HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Changes in Motor-Voter Bill Refused

The House refused to accept Senate changes in a bill (HR 2) that aims to increase voter turnout by enabling people to register when applying for a driver’s license and other public certificates. In part, the decision reaffirmed a House requirement that states allow voter registration at social agencies such as welfare offices.

Supporter Al Swift (D-Wash.) said registration at social agencies helps “the very poor, the very old and the physically handicapped.”

Opponent Bob Livingston (R-La.) called the bill inviting to those who would “willy-nilly steal elections throughout America.”

The vote was 192 for and 222 against. A yes vote was to strip a requirement for voter registration at social agencies from the “motor-voter” bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Genetic Code Analysis Funding

The House sent the Senate a bill (HR 829) authorizing nearly $15 million annually to improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to use DNA analysis of blood and hair samples in crime-fighting. The FBI would get $4.5 million for activities such as developing a national data bank of convicted criminals’ genetic codes. States would get $10 million collectively in grants to establish DNA analysis labs that would be overseen by the FBI and held to federal privacy and proficiency standards.

Supporter Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) said the bill “will guarantee that DNA analysis will be an accurate and reliable tool for courtroom use.”

No opponent spoke against the measure.

The vote was 374 for and four against. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

FBI Telephone Access

The House sent the Senate a bill (HR 175) expanding the FBI’s power to obtain, without court warrants, telephone records and conversations in probes of international terrorism and espionage.

The bill grants the FBI access in such investigations to information on unlisted numbers that phone companies cannot presently divulge. It also enables FBI counterintelligence agents to obtain a broader range of telephone conversations involving suspected terrorists and spies.

Supporter Ronald D. Coleman (D-Tex.) said the bill strikes “a delicate balance between (giving) the FBI the means to fight terrorism and espionage and our responsibility to protect individuals from unreasonable intrusion by the government.”

No opponent spoke against the bill.

The vote was 367 for and six against. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Where to Reach Them

Steve Horn, 38th District

4010 Watson Plaza Drive, Suite 160, Lakewood 90712 (310) 425-1336

Lucille Roybal-Allard, 33rd District

255 E. Temple St., Suite 1860, Los Angeles 90012. (213) 628-9230

Ed Royce, 39th District

305 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 300, Fullerton 92632 (714) 992-8081

Esteban E. Torres, 34th District

8819 Whittier Blvd., Suite 101, Pico Rivera 90660 (310) 695-0702

Walter R. Tucker III, 37th District

145 E. Compton Blvd., Compton 90220 (310) 884-9989

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate