Eyes on Washington: How the Texas congressional delegation voted

The U.S. Capitol Building shines as night falls in Washington while Congress negotiated the federal government shutdown. J. David Ake AP

Senate

Temporary Funding to End Shutdown

Passed: 81-18

The Senate voted on a bill (HR 195, above) that would fund the government through Feb. 9 under a pledge by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to allow a vote by then on the status of an estimated 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants known as “dreamers” who face potential deportation starting March 5.

A yes vote was to end a three-day partial government shutdown.

Yes: Cornyn, Cruz

Alex Azar, Health Secretary

Confirmed: 55-43

The Senate voted on Alex M. Azar, 50, as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he will replace Tom Price, who resigned in September in a scandal involving his official travel. Azar had been president of the U.S. division of the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Company since 2012 and was a deputy HHS secretary under former President George W. Bush. He drew Democratic criticism over his stand against allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, among other issues.

A yes vote was to confirm Azar.

Yes: Cornyn, Cruz

Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair

Confirmed: 84-13

The Senate voted on Jerome H. Powell as chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, replacing Janet L. Yellin. Powell, 64, a Republican, joined the Fed board in May 2012 as an appointee of President Barack Obama. A former attorney in private practice and investment banker but not an economist, he was undersecretary of the Treasury for domestic finance under President George H.W. Bush. By law, the 94-year-old Fed operates independently of Congress and the White House. Its main duties are to conduct U.S. monetary policy, provide financial services to depository institutions and the Treasury, and regulate banks to contain risk.

A yes vote was to confirm Powell to a four-year term as Fed chairman.

Yes: Cornyn

No: Cruz

Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large

Confirmed: 50-49

The Senate voted, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the decisive vote, on Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, 61, as ambassador at large for international religious freedom. Based in the Department of State, the office monitors religious persecution and discrimination around the globe while promoting religious freedom as an element of U.S. foreign policy. Brownback drew Democratic criticism over his record of infusing personal religious beliefs into social issues including women’s reproductive rights and LGBT protections. Before becoming governor in 2012, Brownback served Kansas as a U.S. House member and senator in a congressional career spanning 17 years.

A yes vote was to confirm Brownback.

Yes: Cornyn, Cruz

House

Stopgap Funding to Reopen Government

Passed: 266-150

The House on Jan. 22 joined the Senate in passing a bill (HR 195) that would fund agencies through Feb. 9, extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years and end a partial government shutdown then in its third day. This marked Congress’s fourth passage of a temporary federal budget since October.

A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump, who signed it into law.

Yes: Marchant, Williams

No: Veasey

Absent: Barton, Granger, Burgess