[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 124 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2012

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, due to the birth of my daughter's first 
child, my first grandchild, I was unable to be in Washington, DC for 
votes on Thursday afternoon and Friday, September 13 and 14, 2012. Had 
I been present for votes those days, I would have voted as follows:
  Rollcall vote 576: I would have voted in favor of the Van Hollen 
motion to recommit with instructions, legislation that would eliminate 
sequestration entirely, provided that subsequent deficit reduction is 
enacted that equals or exceeds sequestration's deficit reduction over 
10 years. The Motion would also provide that such subsequent deficit 
reduction legislation be balanced by requiring upper income taxpayers 
pay their fair share, protecting middle class tax cuts, and including 
targeted spending cuts.
  Rollcall vote 577: I would have voted against H.R. 6365 that would 
irresponsibly have offered a cuts-only approach to deficit reduction 
and placed the enormous burden of those cuts solely on the non-defense 
discretionary budget and, by extension, squarely on the backs of the 
most vulnerable.
  Rollcall vote 578: I would have voted in favor of the Barber motion 
to recommit that would add a provision to the bill that extends the 
funding for Military, Reserve, and National Guard personnel for the 
full fiscal year, as well as extending coverage of disability 
examinations and the treatment and additional services for homeless and 
mentally ill veterans.
  Rollcall vote 579: Despite certain reservations, I would have voted 
in favor of H.J. Res. 117--Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 
to continue funding the government's operations for six additional 
months.
  Rollcall vote 580: I would have voted in favor of S. 3245 bill to 
extend by 3 years the authorization of the EB-5 Regional Center 
Program, the E-Verify Program, the Special Immigrant Nonminister 
Religious Worker Program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver 
Program.
  Rollcall vote 581: I would have voted in favor of the DeGette 
Amendment to make changes to the findings section of the bill, 
demonstrating that the loan restructuring complied with the law and 
highlighting that the projects funded to date are expected to create 
60,000 jobs.
  Rollcall vote 582: I would have voted in favor of the Waxman 
Amendment allowing the program to continue to provide financing to 
innovative energy projects.
  Rollcall vote 583: I would have voted in favor of the Motion to 
Recommit, which would require that 75 percent of any materials used in 
projects receiving funding under the Incentives for Innovative 
Technologies program be produced in the United States. In addition, the 
Motion to Recommit would require the enactment of H.R. 6213 to be 
contingent on extension of the Production Tax Credit, which would 
further stimulate the clean energy economy.
  Rollcall vote 584: I would have voted against H.R. 6213, the No More 
Solyndras Act, which arbitrarily picks winners and losers in the 
alternative energy field. By setting a cut-off date of December 30, 
2011, House Republicans are prioritizing older technologies--those most 
likely to fail--at the expense of newer, more innovative projects.

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