107th Congress Voting Record

U.S. Senate

Vote Key and Vote Descriptions can be found at the bottom of this page (or you can click on the individual number in the table heading below).

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U.S. Senate Vote Descriptions
107^th Congress

SENATE VOTE 1.Confirmation of John Ashcroft to Be Attorney General.February 1, 2001.Vote to confirm John Ashcroft, of Missouri, to be Attorney General of the United States.Nomination confirmed 58-42.

NASW opposed the nomination of John Ashcroft to be Attorney General, which would put him in charge of enforcing civil rights laws and other laws that would come under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General.Ashcroft had a 0 percent voting record with NASW when he was a Senator, and a poor voting record specifically on civil rights issues.

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SENATE VOTE 2.S 1: Discipline Amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act.June 14, 2001.Motion to reconsider roll call vote 188 to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding discipline.Amendment to authorize school personnel to discipline a student with a disability who has a weapon; knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance; or commits aggravated assault or battery at a school in the same manner as they would discipline a non-disabled student who has committed the same offense, including suspension or expulsion.Motion passed 51-47.

NASW opposed the motion.NASW supports the removal of students who endanger the safety of students and teachers but opposed the motion because the amendment eliminated current protections for children with disabilities and failed to require continuation of alternative education services.

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SENATE VOTE 3.S 1052: Bipartisan Patient Protection Act (Managed Care).June 29, 2001.Passage of the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to protect consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage.Bill passed 59-36.

NASW supported the bill because it offered the best set of protections for consumers as well as health and mental health practitioners.Itwould have improved patient access to care and allowed patients to hold health maintenance organizations (HMOs) accountable in court for the damages caused by their failure to provide necessary medical treatment.

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SENATE VOTE 4.S 812: Graham Amendment to the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2002 (Prescription Drugs).July 23, 2002.Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Graham amendment to the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2002 to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs under the Medicare program.Motion failed 52-47 (needed 3/5 majority).

NASW supported this amendment because it would have provided for comprehensive, guaranteed prescription drug coverage and low out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

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SENATE VOTE 5.S 812: Grassley Amendment to the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2002 (Prescription Drugs).July 23, 2002.Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Grassley amendment to the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2002 to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare voluntary prescription drug delivery program under the Medicare program, to modernize the Medicare program, and for other purposes.Motion failed 48-51.

NASW opposed this amendment, as it would have provided taxpayer subsidies to private insurance companies and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to offer prescription drug coverage to seniors and the disabled, rather than have such benefits as a benefit under the Medicare program. The Grassley amendment would have required out-of-pocket payments from beneficiaries for the first $250 in drug purchases each year and after that 50 percent of all drug costs until the total cost of drugs reached $3,450.No assistance would have been provided for those with total drug costs between $3,450 per year and $5,300 per year.

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SENATE VOTE 6.HJRes 114: Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq.October 11, 2002.To authorize the President to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.Joint resolution passed 77-23.

NASW opposed the joint resolution because of a longstanding support for non-violent resolution of international conflicts due to the high human, social, and economic costs of war.

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SENATE VOTE 7.S 625: Motion to End Debate on Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 (Hate Crimes).June 11, 2002.Motion to cut off debate on the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 to provide federal assistance to states to prosecute hate crimes.Motion rejected 54-43 (needed 3/5 to pass).

NASW supported the motion to cut off debate and therefore bring the bill to a vote.NASW supported the bill because it broadened categories covered by hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, and disability and would make it easier for the federal government to get involved in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

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SENATE VOTE 8.S 2514: Murray Amendment on Privately Funded Abortions.June 12, 2002.To repeal the ban on privately funded abortion at U.S. military hospitals overseas.Amendment agreed to 52-40.

NASW supported the amendment because it would allow women in the military and military dependents to receive an abortion at U.S. military hospitals overseas if they pay for the procedure with their own money.NASW supports a woman’s rights to make reproductive choices, and to receive safe and legal health care.

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