BAUMGARTNER'S WEEKLY VOTING RECORD

Civics 101 #5

March 2 – March 6, 2026

Following House and Senate Bills

Every week Spokane Indivisible will post a record of bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. We feel it is part of our civic duty, as standing members of We the People, to be aware of what bills are passed by our representatives and Senators in our name. We pay for their decisions with our tax dollars. We use the website clerk.house.gov and senate.gov (Floor Proceedings) to track bills. Other sites to find information about the House and Senate include justfacts.votesmart.org, govinfo.gov, c-span.org, LegisScan, and govtrack.us. We also use Wikipedia for historical congressional data.

FUN FACTS

The following is a table showing our Congressional Districts, Representatives and Party affiliation.

According to Cookpolitical.com (a non-partisan independent newsletter that analyzes state, federal and presidential elections as well as American political trends), the following Congressional Districts are considered safe D, safe R or competitive:

• Safe Democrat: WA-01, 02, 06, 07, 09, 10

• Safe Republican: WA-04, 05

• Competitive: WA-03 (toss-up), WA-08 (lean/likely D)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LEGISLATIVE FLOOR ACTIVITY

March 2, 2026

No activity on the House floor.

March 3, 2026

H.R. 6365. Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to issue a right-of-way through the Blue Ridge Parkway for an additional emergency exit from Wintergreen in Nelson County, Virginia, once certain requirements have been met. Specifically, Interior must grant the right-of-way if it reports to specified congressional committees that the following have been completed: (1) an evaluation of alternatives to the right-of-way for exiting Wintergreen that do not cross federal land, including an evaluation of whether existing trails can be converted to roads; (2) an analysis of expected fire ecology behavior in the event of a fire emergency with respect to the right-of-way; and (3) any required reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the National Historic Preservation Act.

H.R. 5910. To Authorize Leases of up to 99 Years for Land Held in Trust for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.

Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 3903. Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recover Act of 2025

Passed by voice vote.

This bill authorizes a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska Corporation (also known as Chugach, an Alaska Native regional corporation in southcentral Alaska) and the federal government.

Specifically, if Chugach offers to convey to the Department of the Interior all right, title, and interest of Chugach in and to approximately 231,000 acres of subsurface estate within one year of the bill’s enactment, then Interior must accept the offer and convey all right, title, and interest of the federal government in and to approximately 65,374 acres of fee simple land located in the Chugach region. (The Chugach region includes portions of land on the Kenai Peninsula and the coast of Prince William Sound in Alaska.)

The bill directs Chugach to exclude from its conveyance to Interior all right, title, and interest in any land, not to exceed a total of 209 acres, for which a village corporation has retained development rights (other than timber development rights) or that has been designated for a shareholder homesite program.

H.R. 5419. Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to study and report on any barriers to and staffing needs for completing timely reviews of requests for communications use authorizations. (These are requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other authorizations to locate or modify a transmitting device, support structure, or other communications facility on public lands or National Forest System land.)

H.R. 755. Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025

Passed by voice vote.

This bill modifies the Energy Act of 2020 to expand the definition of critical minerals to include critical materialsdesignated by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Under current law, DOE’s critical materials list contains certain materials that are essential for energy, including those on the critical minerals list of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS’s list, which contains certain minerals that are essential to the nation’s economic or national security, is not required to include the materials on DOE’s list. Currently, both lists include minerals with a high risk of supply chain disruptions, and both DOE and USGS must conduct a variety of efforts to ensure a secure and reliable supply chain of the minerals.

By expanding the definition of critical minerals, this bill requires the USGS to include on its list the materials on DOE’s list. Within 45 days of DOE adding a mineral, element, substance, or material to its critical materials list, the USGS must update its list to include such mineral, element, substance, or material.

H.R. 1945. To Designate the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill designates the America’s National Churchill Museum, including the Winston Churchill Memorial, located at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, as the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark. (Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech titled The Sinews of Peace, also widely known as the Iron Curtain Speech, at the college in 1946.)

The bill permits the Department of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities for the purposes of protecting historic resources at the landmark and providing educational and interpretive facilities for the public. Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to partner entities.

The bill also directs Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the national significance of the landmark and to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. The study must consider alternatives to that designation for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the landmark, and must include cost estimates associated with identified alternatives.

H.R. 681. To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill authorizes the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to lease their land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years. Both tribes are located in Massachusetts.

H.R. 3692. To reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act

Passed by voice vote.

This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program, which supports local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen.

S 723. Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025.

MB Voted Yes. 384 Yes/40 No. Passed by both House and Senate.

· Establishes requirements for the processing of a proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (Sec. 3).

· Requires the BIA to notify lenders upon receipt of such documentation, perform a preliminary review of such documents not later than 10 days after receipt, and approve or disapprove of such documents within 20 or 30 days, depending on the type of application (Sec. 3).

· Establishes requirements for the BIA regarding (Sec. 3):

• Response times for the completion of certified title status reports;

• Notification of delays in processing; and

• The form of notices and delivery of certain reports.

