The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PERSONAL EXPLANATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1392 on July 16, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. EARL BLUMENAUER
of oregon
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the following votes on Wednesday July 7, 2004, I would have voted as follows:
Rollcall vote No. 329, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Flake Amendment, to prohibit the use of funds in the appropriations bill to implement the Commerce Department's new restrictions on gift parcels to Cuba and the amount of personal baggage allowed for travelers to Cuba.
Rollcall vote No. 330, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Weiner Amendment which would have increased COPS funding but at the expense of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Rollcall vote No. 331, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Hefley Amendment, an amendment to eliminate funding for the re-engineered design process for the 2010 Short-Form Only census.
Rollcall vote No. 332, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Kucinich amendment, to expand the membership of the President's ``Manufacturing Council'' to include representatives from unions and the steel industry.
Rollcall vote No. 333, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Paul amendment, an amendment to prohibit the use of funds in the bill to pay expenses for any U.S. contribution to the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Rollcall vote No. 334, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Farr amendment, directing that none of the funds in the appropriations bill may be used to prevent the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont or Washington from implementing state laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana.
Rollcall vote No. 335, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Paul amendment, which would have prohibited the use of funds to pay any United States contribution to the United Nations or any affiliated agency of the United Nations.
Had I been present for the following votes on Thursday July 8, 2004, I would have voted as follows:
Rollcall vote No. 336, I would have voted ``nay'' on the rules of debate for H.R. 4755.
Rollcall vote No. 337, I would have voted ``nay'' on the rules of debate for H.R. 3598.
Rollcall vote No. 338, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3980 to establish a National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program.
Rollcall vote No. 339, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Sanders amendment, which would have restricted the investigative powers of the FBI and homeland security, and restored some of the basic civil liberties revoked by the PATRIOT Act.
The Sanders amendment would have repealed some of the most dangerous provisions of the PATRIOT Act, which allow the government to monitor the reading and research habits of citizens in libraries and bookstores. It is clear that there is potential for abuse of individual rights in every community across the nation, and there has been mistreatment in my own. I am appalled by the behavior of the House leadership in administering this vote. It was made clear that even if I had been present to cast my vote of support, the vote would have been held open for as long as it would have taken to strong arm enough members into defeating the legislation.
Rollcall vote No. 340, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Akin amendment, which prohibits funds in the appropriations bill for HIV/
AIDS programs that do not explicitly oppose legalizing sex trafficking and prostitution.
Rollcall vote No. 341, I would have voted ``nay'' on the King (IA) amendment, providing $1 million for the enforcement of provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act regarding receiving and providing information to the federal government on the citizenship or immigration status of an individual.
Rollcall vote No. 342, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Smith (MI) amendment, which increases funding for scientific and technical research and services of the National Institute of Standards and Technology by $20 million. The amendment offsets the increase by reducing funding for U.S. contributions to international organizations by $20 million.
Rollcall vote No. 343, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Hefley amendment, an amendment to reduce funding for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims by 50 percent.
Rollcall vote No. 344, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Hefley amendment, an amendment to cut total appropriations in the bill by 1 percent.
Rollcall vote No. 345, 1 would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to recommit with instructions H.R. 4754.
Rollcall vote No. 346, I would have voted ``yea'' on the passage of H.R. 4754, to make appropriations to the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and other related agencies for the fiscal year 2005.
Rollcall vote No. 347, I would have voted ``nay'' on the motion to adjourn.
Had I been present for the following votes on Friday July 9, 2004, I would have voted as follows:
Rollcall vote No. 348, I would have voted ``nay'' on the motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair.
Rollcall vote No. 349, I would have voted ``nay'' on the motion to adjourn.
Rollcall vote No. 350, I would have voted ``nay'' on ordering the previous question.
Rollcall vote No. 351, I would have voted ``nay'' on the resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 2828.
Rollcall vote No. 352, I would have voted ``nay'' on the motion to reconsider.
Rollcall vote No. 353, I would have voted ``nay'' on the motion to adjourn.
Rollcall vote No. 354, I would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to recommit with instructions H.R. 2828.
Rollcall vote No. 355, I would have voted ``yea'' on the amendment to authorize $120.6 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and 10 percent yearly increases for FY06-08 and to allow the Federal cost-share for MEP Centers in the FY05-08 to increase up to one-half on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Administration.
Rollcall vote No. 356, I would have voted ``yea'' on the amendment to prohibit funds authorized from being used to require centers participating in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to re-
compete for funds that already have been approved.
Rollcall vote No. 357, I would have voted ``yea'' on the amendment to establish a Manufacturing and Technology Administration within the Commerce Department and to direct the President to appoint, with the consent of the Senate, an Under Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Technology, an Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and an Assistant Secretary for Technology.
Rollcall vote No. 358, I would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to recommit with instructions H.R. 3598.
____________________
