What follows is the next in a series of diaries which will provide a year-by-year record of John Kerry's voting record in the US Senate, which has been summarized and excerpted from the
Project Vote Smart - Key Votes listing for Senator Kerry. This entry covers Sen. Kerry's voting record for the year,
1997.
Other Year's entries:
1988,
1989,
1990,
1991,
1992,
1993,
1994,
1995,
1996,
1997,
1998,
1999,
2000,
2001,
2002
2003,
2004.
Note that the voting record for 1997 exceeds the story size limit for diaries. What follows are several categories for the year, with the rest given in comments
Summary for 1997
Category: Transportation Issues
- Transportation Funding
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote to table an amendment to provide an additional $12 billion over five
years for federal transportation programs.
S Con Res 27: Fiscal 1998 Budget Resolution
Vote on a motion to table, or kill, an amendment that would provide an
additional $12 billion over five years for federal transportation program
spending.
Motion introduced by Domenici, R-NM.
(Motion to table adopted 51-49 on 5/22/97)
- Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to retain the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund established in the bill [S 949]
S 949: The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 [Budget Reconciliation - Taxes]
Vote on a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 in order to retain the section of the bill [S 949] that creates an Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund. The Trust Fund would be financed through the current federal gas tax, to equal one half-cent of the gas tax per gallon of gas, through 2001.
(Motion to waive the Budget Act adopted 77-21 on 6/27/97 [3/5ths vote required] and the section was retained)
- Gas Tax Revenue
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote to express the sense of the Senate that the 4.3 cent increase in the gas tax enacted in 1993 should go into the Highway Trust Fund instead of general revenue.
S Con Res 27: Fiscal 1998 Budget Resolution
Vote on a motion to adopt an amendment expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should ensure that all revenues from federal gasoline excise taxes, including the 4.3 cent increase adopted in 1993, should go to the Highway Trust Fund for building roads and highway infrastructure projects. [Under the 1993 Budget Reconciliation law, the 4.3 cent addition to the gas tax goes into general revenue, rather than the highway trust fund.] [A sense of the Senate resolution is non-binding.]
Motion introduced by Gramm, R-TX.
(Amendment adopted 83-16 on 5/22/97)
Category: Trade Issues
- Fast Track Trade Authority - Motion to Proceed
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to proceed to the bill which establishes negotiating objectives for trade agreements between the United States and foreign countries, and renews 'fast track' trade authority for the President ['Fast Track' would allow the president to submit trade pact agreements for expedited review by Congress, and would require an up-or-down vote without amendment].
S 1269: Reciprocal Trade Agreement of 1997
Vote on a motion to proceed to a bill which establishes negotiating objectives for trade agreements between the United States and foreign countries and renews 'fast track' authority for the President, which allows Congress to adopt or to reject a proposed trade agreement, but not to amend it. The authority would be valid before October 1, 2001 or before October 1, 2005, if certain conditions are determined to exist by Congress ['Fast Track' would allow the president to submit trade pact agreements for expedited review by Congress, and would require an up-or-down vote without amendment].
Bill introduced by Roth, R-DE.
(Motion to proceed passed 68-31 on 11/5/97)
- China Trading Status
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote on a nonbinding resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Most-Favored-Nation trading status extended to China should be withdrawn.
S 955: Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998
Vote on a resolution to express the sense of the Senate that the Most-Favored-Nation trade status extended to the People's Republic of China on May 29, 1997, should be withdrawn. [MFN status provides normal, non-discriminatory trade relations with trading partners.] [Sense of the Senate resolutions are nonbinding.]
Amendment offered by Hutchinson, R-AR.
(Resolution rejected 22-77 on 7/17/97)
- Require Congressional Approval of Trade Agreements
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to table an amendment to require Congressional approval of trade agreements that would change U.S. law.
S Joint Res 5: Resolution Waiving Certain Provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 Relating to the Appointment of the United States Trade Representative.
Vote on a motion to table, or kill, an amendment that would prohibit the U.S. from implementing any international trade agreements that would have the effect of amending or repealing U.S. law until the agreement is approved by Congress.
