NC congressional votes for the week ending April 3

Here’s how North Carolina members of Congress voted over the previous week.

Along with the week’s roll call votes, the House also passed these measures: the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (H.R. 998), to require additional information on math and clerical error notices; the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act (H.R. 1155), to allow taxpayers to elect to receive certain replacement refunds electronically; the Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act (H.R. 1152), to apply the mailbox rule to documents and payments electronically submitted to the Internal Revenue Service; and a bill (H.R. 1234), to direct the Librarian of Congress to promote the more cost-effective, efficient, and expanded availability of the annotated Constitution and pocket-part supplements by replacing the hardbound versions with digital versions.

House votes

DISASTERS AND TAX DEADLINES: The House has passed the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act (H.R. 517), sponsored by Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., to extend by two months tax filing deadlines for people affected by a federally declared disaster, and also authorize extensions for disasters declared by a state government. Kustoff said the bill, by redressing a situation in which taxpayers must wait for a federal disaster declaration in order to get more time to file their taxes, would “ensure that disaster victims are able to receive more timely relief.” The vote, on March 31, was unanimous with 388 yeas.

• YEAS: Harrigan R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Harris (NC) R-NC (8th), McDowell R-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Knott R-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Moore (NC) R-NC (14th)

TAXPAYER ADVOCATE LAWYERS: The House has passed the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act (H.R. 997), sponsored by Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, to move authority for hiring lawyers managed by the National Taxpayer Advocate out of the Treasury Department’s legal office, and instead have the lawyers report directly to the Advocate. Feenstra said: “Since 2015, the IRS has prohibited the National Taxpayer Advocate from hiring her own legal counsel, which undermines her ability to provide insight, ensure fair treatment of taxpayers, and responsibly work with the IRS caseworkers.” The vote, on March 31, was unanimous with 385 yeas.

• YEAS: Harrigan R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Harris (NC) R-NC (8th), McDowell R-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Knott R-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Moore (NC) R-NC (14th)
• NOT VOTING: Edwards R-NC (11th)

TAX REFUNDS AND DISASTERS: The House has passed the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act (H.R. 1491), sponsored by Rep. Gregory F. Murphy, R-N.C., to have the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) make the extension of federal tax return deadlines due to a declared disaster also apply to tax refunds, and also account for such deadline extensions before issuing tax collection notices. Murphy called the bill a way “to ensure that victims of natural disasters are not burdened by our tax code.” The vote, on April 1, was unanimous with 423 yeas.

• YEAS: Harrigan R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Harris (NC) R-NC (8th), McDowell R-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Knott R-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Moore (NC) R-NC (14th)

Senate votes

AMBASSADOR TO NATO: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Matthew Whitaker to be the permanent representative of the U.S. on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Council. Whitaker, currently an official at several conservative think tanks, was a Justice Department senior official in the first Trump administration, including time as the Acting Attorney General; a private practice lawyer in Iowa for most of the 2010s; and a U.S. attorney in Iowa from 2004 to 2009. A supporter, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, called Whitaker “a principled leader with a proven track record. Under President Trump’s peace-through-strength approach, I have no doubt that Matt will be an effective advocate for America’s interests and a champion of our national strategy.” The vote, on April 1, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.

• YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

CANADA TARIFFS: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 37), sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would end a national emergency declared two months ago by President Trump that levied 10% and 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada. Kaine called the resolution a way to “stand strong for our businesses and consumers, our foresters and farmers, our national defense industry and shipbuilders, against cost increases that will hurt people’s pocketbooks, hurt American competitiveness, and hurt our national security.” An opponent, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling over the Canada-U.S. border had created a crisis that warranted declaration of a national emergency. The vote, on April 2, was 51 yeas to 48 nays.

• NAYS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

WALK-IN FREEZERS: The Senate has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 24), sponsored by Rep. Stephanie I. Bice, R-Okla., to disapprove of and void an Energy Department rule, issued last December, establishing efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. The vote, on April 3, was 53 yeas to 42 nays.

• YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

SOLICITOR GENERAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dean John Sauer to be U.S. Solicitor General. Sauer was Missouri’s solicitor general from 2017 to 2023, and previously was a federal prosecutor and a civil lawyer. An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said “Sauer’s failure to comply with court orders and his refusal to recuse himself from pending Trump matters render him unfit for this role.” The vote, on April 3, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.

• YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

WEAPONS SALE TO ISRAEL: The Senate has rejected a motion to discharge from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a resolution (S.J. Res. 33), sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, ID-Vt., that would have cancelled the planned sale to Israel of up to 40,000 bomb bodies and warheads, as well as support, services, and spare parts for the weapons. Sanders said the sale would be wrong because “it is illegal for the U.S. Government to provide Israel with more offensive weaponry. It is simply against our laws” to supply weapons to a country that is violating human rights. A motion opponent, Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said cancelling the sale “would abandon Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, during a pivotal moment for global security.” The vote, on April 3, was 15 yeas to 82 nays, with 1 voting present.

• NAYS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) agency. Oz was a heart surgeon and professor in New York City starting in 1986, hosted the Dr. Oz television show from 2009 to 2022, and was a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition during President Trump’s first term. A supporter, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said Oz’s “vision for treating the underlying causes of chronic disease and equipping providers with innovative technologies to serve patients will also be a much needed sea change at CMS.” An opponent, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Oz “has been out there peddling, over the years, unproven cures and treatments and encouraging people to ignore proven facts and science.” The vote, on April 3, was 53 yeas to 45 nays.

• YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Harmeet Dhillon to be the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Dhillon has been a lawyer at her own law firm in San Francisco since 2006, specializing in election law, First Amendment litigation, and commercial litigation. An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Dhillon’s “record suggests she is more likely to attack civil rights than defend them.” The vote, on April 3, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.

• YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC