This is a 100% volunteer effort brought to you by a handful of progressive Democrats and Independents who share a vision of an informed electorate.  Thank you to the Demcast and Pennsylvania Indivisible organizations who host our report and help us share it with Commonwealth residents!

PA Indivisible Scorecard

The Indivisible movement is focused on four key principles – equality, justice, compassion and inclusion. Accordingly, we score legislation that reflects those values:

• Ballot access, voting rights, campaign finance and ethics
• Civil rights, equality under the law and addressing systemic inequities
• Reinforcing and strengthening democratic norms, processes, and oversight
• Addressing economic inequality

This week there were no scored votes.

Lawmaker	Score	Change from last score
🔵 Senator Bob Casey	100.0%	0.0%
🔴 Senator Pat Toomey	21.7%	0.0%
🔴 PA-01’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick	40.6%	0.0%
🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright	100.0%	0.0%
🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser	3.0%	0.0%
🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry	0.0%	0.0%
🔴 PA-11’s Rep. Lloyd Smucker	7.2%	0.0%
🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller	2.9%	0.0%
🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce	2.9%	0.0%
🔴 PA-14’s Rep. Guy Reschenthaler	2.9%	0.0%
🔴 PA-15’s Rep. Glenn W. Thompson	7.5%	0.0%
🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly	2.9%	0.0%
🔵 PA-17’s Rep. Conor Lamb	100.0%	0.0%
🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle	100.0%	0.0%

Votes of Interest

A Government Shutdown was (temporarily) Averted… 

House Vote on H.R. 6119: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending 09/30/22

Senate Vote on H.R. 6119: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending 09/30/22

This bill is a continuing resolution (CR) that primarily keeps government funding at its current levels. Despite averting a shutdown, this is still a bit of a loss for Democrats, as the current funding levels were signed into law by the Trump Administration, and so do not contain any of the Democratic policy aims that one would expect of a budget passed when Democrats have control of the House, Senate and Presidency.  This new funding extends through February 18, 2022, setting up a mid-winter budget debate.

On top of the CR, this bill also contains extensions to some other programs or authorizations that would have run out by February 2022, like a fentanyl research program and the ability for special appointments to be made under the National Disaster Medical System. Additionally, this legislation includes Supplemental Appropriations for Afghanistan, including hundreds of millions of dollars in military personnel pay, Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid funding totalling $4 billion, and Refugee and Entrant Assistance funding of over $1 billion.

House Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 House Vote Tally: 221-212

Party Breakdown: This was nearly a party line vote.  All Democrats voted YES and they were joined by one Republican – Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.  All other Republicans voted NO.

Senate Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 Senate Vote Tally: 69-28

Party Breakdown: The Senate made this a more bipartisan affair than the House. Nineteen Republicans joined the Democrats and Independents in voting YES.  All 28 NO votes were placed by Republicans.
Bob Casey voted YES

Pat Toomey voted NO

Additional Reading:

• “Biden signs stopgap bill to avert shutdown ahead of midnight deadline,” from CNN Politics
• “Biden signs short-term spending bill, averting government shutdown,” from PBS NewsHour
• “U.S. Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown, sends to Biden for signature,” from Reuters

By promising the GOP an Amendment Vote on Vaccine Mandates 

Senate Vote on S.Amdt. 4868 to H.R. 6119: To prohibit the use of Federal funds for implementing or enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The passage of continuing resolution packages are usually a matter of negotiations between the party leaders. This time a handful of Republican senators used the threat of shutting down the government as a tool in their anti-science messaging campaign against President Biden. Led by Republicans Roger Marshall of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah, these anti-vaccine-mandate lawmakers pushed to get a full Senate floor vote on an amendment that would stop any funding from going to enforcement of vaccine mandates.  The amendment, which would require 60 votes to pass, failed.

Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 Vote Tally: 48-50 (failed)

Party Breakdown: This was a party line vote.  All Democrats and Independents voted NO, and all Republicans present voted YES.