McCain, R-AZ, motion to table Hollings, D-SC, amendment.
(Tabling motion adopted 84-16 on 3/5/97)
Category: Regulatory Issues
- FDA Reform - Passage
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to pass a bill to reform the Food and Drug Administration.
S 830: FDA Modernization and Accountability Act of 1997
Vote to pass a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act. The bill includes provisions to: accelerate delivery of new treatments to people with life-threatening illnesses, overhaul review of medical devices, allow manufacturers to use the findings of federal scientific agencies other than the FDA in their product labels, reduce the amount of time the FDA must spend reviewing the safety of food packaging and allow the FDA to create national standards for cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs, among other provisions.
(Bill passed 98-2 on 9/24/97)
Category: Family and Children Issues
- Childcare
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to allow consideration of an amendment to expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, allow child care providers to deduct credentialing expenses, and allow mixed use of a home office for child care, among other provisions.
S 949: The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 [Budget Reconciliation - Taxes]
Vote on a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to allow consideration of an amendment regarding childcare. The amendment would expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit program, expand the Dependent Care Assistance Plan program, and extend the charitable deduction eligibility for businesses donating educational supplies and equipment to public schools, public child care providers, and public child care support agencies. The amendment would also allow child care providers to receive a full tax deduction for child care accreditation or credentialing expenses, and allow the mixed use of home office space for business and personal purposes to allow home office workers to care for their children.
Amendment offered by Jeffords, R-VT.
(Motion to waive the Budget Act rejected 57-42 on 6/27/97 [3/5ths vote required])
- Employer Childcare Tax Credit
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to allow consideration of an amendment providing a tax credit for companies that provide childcare for their employees.
S 949: The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 [Budget Reconciliation - Taxes]
Vote on a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to allow consideration of an amendment to provide a tax credit to companies that provide childcare for their employees.
Amendment offered by Kohl, D-WI.
(Motion to waive the Budget Act agreed to 72-28 on 6/27/97 [3/5ths vote required]; the amendment was then passed by voice vote)
Category: Agriculture Issues
- Market Access Program
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote to table an amendment to reduce funding for the Market Access Program, among other provisions.
S 1033: Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies Appropriations, 1998
Vote on a motion to table, or kill, an amendment to reduce funding for the Market Access Program for fiscal 1998 from $90 million to $70 million. The amendment would also prevent funds in the bill from being used for any market access or market promotion program that provides assistance to the U.S. Mink Export Development Council or any mink industry trade association, or any that provides assistance to foreign corporations. [The Market Access Program provides funds to trade associations and small businesses that advertise American agricultural products overseas.]
Cochran, R-MS, motion to table Bryan, D-NV, amendment.
(Tabling motion adopted 59-40 on 7/23/97)
Category: Foreign Aid and Policy Issues
- Chemical Weapons Convention - Compliance
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to delete a ratification condition to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty that would require that U.S. ratification be postponed until the president certifies that treaty compliance is effectively verifiable by the U.S. intelligence community.
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote on a motion to delete a condition of the resolution of ratification for the Chemical Weapons Convention providing that the Chemical Weapons Convention could not be ratified by the U.S. until the president certifies that the U.S. intelligence community has a high degree of confidence in its ability to detect militarily significant violations of the Convention, including the production, possession, or storage of militarily significant quantities of lethal chemicals in a timely fashion, and to detect patterns of marginal violation over time, so that treaty compliance is effectively verifiable.
Motion introduced by Biden, D-DE.
(Motion adopted 66-34 on 4/24/97)
- Chemical Weapons Convention - Inspectors
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to delete a ratification condition to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty that would require that the president use rights provided under the treaty to ban inspectors from nations suspected of supporting international terrorism, or from nations that have violated U.S. nonproliferation laws in the last five years, and prevent such nationals from visiting the U.S. for purposes associated with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote on a motion to delete a condition of the resolution of ratification for the Chemical Weapons Convention requiring the president to exercise rights provided under the Chemical Weapons Convention to ban compliance inspectors who are nationals of countries designated by the Secretary of State as supporters of international terrorism, or nationals of countries that have been determined to have violated U.S. nonproliferation laws within the past five years. The condition would also prevent such nationals from entering the U.S. for any activity associated with the Convention.
