United States Senate

 Fiscal 2016 Military Budget: Voting 91 for and three against, the Senate on Nov. 10 gave final congressional approval to a $607 billion military budget (S 1356) for fiscal 2016 that seeks to bar closure of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, sets a 1.3 percent pay raise for uniformed personnel and begins a 401(k)-style retirement plan for active and retired personnel who serve fewer than 20 years. The bill authorizes spending at least $50.9 billion for U.S. combat operations abroad; more than $50 billion for active-duty and retiree healthcare; $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight the Islamic State and $406 million to boost Syrian opposition forces.

John McCain, R-Ariz., said the bill “identifies $11 billion in excessive and unnecessary spending…and reinvests those savings in critical national security priorities, including more fighter aircraft, accelerated shipbuilding, strengthening our cyber defenses and $300 million in vital assistance to Ukraine to resist Russian aggression.”

No senator spoke against the bill.

A yes vote was to send the 2016 military budget to President Obama for his signature.

Long-Term Transportation Bill: The Senate on Nov. 10 voted, 82 for and seven against, to advance a bill (HR 22) that would spend $325 billion over three years for highway and mass-transit construction and other transportation programs. The bill is financed by receipts from the Highway Trust Fund along with revenue from steps such as selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, diverting Federal Reserve surpluses to infrastructure accounts, raising customs fees and privatizing the collection of unpaid taxes. The bill would authorize three additional years of transportation programs that are not paid for, put the Export-Import Bank back in business and enact 15 financial-deregulation bills that have passed the House but not the Senate, among many other provisions.

Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said: “We have 60,000 bridges that are deficient. They were not built with the kinds of traffic they are now withstanding in mind, so we must” advance the transportation bill.

No senator spoke against the bill.

A yes vote was to clear the way for a House-Senate conference committee on the bill.

Double-Trailer Trucks On Interstates: Voting 56 for and 31 against, the Senate on Nov. 10 passed a non-binding amendment to retain 28 feet as the maximum length of each trailer in twin-trailer trucking rigs. The underlying bill (HR 22, above) would increase the top length to 33 feet per trailer while keeping the rig’s overall weight limit at 80,000 pounds. Including the cab, total truck lengths would rise by 10 feet to about 91 feet under the bill. While the bill would allow these longer twin-trailer rigs on interstates and other federally funded roads, it would give states discretion to bar them from non-federal roads. Thirty-eight states now prohibit 33-foot trailers.

Sponsor Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said his amendment would “save lives…prevent a federal mandate” and “save $1.2 (billion) to $1.8 billion a year in highway maintenance….”

No senator spoke against the amendment.

A yes vote was in opposition to extending the length of twin-trailer rigs on federal roads.

— Illinois Representatives’ Votes in Congress —