Bob Casey voted NO

Pat Toomey voted YES

Additional Reading:

• “Congress thwarts shutdown after vaccine mandate clash,” from Politico
• “Senate passes funding bill despite vaccine mandate flap, averting shutdown,” from Fox Business
• “Government shutdown averted after Ted Cruz blasts ‘pissant’ Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate,” from The Dallas Morning News

Senate Republicans Stall the 2022 Defense Authorization Process

Senate Cloture Vote on H.R. 4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

The coverage of this cloture vote provided by Air Force Magazine is exceptional, so we will turn the mic over to them for this segment.  Here are the key segments from their article 2022 NDAA Hits More Hurdles in Senate:

• …the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate failed to vote to end debate on its version of the bill. The 45-51 vote fell well short of the 60 votes needed, ensuring that the effort to invoke cloture failed and seemingly pushing the timeline for passing the annual defense policy legislation back.”
• In remarks on the Senate floor just before the vote, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, accused Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of trying to “jam [the bill] through the Senate without adequate consideration.”  
• Inhofe’s comments follow a Nov. 19 sequence of events in which an effort to have separate floor debates and votes on 19 key amendments was derailed when a number of Republican Senators raised objections in protest of their own amendments not being considered. Among those 19 amendments was legislation that would repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq; prevent the Pentagon from taking adverse personnel actions against service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine; and reduce topline spending. It is unclear if or when those amendments will now be considered.
• Inhofe’s counterpart on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), argued that the process of putting together the NDAA has been “bipartisan” and included plenty of consideration of amendments, pointing to more than 100 amendments adopted in committee and 57 included in a “manager’s packet” as part of the bill considered on the main floor of the Senate. “This is an unusual departure from what is typically the custom of this body, particularly when we’re beginning with a bill that has so much bipartisan support,” Reed said of the latest vote against cloture.
• As multiple Senators noted, Congress has passed an NDAA every year for six decades now. That process can sometimes take until the very end of the year, but even by recent standards, the 2022 bill is behind. Even after the Senate does pass its version of the NDAA, the House and Senate will have to undergo the conference process, which is now likely to have its latest start since the 2013 bill. Despite this, both Inhofe and Reed said they are confident the NDAA will eventually pass.

Vote date: Monday, November 29, 2021 Vote Tally: 45-51 (failed)

Party Breakdown: Most Republicans present voted NO, with only Maine’s Susan Collins joining most Democrats in voting YES.  But Democrats and Independents were not united in support of cloture on this package, with six lawmakers voting NO –  Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont included. 

The sixth NO vote was from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.  As we have discussed in a past report, the special powers of the Majority Leader include being able to bring a motion up for another vote in the near future, as long as they are on the side that prevailed in the vote, as per the “Standing Rules of the Senate”. So one should not infer that Schumer did not want to achieve cloture, but instead he was exerting a power of the Majority leader to resurrect legislation that failed cloture in the future.

Bob Casey voted YES

Pat Toomey voted NO

Additional Reading:

• “Senate GOP expected to block defense bill amid stalemate,” from The Hill
• “Republicans delay votes on defense bill,” from Roll Call
• “2022 NDAA Hits More Hurdles in Senate,” from Air Force Magazine

What’s left on the 2021 Legislative Checklist? 

Now that we are no longer in danger of a holiday government shutdown, let’s see what is still left on the legislative to-do list we mentioned in our pre-Thanksgiving MoCTrack report:

• The Debt Ceiling (we hit it around December 15th)
• The 2022 Defense Funding package
• Build Back Better (which some lawmakers believe will get pushed into 2022)
• Voting Rights/Filibuster

Bureaucratic Confirmations

Editor’s note: now that we are almost a year into the Biden Administration, almost all of the major bureaucratic positions have been filled. Many of the positions filled are getting down well past the deputy level, MoCTrack is going to provide slightly less information about these confirmations. These lower level bureaucrats are not often covered in traditional media, so we are left with only press releases and less reliable sources for information. Where possible, we will use the Whie House or departmental releases for biographical information about these new administration team members.

Treasury 

Senate Confirmation Vote on Brian Eddie Nelson to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes

Mr. Nelson is one of those nominees that the GOP had decided to take hostage, necessitating a motion to discharge back on October 19th to get the nomination out of committee and onto the floor for this vote. At that time, Reuters reported that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was using these blocks to “halt a Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline.” 