Motion introduced by Biden, D-DE.
(Motion adopted 56-44 on 4/24/97)
- Canadian Fishermen's Blockade
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote on a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the blockade of a U.S. ship in Canadian waters
S Res 109: Resolution Regarding the Canadian Blockade of a U.S. Vessel
Vote on a resolution to express the sense of the Senate in condemning the Government of Canada for its failure to accept responsibility for the illegal blockade of a U.S. vessel in Canada, and calling on the President to take appropriate action. [Sense of the Senate resolutions are non-binding.]
(Resolution adopted 81-19 on 7/23/97)
- U.N. Debt Payment
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on an amendment to pay the $819 million the U.S. owes the United Nations, without establishing any conditions.
S 903: The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act
Vote on a motion to adopt an amendment to authorize the payment of $819 million over two years to the United Nations to pay off the U.S. debt. [The amendment would replace language in the bill establishing conditions that must be met before payment to the U.N. is made.]
Motion introduced by Senator Lugar, R-IN.
(Amendment rejected 25-73 on 6/17/97)
- U.S. Residents with Close Relatives in Cuba
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on an amendment to allow U.S. residents with close relatives in Cuba to send them money and travel to Cuba for medical emergencies or funerals, and allow the U.S. to participate in multinational natural disaster relief efforts in Cuba.
S 955: Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998
Vote on an amendment to allow residents of the U.S. who have parents, siblings, spouses or children in Cuba to send up to $200 per month to be used for the purchase of basic necessities. The amendment would also allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to travel to Cuba for periods of up to 30 days to attend either a medical emergency or a funeral of a parent, sibling, spouse or child, and allow the U.S. government to participate in multilateral humanitarian relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster in Cuba.
Amendment offered by Bingaman, D-NM.
(Amendment rejected 38-61 on 7/17/97)
- CWC - Other Nations with Chemical Weapons
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to delete a ratification condition to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty that would require that U.S. ratification be postponed until nations with offensive chemical weapons programs or nations determined to be state sponsors of terrorism ratify the Convention.
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote on a motion to delete a condition of the resolution of ratification for the Chemical Weapons Convention providing that the Chemical Weapons Convention could not be ratified by the U.S. until the president certifies that countries that have been determined to have offensive chemical weapon programs, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, North Korea and China, and all other countries determined to be state sponsors of international terrorism have signed and ratified the Convention.
Motion introduced by Biden, D-DE.
(Motion adopted 71-29 on 4/24/97)
- Chemical Weapons Convention - Technology Transfer
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to delete a ratification condition to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty that would require that U.S. ratification be postponed until the Chemical Weapons Convention had been amended in two sections dealing with technology transfer of chemical activities and chemical weapon defenses.
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote on a motion to delete a condition of the resolution of ratification for the Chemical Weapons Convention providing that the Chemical Weapons Convention could not be ratified by the U.S. until the president certifies that the nations that have ratified the Convention have amended Article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention to take out any provision that states or implies disapproval of trade restrictions in the field of chemical activities, and deleted Article X. [Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention provides that nothing in the Chemical Weapons Convention would lessen the right of nations who have ratified the treaty to conduct research into, develop, produce, acquire, transfer or use means of protection against chemical weapons, for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, and provide that each ratifying nation will facilitate, and shall have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.]
Motion introduced by Biden, D-DE.
(Motion adopted 66-34 on 4/24/97)
- Chemical Weapons Convention - Russia
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote on a motion to delete a ratification condition to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty that would require that U.S. ratification be postponed until Russia has met four conditions, including ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a commitment to cease all chemical weapons activity.
