• Sales
to terrorists. Voting 47-51, senators on Tuesday refused to prevent foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing
business with countries such as Iran that are state sponsors of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The amendment
was offered to the 2006 defense budget (S 1042), which remained in debate.
A yes vote backed the amendment.
Voting yes: Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D., Del.), Thomas Carper (D., Del.), Jon Corzine (D., N.J.) and Frank Lautenberg
(D., N.J.)
Voting no: Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) and Arlen Specter (R., Pa.).
• National energy policy. Voting 74-26, the Senate on Friday
approved the national energy policy as provided for in conference report HR 6.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Voting yes: Santorum and Specter.
Voting no: Biden, Carper, Corzine and Lautenberg.
• Gun makers' immunity.Voting 65-31, senators on Friday approved
a bill (S 397) giving gun makers and dealers immunity against most product-liability lawsuits based on the illegal use of
firearms. Plaintiffs in such suits are mainly state and local governments and crime victims. The bill would ban pending and
future suits. The House passed a similar bill last year but has not acted on it this year.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Santorum and Specter.
Voting no: Biden, Carper, Corzine and Lautenberg.
• Mandatory gun safety. Voting 70-30, senators on Thursday
amended S 397 (above) to require that all handguns sold in the United States be accompanied by child-safety devices such as
trigger locks or gun safes.
A yes vote backed the amendment.
All Philadelphia-area senators voted yes.
• Highways, mass transit. Voting 91-4, the Senate on Friday
approved the conference report on a bill (HR 3) to spend $286.4 billion over six years for transportation projects.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report. All Philadelphia-area senators voted for the bill.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Jul 31, 2005
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