· Authorizes relevant federal agencies and Indian tribes to have read-only access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System maintained by the BIA (Sec. 3).

· Requires the Government Accountability Office to report on digitizing documents for the purpose of streamlining and expediting the completion of mortgage packages for residential mortgages on Indian land (Sec. 3).

· Establishes within the BIA’s Division of Real Estate Services the position of Realty Ombudsman (Sec. 4).

H.R. 4386. America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill allows an additional motorcycle, including passengers, to accompany a motorcyclist with an America the Beautiful Annual Pass when visiting federal recreational lands and waters.

In 2024, the Department of the Interior limited the pass coverage to one motorcycle per pass rather than two. The bill specifies that the pass must cover the entrance fee and standard amenity recreation fee for the passholder and any passengers on the motorcycle along with one additional motorcycle with its passengers.

The bill also codifies current Interior policy that the pass covers the fees for a passholder and any accompanying passengers in a noncommercial vehicle.

H.R. 4307. Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act.

Passed by voice vote.

This bill requires the Department of Labor to provide training and education to its employees on how to effectively assist law enforcement in detecting human trafficking.

The bill directs Labor to determine which employees should receive the training and education based on their official duties. Further, it requires the training and education to include information that is appropriate for the employees’ location or environment; that reflects current trends and best practices for the location or environment; and that is relevant to detecting human trafficking, identifying suspected victims, and referring potential cases to the Department of Justice and other appropriate authorities.

H.R. 6392. Home School Graduation Recognition Act

Passed by voice vote.

This bill clarifies that students who complete their secondary education in a home school setting recognized under state law are high school graduates for purposes of eligibility for federal student aid.

H.R. 6472. Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act.

MB Voted Yes. 351 Yes/72 No. Passed

This bill requires public institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to charge no more than in-state tuition and fee rates to students who are residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, provided they are also U.S. nationals.

March 4, 2026

H.Res. 1095. - Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7744) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.

MB Voted Yes. 211 Yes/209 No. Agreed in House.

Summary in progress.

H.Res. 1099. Reaffirming Iran Remains the Largest State Sponsor Terrorism.

MB Voted. Yes. 372 Yes/53 No. Passed House.

H.Con.Res.38 - Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

MB Voted NO. 212 Yes/219 No. 2/3 vote required to pass. Failed House.

This concurrent resolution (introduced by Thomas Massie 06/17/2025) directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of the Iranian government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted.

The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.

March 5, 2026

H.R. 7744. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026.

MB Voted Yes. 221 Yes/209 No. Passed the House.

This bill provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the remainder of FY2026. It also ends the partial DHS shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, because the continuing resolution (CR) that was funding DHS expired and a regular FY2026 DHS appropriations bill had not been enacted.

Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for Departmental Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight, including

• the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management;

• the Management Directorate;

• Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and

• the Office of Inspector General.

In addition, the bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection,

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,

• the Transportation Security Administration,

• the U.S. Coast Guard, and

• the U.S. Secret Service.

The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including

• the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and

• the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,

• the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and

• the Science and Technology Directorate.

The bill also authorizes back pay, in accordance with current law, for federal employees who were affected by the partial DHS shutdown.

Finally, the bill ratifies and approves certain obligations that were incurred during the partial DHS shutdown, including obligations incurred to maintain the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bring about an orderly termination of government functions.

March 6, 2026

No activity on the House floor.

SENATE LEGISLATIVE FLOOR ACTIVITY

March 2, 2026

H.R. 6644 (Rep. Hill): A bill a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.

-- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.

-- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 6. Record Vote Number: 44

H.Con.Res. 72 (Rep. Kustoff): A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

March 3, 2026

H.R. 3377 (Rep. Norman): A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 6644 (Rep. Hill): A bill a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.

-- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.

H.R. 7194 (Rep. Baird): A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Kareem N. Dockery for acts of valor as a member of the Army while serving in Afghanistan.

-- Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 7211 (Rep. Griffith): A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to John W. Ripley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War, and for other purposes.

-- Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S. 3971 (Sen. Ernst): A bill to extend the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes.

-- Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.

March 4, 2026

H.R. 6644 (Rep. Hill): A bill a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 8. Record Vote Number: 45

--Additional debate and actions on amendments.

S.Res. 626 (Sen. Grassley): A resolution designating March 6, 2026, as “National Speech and Debate Education Day”.

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

March 5, 2026

H.R. 6644 (Rep. Hill): A bill a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.

-- Additional debate and actions on amendments.

H.R. 7147 (Rep. Cole): A bill making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.

This relates to the DHS funding and Democrats demanding guardrails on ICE and CBP before funding is approved.

-- Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure NOT INVOKED in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 45. Record Vote Number: 47

S. 836 (Sen. Markey): A bill to amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

S. 2074 (Sen. Klobuchar): A bill to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to expand the definition of an active duty military consumer for purposes of certain credit monitoring requirements, and for other purposes.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.