On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, announced that he was running for re-election in District 21, which includes Kerr County.
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See @chiproytx's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/chiproytx
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As he was doing that, Roy was engaged in an argument with House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about the passage of the massive infrastructure bill, which President Joe Biden signed on Monday.
Roy expressed his frustration with the 13 Republicans who voted for the $1 trillion infrastructure package. The Daily Caller, a conservative website, reported that Roy is producing a video attacking the plan.
"A Republican majority isn't enough — just days ago, thirteen Republicans voted with Democrats to advance Biden's agenda — we need a majority who will fight for America's agenda with the courage to speak the truth and to take on the 21st-Century tyrants of Big Tech and Big Pharma, and—yes—the go-along, get-along establishment in our own party," Roy says in the video.
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Twitter
See @henryrodgersdc's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/henryrodgersdc
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oyThe exchange between McCarthy and Roy was reported by a CNN reporter, who Tweeted that Roy told McCarthy he had to go back to his district to report
"Roy lamented that he has to now go back to his district and explain why people should bother voting Republican when they handed a victory to Dems, and argued leadership should act," Tweeted CNN'S Melanie Zanona.
McCarthy reported told Roy he had to do the same thing with his constituents but didn't cite an example. However, Roy was one of the few Republicans who didn't join their colleagues in trying to overturn the 2020 election results — that drew the ire of former President Donald Trump, who later lambasted Roy for trying to earn a House leadership role.
"Can't imagine Republican House Members would go with Chip Roy—he has not done a great job, and will probably be successfully primaried in his own district," Trump said. "I support (Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.) by far, over Chip!"
While Roy joined a majority of Republicans in voting against the infrastructure bill, he's shown some tendencies to be bipartisan. Still, his voting record has also established a grouchy streak of partisan spite. Here's a look at Roy's record based on bipartisan decisions, voting with his GOP counterparts and then being in a small minority of Republicans to vote against bills.
Where Roy joined the rest of Congress in voting yes since Oct. 1:
Investing in Main Street Act of 2021
This bill authorizes certain banking entities, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, to invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in one or more small business investment companies (SBICs) or in any entity established to invest solely in SBICs.
SBA Cyber Awareness Act
What it says: This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to report specified information related to cybersecurity awareness annually.
Such reports must provide:
- An assessment of the SBA's information technology (IT) and cybersecurity infrastructure.
- A strategy to increase such infrastructure.
- A detailed account of the SBA's IT equipment that is manufactured by an entity that has its principal place of business in China.
- Any SBA cybersecurity risk or incident that occurred during the two years prior to the report (including the SBA's action to respond to or remediate it).
Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021
Bill passed 418-2.
What it says: This bill provides statutory authority for the Boots to Business Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to individuals, including veterans and active members of the Armed Forces, to be administered by the Small Business Administration.
Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act
Passed 424-3.
What it says: This bill sets forth requirements related to peer support counseling programs. A peer support counseling program is a program provided by a law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the agency. Among other things, the bill does the following: Generally prohibits the disclosure of the contents of a peer support communication and requires the Department of Justice to develop best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs.
Bills where he voted with the majority of Republicans against passage since Oct. 1 :
Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021 or the POJA Act of 2021
Bill passed 224-200
What it says: This bill prohibits employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying job applicants based on an applicant's age. It also requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to study and report on claims received from job applicants involving age discrimination.
Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021
Bill passed 228-200.
What it says: This bill modifies, expands, and reauthorizes through FY2026 the Family Violence and Prevention Services program, which funds emergency shelters and supports related assistance for victims of domestic violence. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants and enter cooperative agreements with state and tribal domestic violence coalitions, and community-based organizations, to support prevention services. Depending on the type of organization, grant recipients must use funding to (1) provide technical assistance; (2) promote evidence-informed prevention strategies; (3) implement coordinated, community responses to reduce risk factors for family violence; and (4) develop prevention partnership strategies. Further, HHS must award specified grants to organizations that provide population-specific services in underserved communities and to community-based organizations that provide culturally specific domestic violence services to racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill also establishes a grants program for tribal domestic violence coalitions to support the provision of local, tribal, family domestic or dating violence services and requires HHS to award a grant for the administration of a hotline dedicated to serving Indians affected by domestic violence. In addition, the bill modifies certain program-wide definitions; changes the requirements for specified grant applications, eligibility criteria, and use of funds; and makes other technical revisions.
Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act or the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.
Bill passed 276-149.
What it says: This bill expands workplace protections for employees with a need to express breast milk. Specifically, it expands the requirement that employers provide certain accommodations for such an employee to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law. Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the employee is also working. The bill also extends from one year to two years the available time period for such accommodations. Additionally, before making a claim of liability against an employer, an employee generally must first notify the employer that they are not in compliance and provide them with 10 days to come into compliance with the required accommodations. Finally, the bill provides certain exemptions from these requirements for air carriers.
Bills where Roy joined a small number (20% or less) of House members to vote no since Oct. 1:
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021
Bill passed 420-3.
The Lead's commentary: This was authored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and had wide bi-partisan support.
What it says: This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 with respect to payments to certain public safety officers who have become permanently and totally disabled due to personal injuries sustained in the line of duty and other duties purposes.
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
Bill passed 383-41.
The Lead's commentary: This is a peculiar vote considering that this is a hot-button topic that many in the aviation industry are discussing, including recently at the Kerr Economic Development Corp.'s Business and Innovation Forums. This bill asks to form a group to present plans to regulate this potential industry, which is already regulated.
What it says: This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) interagency working group to plan and coordinate efforts related to the safety, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity, and federal investment necessary to bolster the AAM ecosystem in the United States. Advanced Air Mobility refers to an air transportation system that moves people and cargo between places using new aircraft designs that are integrated into existing airspace operations as well as operated in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments.
Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act
Bill passed 409-16.
The Lead's commentary: This was a bill authored by Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), emphasizing helping areas that are repeatedly struck by natural disasters — like Texas.
What it says: This bill makes an entity seeking assistance under a hazard mitigation assistance program eligible to receive such assistance for certain projects already in progress.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
Bill passed 407-16.
What it says: This bill takes specified lands and easements in Monroe County, Tennessee, into trust for the use and benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. These lands include the Sequoyah Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to provide support for these properties and cultural programs. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) maintains its right to carry out river control and development on these lands, including temporarily and intermittently flooding certain lands. The bill specifies the structures that may be constructed with the TVA's written consent on certain lands subject to flooding. Additionally, the TVA must be compensated for lost hydropower capacity from future development of these lands. Further, the bill specifies that the United States is not liable for loss or damage resulting from certain activities, such as the permanent flooding of adjacent lands. In addition, the bill outlines the TVA's continuing responsibilities, including those related to environmental remediation. Finally, the bill prohibits gaming on these lands.
Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act
What it says: This bill takes specified lands and easements in Monroe County, Tennessee, into trust for the use and benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. These lands include the Sequoyah Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to provide support for these properties and cultural programs. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) maintains its right to carry out river control and development on these lands, including temporarily and intermittently flooding certain lands. The bill specifies the structures that may be constructed with the TVA's written consent on certain lands subject to flooding. Additionally, the TVA must be compensated for lost hydropower capacity from the future development of these lands. Further, the bill specifies that the United States is not liable for loss or damage resulting from certain activities, such as the permanent flooding of adjacent lands. In addition, the bill outlines the TVA's continuing responsibilities, including those related to environmental remediation. Finally, the bill prohibits gaming on these lands.
What it says: This bill directs the Department of the Interior to take tribally owned lands in Pima County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. Lands taken into trust shall be part of the Pascua Yaqui Reservation. The bill allows gaming on the land taken into trust.
Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act
Bill passed 361-55.
This bill ratifies and confirms the actions of the Department of the Interior to take into trust approximately 17 acres of land in Cleveland County, North Carolina, for the benefit of the Catawba Indian Nation. The land is made part of the Catawba Reservation. The bill allows gaming on the land taken into trust for the tribe.
Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021
Bill passed 397-25
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to take approximately 721.12 acres of land in San Diego County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, if the tribe transfers title to that land to the United States. The land is made part of the Pala Indian Reservation. The bill generally prohibits gaming on any of the land taken into trust.
