WORC 2015 Congressional Scorecard
Each year WORC produces a scorecard of the Members of Congress representing states within the WORC network: South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon and Idaho. Scores are based on votes cast on issues important to members.
Overview of votes
From opposing the President Barack Obama’s environmental policies to passing trade legislation to rolling back country-of-origin labeling on meat, this Congress has left no WORC issue untouched.
From the beginning, the 114th Congress focused much of its energy on opposing the Administration’s initiatives and attempting to obstruct a long list of rulemakings and other actions. Many of these efforts targeted environmental initiatives, including rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing, coal ash disposal, and carbon pollution, as well as those that would clarify the scope of waterways protected under the Clean Water Act and protect streams from the effects of coal mining. These efforts were largely unsuccessful, however.
Most notably, Congress’s repeated efforts to bypass President Obama and force approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline were foiled when the President rejected the pipeline in November. Among the very first votes, despite a veto threat, was the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act.
In 2015, Congress passed little substantive legislation. The House took more votes than the Senate, with the Senate either stopping or simply not voting on some key legislation. President Obama vetoed more bills this Congress than ever before in his presidency, a reflection of the partisan differences when one party controls Congress and the other party occupies the White House.
Several bills that did pass were opposed by WORC. One of the few high profile successes for Congressional leaders was passage of “Fast Track” authority to ease passage of trade legislation. Another was passage of the bill to fund the federal government in 2016, which included provisions to repeal country-of-origin labeling legislation for beef and pork as well as the 40-year-old ban on export of crude oil. One of the few legislative bright spots for WORC was an extension of important tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy sources in a year-end budget bill.
Looking ahead
2016 is a big election year with the presidency, 34 of 100 Senate seats, and all 435 members of the House of Representatives up for election. This election year is expected to bring more of the same on the legislative front: Congressional gridlock is expected to continue, as well efforts to block environmental rules. There are just a few must-pass bills, including the annual government funding bill, which must be passed by September 30 (or the current budget extended). These bills will once again become major vehicles for other, unrelated provisions.
The President will also send Congress legislation to implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership which he signed this fall. This will prompt mandatory House and Senate votes on the legislation, which cannot be amended or blocked under normal Congressional rules. A post-election lame duck session of Congress is already being predicted as the most likely timing for a vote on TPP because many members of Congress are less likely to vote for a massive, controversial trade agreement shortly before elections.
U.S. House of Representatives Scorecard
| U.S. Representative | Keystone XL | Clean Water | COOL | Fast Track | BLM Fracking Rule | Coal Ash | GE Labeling | REINS | Clean Power Plan | Split Estate | Score |
| DeGette (D-CO) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| Polis (D-CO) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| Tipton (R-CO) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Buck (R-CO) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Lamborn (R-CO) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Coffman (R-CO) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | + | 10% |
| Perlmutter (D-CO) | + | + | – | + | + | – | + | + | + | + | 80% |
| Labrador (R-ID) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Simpson (R-ID) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Zinke (R-MT) | – | – | – | – | – | NV | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Cramer (R-ND) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Bonamici (D-OR) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| Walden (R-OR) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Blumenauer (D-OR) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| DeFazio (D-OR) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| Schrader (D-OR) | – | – | – | – | + | – | – | + | + | + | 40% |
| Noem (R-SD) | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10% |
| Lummis (R-WY) | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | + | 20% |
2015 House vote descriptions
HR 3
Keystone XL Pipeline
As one of its first votes of the new year, the House of Representatives approved the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar sands oil from Canada through Montana and South Dakota down to the Gulf Coast for export. On January 9, the House passed this bill with a vote of 266-153 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #16). Although Congress passed a separate bill to approve the XL pipeline, the Senate could not muster enough votes to overcome a Presidential veto. A “+” is a no vote, and consistent with WORC’s position.
HR 1732
Clean Water Act
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed new rules to clarify which streams and wetlands are “waters of the United States,” thereby protected by the Clean Water Act. HR 1732 would block the proposed rules and prevent intermittent and ephemeral streams from protection under the Act. On May 12, the House voted to pass this bill, 261-155 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #219), but the bill was blocked in the Senate. A “+” is a no vote, and consistent with WORC’s position.
HR 2393
Country-of-Origin Labeling
HR 2393 attempted to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef, pork, and chicken after the World Trade Organization rejected a U.S. appeal of its decision that COOL unfairly discriminates against meat imports and gives the advantage to domestic meat production. On June 10, the House voted to pass HR 2393, 300-131 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #333). Although the Senate did not pass HR 2393, a provision to repeal COOL was included in the fiscal year 2016 government funding bill, HR 2029, which was signed into law. A “+” is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
HR 644
Fast Track Trade Authority
Trade Promotion Authority, or “Fast Track” legislation, gives the president the power to submit a trade deal to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments. HR 644 would ease passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal between the United States and 11 other countries that is due for Congressional action in 2016. On June 11, the House voted narrowly to pass Fast Trade, 218-208 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #363). With Senate passage earlier in the month, this bill became law. A “+ is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
HR 2822, amendment 13
BLM Fracking Rules
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) introduced an amendment to the Department of Interior Appropriations Act which would have removed a provision in the bill that blocked the Bureau of Land Management from implementing its new hydraulic fracturing rules. WORC supported this amendment. The House voted against passage of this amendment 179-250. (2015 House Roll Call Vote #402). The House did not pass HR 2822, however. A “+” is a yes vote, in support of WORC’s position.
HR 1734
EPA Coal Ash Rule
This bill would weaken, delay and remove critical safety protections from the first-ever rule governing disposal of coal ash as proposed by the EPA. Despite a veto threat, the House passed this bill 258-166 (2015 House Roll Call Vote # 458). The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. A “+” is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
HR 1599
GE Food Labeling, The DARK Act
This bill, officially titled the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, would make genetically-modified food (GMO) labels voluntary and block state efforts to require GMO labeling. Consumer advocates refer to this bill as the Denying Americans the Right to Know, or DARK Act. On July 23, the House passed this bill 275-150 (2015 House Roll Call Vote # 462). The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. A “+” is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
HR 427
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act
This bill would give Congress new authority over rules regarding health and safety, financial reform, worker protections, and the environment. It would require both houses of Congress to pass a joint resolution of approval for every major rule. WORC opposed this legislation, and it passed 243-165 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #482). The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. A “+” is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
SJ Res 24 (House votes)
Clean Power Plan
This vote would have permanently blocked a part of the Clean Power Plan put forth by the EPA that would limit carbon pollution from existing coal-fired power plants. WORC opposed this resolution, but it passed in the House 242-180 (2015 House Roll Call Vote #650). SJR 24 also passed the Senate, but was vetoed by the President. A “+” is a no vote, consistent with WORC’s position.
HR 8, amendment 24
Oil and Gas Split Estate Landowner Notification
Brought forth by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), this amendment would require the Secretary of Interior to notify landowners and adjacent landholders when federally-owned minerals beneath their land have been leased for oil and gas development. WORC supported this amendment, but it narrowly lost with a 206-216 vote (2015 House Roll Call Vote #663). A “+” is a yes vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
U.S. Senate Scorecard
| U.S. Senate | Expedited Permits | Wind PTC | RES | Keystone XL | ISDS | Fast Track | WOTUS | SPR Repeal | SJ Res 23 | SJ Res 24 | SCORE |
| Bennet (D-CO) | + | + | + | – | + | – | + | + | + | + | 80% |
| Gardner (R-CO) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Crapo (R-ID) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Risch (R-ID) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Tester (D-MT) | + | + | + | – | + | + | + | + | + | + | 90% |
| Daines (R-MT) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Heitkamp (D-ND) | – | + | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | 20% |
| Hoeven (R-ND) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Wyden (D-OR) | + | + | + | + | – | – | + | + | + | + | 80% |
| Merkley (D-OR) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100% |
| Thune (R-SD) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% | |
| Rounds (R-SD) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Enzi (R-WY) | – | – | – | – | NV | NV | – | – | – | – | 0% |
| Barrasso (R-WY) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0% |
2015 Senate vote descriptions
Amendment 71 to S 1
Expedited Permits for Federal Oil and Gas
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) offered an amendment that would require new, expedited procedures for issuing permits to drill for oil and gas on federal lands. This amendment failed 51-47, and needed 60 votes to pass (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #17). A “+” is a no vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
Amendment 133 to S 1
Wind Production Tax Credit
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) offered an amendment which would support amending the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend credit for facilities producing energy from renewable resources. This amendment failed 47-51 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #40). A “+” is a yes vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
Amendment 77 to S1
Renewable Energy Standard
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) offered an amendment which would establish a Renewable Energy Standard (RES), requiring 25% renewable energy by 2025. This amendment failed 45-53 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #44). A “+” is a yes vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
S 1
Keystone XL Pipeline
As one of the first votes of the new year, the Senate voted to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar sands oil from Canada through Montana and South Dakota down to the Gulf Coast for export. On January 29, this bill passed the Senate 62-26 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #49), but did not sustain the President’s veto. A “+” is a no vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
Amendment 1327 on S 995
Investor-State Dispute Settlements
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced an amendment to the Fast Track bill which would have prevented use of “fast-track” procedures on deals that included Investor-State Dispute Settlements, which allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws for not complying with international trade agreements. This amendment was defeated 39-60 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #188). A “+” is a yes vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
S 995
Fast Track Trade Authority
Trade Promotion Authority, or “Fast Track” legislation, gives the president the power to submit a trade deal to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments. HR 644 would ease passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal between the United States and 11 other countries that is due for Congressional action in 2016. In the end, the bill passed 78-20 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #193), and this bill became law. A “+” is a no vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
S 1140
Waters of the United States
Introduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), this bill would have required the EPA to rewrite its Waters of the United States rule and set strict parameters for the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers in rewriting the rule. This bill failed 57-40 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote # 295), and needed 60 votes to pass. A “+” is a no vote, in support of WORC’s position.
SJ Res 22
Stream Protection Rule
The Office of Surface Mining’s proposed Stream Protection Rules would increase monitoring requirements and protect groundwater and intermittent streams from the effects of coal mining, especially mountaintop removal and longwall mining. SJR 22 would have voided the regulations. Despite a veto threat, the Senate passed this resolution 53-44 (2015 Senate Roll Call Vote #297). The House has not yet acted on the resolution. A “+” is a no vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
SJ Res 23 and 24
Clean Power Plan
Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced resolutions of disapproval that would permanently block the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which would limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. If passed, these resolutions would undo all of the benefits of the Clean Power Plan and bar EPA from issuing any standards in the future that are substantially similar. Both of these resolutions passed with identical votes of 52-46 (2015 Senate Roll Call Votes #307 and #306). A “+” is a no vote, in favor of WORC’s position.
For more information about the scorecard, contact WORC DC Office Director, Sara Kendall at sara (at) worc.org.