House Republicans and Conservative Democrats Attack Climate Action, Gun Violence Prevention as Shutdown Looms

The House of Representatives has been passing spending bills over the past few weeks to assert Republican priorities as a shutdown looms.

These appropriations bills always come with a long series of amendment votes, and this past week, Republicans used those to attack climate action, gun violence prevention, and DEI programming. Below, I highlight some of the toxic Republican amendments that received crossover support from conservative Democrats.

Climate Disclosure for Federal Contractors

The House voted 220 to 210 for Claudia Tenney (NY-24)’s amendment to prohibit funding to finalize, implement, or enforce the Biden administration’s proposed rule to require federal contractors to disclose climate-related financial risks and greenhouse gas emissions.

Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting no: Mike Carey (OH-15) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

Environmental Justice

The House voted 217 to 202 to defund the position of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice, via an amendment from Rich McCormick (GA-06).

Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting no: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Greg Pence (IN-06).

Biden’s Climate Action Executive Order

The House voted 212 to 202 for Russ Fulcher (ID-01)’s amendment to restrict the use of funds for implementing the Biden administration’s goal of conserving 30 percent of the US’s land and waters by 2030, as laid out in Section 2016 of a 2021 climate action executive order.

Three Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Nancy Mace (SC-01), and Michael McCaul (TX-10).

The House voted 219 to 210 to prohibit the use of funds for implementing any part of that 2021 climate action executive order.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined Republicans in voting for it, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joined Democrats in voting against it.

EPA Air Quality Standards

The House voted 212 to 206 to pass Paul Gosar (AZ-09)’s amendment to prohibit funding from going to EPA’s proposed rule on air quality standards for particulate matter.

Three Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).

Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Tom Kean (NJ-07), Nancy Mace (SC-01), and Chris Smith (NJ-04).

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The House, however, failed to pass Harriet Hageman (WY-AL)’s amendment to defund the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which provides funds to states to expand EV charging infrastructure.

It failed 191 to 238, but notably despite that wide loss, one Democrat did, in fact, vote for it: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). 27 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it.

Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Fortunately, the House failed to pass Matt Rosendal (MT-02)’s amendment to defund the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The vote came short at 208 to 212.

Mary Peltola (AK-AL) and Marie Gluesenkmap Perez (WA-03) joined Republicans in voting for it.

Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it: Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Tom Kean (NJ-07), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Chris Smith (NJ-04), and Michael Turner (OH-10).

The Term “Latinx”

The House voted 222 to 198 to pass Maria Salazar (FL-27)’s amendment to prohibit funds from being used to produce official documents containing the term “latinx” or “latin-x.”

Eight Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Yadira Carvaeo (CO-08), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).