cosponsored at least three of these bills:
• The International Violence Against Women Act (H.R. 5267), introduced by Representative Jan Schakowsky, would require the United States to develop a global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 138 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Keeping Girls in School Act (H.R. 2153), introduced by Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21), improves access for adolescent girls around the world to receive a secondary education. This legislation garnered 117 cosponsors in the House in the 116th Congress and ultimately was passed by voice vote. (2019)
• The Support UNFPA Funding Act (H.R. 4722), introduced by Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), would restore U.S. funding for the United Nations Population Fund. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 126 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Afghan Women’s Inclusion in Negotiations Act (H.R. 4097), introduced by Representative William Keating (MA-09), would require the State Department to report on the participation of women in the Afghan peace process.This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 38 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act (H.R. 1055), introduced by Representative Nita Lowey (NY-17), would repeal the “global gag” rule. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 197 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Women and Climate Change Act (H.R. 1880), introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13), would address climate change and its specific effects on women and girls. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 55 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act (H.R. 3874), introduced by Representative Dina Titus (NV-01), would enhance protections for LGBTQI+ individuals around the world. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 87 cosponsors in the House. (2019)
• The Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act (H.R. 1581), introduced by Representative Katherine Clark (MA-05), would require the annual human rights report to include the status of reproductive rights in countries receiving U.S. foreign assistance. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 145 cosponsors in the House. (2019) • The Safe from the Start Act (H.R. 4092), introduced by Representative Grace Meng (NY-06), would help prevent gender-based violence around the world. This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 50 cosponsors in the House. (2019) • The Girls’ Leadership, Engagement, Agency, and Development (LEAD) Act (H.R. 6626), introduced by Representative David Trone (MD-06), would require a U.S. strategy to strengthen adolescent participation, particularly girls, in democracy and governance.This legislation concluded the 116th Congress with 46 cosponsors in the House. (2020)
USMCA: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act (H.R. 5430), introduced by Representative Steny Hoyer (MD-05), implements the statutory provisions necessary to ensure U.S. compliance with the renegotiated trade agreement. The renegotiated deal improved protection of labor rights. The House passed the bill by a vote of 385-41. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
Yemen War Powers Resolution: S.J.Res. 7, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), invokes the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities and cease U.S. participation in the Yemen civil war. The Saudi-led war in Yemen has contributed to the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, and must be ended through diplomacy. The House passed the measure by a vote of 247-175. Foreign Policy for America supported the measure.
Climate Action Now Act (H.R. 9), introduced by Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14), prevents funds from being used to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and requires the President to develop and update annually a plan for the United States to meet its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement. The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate agreement was an abdication of leadership in the face of a global crisis. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 231-190. Foreign Policy for America supported the legislation.
State Department Budget Cut H.Amdt. 354 to H.R. 2740, introduced by Representative Jim Banks (IN-03), would have cut funding for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by 14 percent. For decades, the United States has failed to properly invest in our non-military tools for engaging the world. This reckless proposal would have exacerbated that trend, with catastrophic results for US diplomacy and assistance programs. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 123-303. Foreign Policy for America opposed the amendment.