From the White House press release issued upon the nomination of Brian Eddie Nelson:
“Brian Nelson is the chief legal officer of LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Before joining LA28, Nelson served in a number of senior roles in the California Department of Justice, overseeing key initiatives, including Attorney General-led efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations, dismantle human trafficking networks, and build state and international partnerships to stop money laundering and high-tech crimes. Before that, Nelson served in the U.S. Department of Justice as the National Security Division’s deputy chief of staff, supporting the managerial, policy and operational work of the Division. Nelson was a law clerk on the Ninth Circuit and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and received his bachelor’s degrees from UCLA and his J.D. from Yale Law School.”

Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 Vote Tally: 50-49

Party Breakdown: This was a pure party line vote, with all Democrats and Independents voting YES, and all Republicans voting NO. The absence of South Dakota Republican John Thune precluded the need for Vice President Kamala Harris’s tie breaking vote.

Bob Casey voted YES

Pat Toomey voted NO

Justice 

Senate Discharge Motion Vote on Rachael S. Rollins to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts for the term of four years

The nomination of Ms. Rollins marks the 12th time that GOP senators have forced the use of a discharge motion to get a nominee out of committee. While it is inevitable, if Democrats and Independents stay unified and with Vice President Kamala Harris’s tie breaking vote, that nominees forced to undergo this process will be confirmed, it is still a successful delaying tactic that Republicans are using to stall action in agencies under the Biden Administration.

Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 Vote Tally: 50-47

Party Breakdown: This was a pure party line vote, with all Democrats and Independents voting YES, and all Republicans present voting NO. 

Bob Casey voted YES

Pat Toomey voted NO

Votes under Suspension of the Rules 

Some bills are so uncontroversial that the leadership of both parties coordinate to bring the bills up under a suspension of the rules – that means that debate and amendments are limited, but the bill needs a ⅔ supermajority to pass.  These 8 bills were brought up under a suspension of the rules this week. 

The link that reads “House vote” will take you to the full roll call vote information, the link in the bill number will take you to the full text of the legislation, and the link for the summary will take you to the short Library of Congress explanation of the bill.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 4026: Social Determinants of Health Data Analysis Act of 2021

From the Library of Congress bill summary: “This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on actions taken by the Department of Health and Human Services to address social determinants of health, including how data collection about social determinants of health complies with relevant privacy laws. Social determinants of health are nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as income, educational attainment, and place of residence.”

Vote date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Vote Tally: 399-28

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 17-1, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021

From the Library of Congress bill summary: “This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take actions to improve data sharing and other aspects of immunization information systems. These are confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations. Specifically, HHS must develop a strategy and plan to improve these systems, including systems supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; designate data and technology standards for use in these systems; and award grants to health departments and other government agencies to improve their systems. As a condition of receiving the grants, recipients must use the designated standards. However, HHS may waive this condition in some circumstances.  HHS must also report to Congress on these activities.”

Vote date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Vote Tally: 294-130

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 15-3, with 🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser, 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry and 🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 2685: Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act

From the Library of Congress bill summary: “This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to examine and report on the cybersecurity of mobile service networks and the vulnerability of these networks and mobile devices to cyberattacks and surveillance conducted by adversaries. The report shall include (1) an assessment of the degree to which providers of mobile service have addressed certain cybersecurity vulnerabilities; (2) a discussion of the degree to which these providers have implemented cybersecurity best practices and risk assessment frameworks; and (3) an estimate of the prevalence and efficacy of encryption and authentication algorithms and techniques used in mobile service and communications equipment, mobile devices, and mobile operating systems and software.”

Vote date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Vote Tally: 404-19

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 17-1, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 4045: FUTURE (Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced) Networks Act

This was sponsored by 🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle. As the Library of Congress bill summary is not yet available, we’ll turn to Rep. Doyle’s opening statement from the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled ‘A Safe Wireless Future: Securing our Networks and Supply Chains.’  At that hearing, Rep. Doyle explained, “The FUTURE Networks Act would require the Federal Communications Commission to create a 6G Task Force, with members appointed by the Chair, and comprising representatives from trusted companies, public interest groups, and government representatives at every level of government, including tribes. The mandate of the task force would be to report on the possible uses, strengths, and limitations of sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology, including any supply chain, cybersecurity, or other limitations that will need to be addressed as the wireless technology evolves. Convening a broad group of key stakeholders in the early stages of 6G development will ensure continued U.S. leadership in the global economy. Congress can accelerate our success as a nation by opening the door to new ideas and inventions, and by fostering healthy competition here at home.” 

