Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 8 and 9, 2005. I was absent to attend the funeral of a relative back in South…
Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 8 and 9, 2005. I was absent to attend the funeral of a relative back in South Dakota. I submit this statement today to establish for the record how I would have voted had I been present for these votes.
On March 8, 2005, the House of Representatives held three votes.
The first vote held was on approval of House Journal. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The second vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to the H.R. 133, a resolution providing funds for continuing expenses of standing and select committees of the House of Representatives during the month of April, 2005. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The final vote was on motion to suspend the rules and agree to the H.R. 122, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the study of languages and supporting the designation of a Year of Languages. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
On March 9, 2005, the House of Representatives held five votes.
The first vote held was roll No. 56 on an amendment by Mr. Conaway which would have exempted commercial motor vehicle operators working in field operations for the natural gas and oil industry from Federal hours-of-service rules. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The second vote held was roll No. 57, on an amendment by Mr. Moran of Kansas to expand the types of agricultural commodities covered by the bill's exemption from the 2003 hours-of-service regulations to include livestock, food, feed, fiber and other farm products. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The third vote held was roll No. 58, on an amendment by Mr. Osborne of Nebraska that would grant the State of Nebraska the authority to harmonize its vehicle length limits with those of surrounding states during the grain harvest season. I strongly support this amendment and, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The fourth vote was roll No. 59, on an amendment by Mr. Kennedy of Minnesota that would have prevented States and localities from collecting tolls on exiting highways. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.
The fifth vote was roll No. 60, on an amendment by Mr. Graves that would have eliminated ``vicarious liability'' language under certain State laws for motor vehicle rental and leasing companies. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on that question.
