Along with the week’s roll call votes, the Senate also passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act (S. 3541), to improve health care and services for veterans exposed to toxic substances; and a resolution (S. Res. 519), supporting an independent and democratic Ukraine against any further Russian military invasion.

There were no key votes in the House this week.

SENATE VOTES

FDA COMMISSIONER: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Robert Califf to be the Department of Health and Human Service’s Food and Drug Administration Commissioner. Califf was the agency’s commissioner for a year at the close of the Obama administration, then became a medical professor at Duke University; he is a biomedical scientist. A supporter, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said Califf “knows the agency well, understands the value of innovation underway in academia, and knows firsthand how the private sector is advancing cutting-edge science that can benefit all Americans.” An opponent, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said Califf has failed to commit to changing “FDA’s processes to ensure it does not make the opioid overdose epidemic worse than it already has.” The vote, on Feb. 15, was 50 yeas to 46 nays.

YEAS: Susan Collins, R-Maine; Angus King, I-Maine

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Celeste Wallander to be assistant secretary for international security affairs at the Defense Department. Wallander, currently president and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, was a senior official in the Obama administration specializing in Russia. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said: “As one of our nation’s top experts on Russian affairs, her leadership is vital right now.” The vote, on Feb. 16, was 83 yeas to 13 nays.

YEAS: Collins, King

MILITARY RESEARCH: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Honey to be deputy under secretary for research and engineering at the Defense Department. Honey, a retired Air Force officer, has more recently been a research official at Defense and at the Defense Advanced Projects Agency. A supporter, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said: “If we are truly committed to preserving our defense technological superiority, it is vital that we confirm Dr. Honey as quickly as possible.” The vote, on Feb. 16, was 94 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, King

COVID VACCINATION: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 6617) that would have barred funding for the implementation of federal Covid vaccination requirements. Lee said the requirements from the Biden administration were “treading deeply into the personal medical choices of Americans without an act of Congress authorizing them to do so.” An opponent, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the requirements were needed because “we all want this pandemic to end; we want our schools to stay open safely; and we want people to be able to go to work safely and go about their lives like before.” The vote, on Feb. 17, was 46 yeas to 47 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: King

CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate has passed the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 6617), sponsored by Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn., to extend funding for the federal government though March 11. A supporter, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., said the extension would give time for Congress to work out “the details of full-year appropriations bills to meet the needs of the American people.” The vote, on Feb. 17, was 65 yeas to 27 nays.

YEAS: Collins, King

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