Vote date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Vote Tally: 394-27

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 17-1, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 4055: American Cybersecurity Literacy Act

From the Library of Congress bill summary: “This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop and conduct a cybersecurity literacy campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of best practices to reduce cybersecurity risks.”

Vote date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Vote Tally: 408-17

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 17-1, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 5720: Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act of 2021

The Library of Congress summary is not yet available, but the primary sponsor, Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) has issued a statement to explain her bill. “The legislation will require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges and mandate that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. Following reporting in the Wall Street Journal that more than 130 federal judges heard cases in which they or their families held stock in a company involved in the case, this legislation will strengthen judicial ethics and transparency and restore trust in the nation’s courts.”

Vote date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Vote Tally: 422-4

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation supported this bill unanimously.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 4352: To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes

The Library of Congress bill summary is not available, so we turn to the statement issued by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN). The purpose of the bill, according to that statement, is to reaffirm “the authority of the Secretary of Interior to take land into trust for all federally recognized Indian tribes, regardless of the date of their recognition. In the 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the only tribes federally recognized prior to 1934 could have land placed into trust. This decision created a discriminatory two-tier system for the Department of the Interior’s fee-to-trust process, and has resulted in inequality, uncertainty, and costly litigation. Since the 2009 opinion, members in both chambers of Congress have introduced bipartisan legislation to restore the original intent of the Indian Reorganization Act.”

Vote date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Vote Tally: 302-127

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 14-4, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry, 🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller, 🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce and 🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly voting NO.

🗳️ House Vote on H.R. 2930: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021

From the Library of Congress bill summary: “This bill prohibits the exportation of Native American cultural items and archaeological resources that were illegally obtained; provides for the return of such items, including voluntary returns; and establishes and increases related criminal penalties. The bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of State to each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items.

Additionally, Interior must refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items; convene an interagency working group; and convene a Native working group consisting of representatives of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains and cultural items. The bill also increases from 5 years to 10 years the maximum prison term for an individual convicted of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit human remains or cultural items that were illegally obtained.”

Vote date: Thursday, December 2, 2021 Vote Tally: 364-57

Pennsylvania breakdown: Our delegation voted 17-1, with 🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry voting NO.

Unanimously passed legislation

The following bills were passed through unanimous consent or voice vote (which presumes unanimity, as any member can object to the voice vote and ask for a roll call). This list excludes bills related to post offices, stamps, memorials, awareness weeks and other purely ceremonial activities.

• H.R.951 – Maternal Vaccination Act, from Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
• H.R.1550 – PREVENT HPV Cancers Act, from Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
• H.Res.825 – Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) won a special election this November after the previous MoC, Marcia Fudge, was confirmed to President Biden’s cabinet as the Secretary for Housing and Urban development. This resolution assigns Rep. Brown to her two new committees – the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Oversight and Reform
• H.Res.826 – Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) was a high ranking Republican party leader, holding the position of chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. But after being re-elected in 2020, he resigned his seat in Congress to become the CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, causing a special election.  This resolution assigns committee positions to the new representative who replaced Stivers – Rep. Mike Carey.  He was assigned to the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Quotes of Interest

Senate Tweets

🔵 Senator Bob Casey, @SenBobCasey, 12/01/21:

“I’m heading to the Senate floor with several of my colleagues now as we make the case for caregiving in the #BuildBackBetter Act:

The #BuildBackBetter Act would lift up millions of families by connecting them to quality, affordable caregiving options. It would lift up the workers who provide that critical care and ensure that they make enough to support their families.

For too long, our Nation has viewed caregiving as a personal problem for each family to solve. That’s led to people being forced to leave good-paying jobs to care for aging parents or children. Caregiving is an economic issue.

#BuildBackBetter is every bit as much about getting people back into the workforce as it is about providing high-quality care for children, people with disabilities & seniors. It’s about lifting up workers who provide care & ensuring they make enough to support their families.

PA has a waiting list of more than 16,000 in need home & community-based services. But some states are worse off. FL has 70,000+ on a waiting list. LA is almost at 65,000 while TX is at 385,000. I hope the Senators representing these states join us to reduce their waiting lists.

It’s long past time to deliver on the promise of paid family and medical leave, something already commonplace in other parts of the world. No one should be forced to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a loved one.”

🔴 Senator Pat Toomey, @SenToomey, 11/30/21:

“Democrats can raise the debt limit all by themselves anytime they want. The only reason they refuse to use the tools at their disposal is because they’d have to specify the actual dollar amount of debt they want to accumulate and be held accountable for their reckless spending.”

House Tweets

🔴 PA-01’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, @RepBrianFitz, 11/29/21:

‘The IOC is glossing over China’s mistreatment and abuse of #PengShuai. Like many across the world and in the international sports community, I share deep concerns over Peng Shuai’s mental and physical wellbeing and her ability to speak freely. We cannot stay silent about Peng Shuai and the countless others who have fallen victim to CCP censorship.”

🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle, @CongBoyle, 12/03/21:

‘Great to have First Lady (and Philly area native) Dr Jill Biden in Philly today.  

I joined her at @ChildrensPhila to encourage vaccinations for children ages 5-11.

Thanks @FLOTUS for getting the word out here in the hometown of Philadelphia!”

🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans, @RepDwightEvans, 12/02/21:

“I’m proud to vote for today’s #ContinuingResolution, including its support for additional relocations of individuals at risk because of the situation in Afghanistan and additional refugee assistance funding to help many Afghan refugees in #Philly: LINK”

🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean, @RepDean, 12/01/21:

“We knew the day when abortion access would be challenged at the Supreme Court was coming.

Now it’s here.

Access to safe and legal abortions is a human right, as prescribed in our law today — and it must remain.”

🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, @RepMGS, 12/02/21:

“Just a thought: Maybe people elected to run our government should actually want to govern.”

Editor’s note – this was tweeted over a short video of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on the House floor, saying “This government should be shut down.”

🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, @RepHoulahan, 12/03/21:

“While I bump into my colleagues in the ‘Pennsylvania Corner’ of the House Floor often, it’s not every day I get to meet with @GovernorTomWolf and @SenBobCasey! 

Thankful for our continued partnership as we work together on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.”

🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild, @RepSusanWild, 12/03/21:

“Child care is an exorbitant expense for Pennsylvania parents, and at the same time, providers are struggling with low wages.

The #BuildBackBetter Act will provide relief to both families and our child care system.”

🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright, @RepCartwright, 11/27/21:

“Happy Small Business Saturday! Locally-owned small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to show them support and #ShopSmall.”

🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser, @RepMeuser, 12/02/21:

“Biden’s Build Back Broke agenda is NOT paid for & would be disastrous for Main Street America.

It includes increased taxes on small business, further disincentives work, & will send American jobs overseas.

The Democrats disastrous agenda must be stopped.”

🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry has not tweeted since early November. But he did share this content on Facebook on 11/30/21:

“BREAKING BIG WIN! — A federal judge has blocked President Biden’s vaccine mandate for health care workers, issuing a nationwide injunction on Biden’s orders, scoring a big win for the Constitution and Liberty. “If the separation of powers meant anything to the Constitutional framers, it meant that the three necessary ingredients to deprive a person of liberty or property – the power to make rules, to enforce them, and to judge their violations – could never fall into the same hands,” Doughty wrote. “If the executive branch is allowed to usurp the power of the legislative branch to make laws, two of the three powers conferred by our Constitution would be in the same hands. If human nature and history teach anything, it is that civil liberties face grave risks when governments proclaim indefinite states of emergency.”  Indeed. #Constitution  #Liberty”

🔴 PA-11’s Rep. Lloyd Smucker, @RepSmucker, 12/01/21:

“I will always be a voice for the unborn in Congress. It was great to meet with pro-life constituents who traveled to Washington today.”

🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller, @RepFredKeller, 12/02/21:

“Nearly half of U.S. households report struggling to keep up with price increases and higher energy costs due to inflation. 

Washington Democrats’ out-of-control spending is only creating more hardship for America’s families this holiday season.”

🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce, @RepJohnJoyce, 12/01/21:

“According to a study from the University of Chicago, President Biden’s Build Back Bankrupt legislation could lead to over 135 fewer cures for patients. 

This legislation crushes innovation and would be a disaster for Americans.”

🔴 PA-14’s Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, @GReschenthaler, 12/02/21:

“We are ten months into the Biden Admin and the media is still resorting to their favorite pastime.

They belittled Operation Warp Speed and encouraged vaccine hesitancy, but somehow Trump is to blame.

They should do their jobs and stop covering for Biden.”

🔴 PA-15’s Rep. Glenn W. Thompson, @CongressmanGT, 12/02/21:

“I voted no on the Democrats’ latest stopgap funding measure. Despite having been in control for nearly a year, Democrats have been unable to accomplish one of the most basic functions of Congress-funding the federal government.”

🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly, @MikeKellyPA, 12/03/21:

“Thanks to @GOPLeader for this key stat in today’s news conference: House Democrats have scheduled just 202 voting days in all of 2021 & 2022. The fewest in a decade.

Republicans want to work with Democrats, but we aren’t allowed at the table or even in the room.”

🔵 PA-17’s Rep. Conor Lamb, @RepConorLamb, 12/02/21:

“The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act allocates billions of dollars to protect our water. Today @EPA announced PA will receive more than $240 million for safe drinking water, lead pipe replacement & more”

🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle, @USRepMikeDoyle, 12/01/21:

“On this #WorldAIDSDay, let us honor the loved ones we have lost and those that continue to fight with HIV/AIDS, while also celebrating the progress made by the medical community to end this ruthless epidemic. We will continue to work towards a day where AIDS is no more.”

Casey Quotes of the Week 

Courtesy of contributor Linda Houk

On Paid Leave

“Paid leave is not only a caregiving issue, it’s an economic and workforce issue.”

—from an article in CBS42, titled “Democrats urge Congress to include paid family leave into Build Back Better plan“

On Raising the Wage for People with Disabilities

“Giving basic fairness to people with disabilities in the workplace to pay them a fair wage, I don’t think that should be the subject of much controversy… Some of these businesses have been reliant on this subminimum wage since for a long time and we’ve got to help them make the transition.”

— from an Erie News Now article titled “Proposed Legislation Could Allow People With Disabilities Earn Minimum Wage”

Toomey Quotes of the Week 

Courtesy of contributor Linda Houk

On Cryptocurrency regulation

“For investors to benefit from a fair and competitive marketplace, federal agencies should answer questions about whether — and if so, how — new and emerging technologies fit under existing regulations… Chairman Gensler’s failure to provide clear rules of the road for cryptocurrencies underscores the need for Congress to act.” 

— from an article in Coinnounce, titled “U.S. Senator Pat Toomey says Congress should step in to regulate cryptocurrencies“

On Inflation

“I know you believe this is transitory. But everything is transitory. Life is transitory. How long does inflation have to run above your target before the Fed decides maybe it’s not so transitory?”

— from a Business Insider article titled “Top Republican senator trolls Democrats on inflation by getting existential: ‘Everything is transitory. Life is transitory.‘”

Fitzpatrick Quotes of the Week 

Research courtesy of contributor CC

“We must do more to ensure that all Americans have access to basic health care, especially those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who often have more complex medical needs. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation which seeks to remove the barriers to care that exist for those within the I/DD community so that they can lead healthy lives.” 

— from a Ripon Advance post titled “Fitzpatrick bill would improve services for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities” 

“In the interests of shareholders, consumers, and public policy, we believe it is appropriate for the SEC to take steps to ensure the full disclosure of all information necessary to make Unilever’s filings in compliance with the rules and regulations of the United States’ SEC.” Unilever is a widely held company with a current market capitalization of $135 billion, which places in jeopardy the manifold United States institutions, pension funds, and endowments which hold its shares on behalf of its beneficiaries.” 

— an excerpt from a letter signed by Rep. Fitzpatrick and other lawmakers, as reported in the Jewish Insider article titled “House legislators urge SEC inquiry into Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s”  

This report is brought to you by the Pennsylvania  MoCTrack team… 

CC Linda Houk

Gary Garb Kierstyn Piotrowski Zolfo

Have you seen an interesting or revealing recent quote from a member of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation that was not featured in MoCTrack? We are looking for folks who can help us cover what gets into traditional media, especially in the western parts of the state! Please email KierstynPZ@gmail.com and put “MoC Quote” in the subject, and please be sure to include a link to the article, the article title, and the full quote (in case your editor gets paywalled). Thanks!