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote on a motion to delete a condition of the resolution of ratification for the Chemical Weapons Convention providing that the Chemical Weapons Convention could not be ratified by the U.S. until the president certifies that Russia is making reasonable progress in the implementation of the 1990 US-Russia Bilateral Destruction Agreement; has complied with the 1989 Wyoming Memorandum of Understanding; has ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention; and is committed to ending all chemical weapons activity.
Motion introduced by Biden, D-DE.
(Motion adopted 66-34 on 4/24/97)
- Chemical Weapons Convention - Ratification
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention
S Exec Res 75: Ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
Vote to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention that was signed by the U.S. on January 13th, 1993.
(Treaty ratified 74-26 [2/3rd vote required] on 4/24/97)
- National Endowment for Democracy
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote to table an amendment to provide $30 million for the National Endowment for Democracy by decreasing the State Department's Capital Investment account.
S 1022: Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations, 1998
Vote on a motion to table, or kill, an amendment to provide $30 million for a grant through the U.S. Information Agency to the National Endowment for Democracy by reducing the State Department's Capital Investment account from $105 million to $75 million. [The National Endowment for Democracy is a private, nonprofit, grant-making organization that works to strengthen democratic institutions around the world.]
Stevens, R-AK, motion to table Lugar, R-IN, amendment.
(Tabling motion rejected 27-72 on 7/24/97, and the amendment was then passed by voice vote on 7/24/97)
Category: Energy Issues
- Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Passage
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote to pass a bill to require the development of a integrated management system for the storage, permanent disposal, and transportation of nuclear waste, among other provisions.
S 104: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Vote to pass a bill requiring the development of an integrated management system for the storage, permanent disposal, and transportation of nuclear waste. Among other provisions, the bill would require that the president determine, by March of 1999, whether Yucca Mountain in Nevada would be an acceptable permanent repository for nuclear waste. If Yucca Mountain is approved, then an interim storage facility would be constructed within the Nevada Test Site area. If Yucca Mountain is not approved as a permanent repository site, then the president would have 18 months to designate an interim nuclear waste storage facility [the bill exempts three particular sites from consideration as interim sites under this provision]. If another interim site is not selected and approved by law within two years of the disapproval of Yucca Mountain, then the interim storage facility would be constructed within the Nevada Test Site area.
(Bill passed 65-34 on 4/15/97)
- Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Oak Ridge
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote on an amendment to prevent Oak Ridge Reservation from being designated a temporary nuclear waste storage site if a permanent site at Yucca Mountain is not established.
S 104: Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Vote on an amendment to exempt the Oak Ridge Nuclear Reservation in Tennessee from consideration as a temporary nuclear waste storage facility in the event that the president determines that Yucca Mountain, Nevada would not be an appropriate permanent storage site and an alternative temporary site must be designated.
Amendment introduced by Thompson, T-TN.
(Amendment adopted 60-33 on 4/10/97)
- Methanol and Ethanol Tax Credits
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted NO.
Vote on an amendment to eliminate the bill's extension of methanol and ethanol tax credits through 2007.
S 949: The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 [Budget Reconciliation - Taxes]
Vote on a motion to adopt an amendment to eliminate the section of the bill [S 949] that extends tax credits for ethanol and methanol producers through 2007. [Ethanol and methanol are grain-based alcohol fuel additives.]
Amendment offered by McCain, R-AZ.
(Amendment rejected 30-69 on 6/27/97)
- Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Transportation of Waste
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Ban the transport of nuclear waste across state lines without the consent of the governor.
S 104: Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Vote to table, or kill, an amendment that would ban any spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste being transported to a temporary or permanent storage facility from crossing state lines without the consent of the governor of the state being entered.
Murkowski, R-AK, motion to table Reid, D-NV, amendment.
(Amendment tabled 72-24 on 4/10/97)
- Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Facility Sites
(Complete Information)
John Kerry voted YES.
Vote to prevent certain sites from being exempted from consideration as temporary nuclear waste facilities.
S 104: Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Vote on an amendment that would delete the provisions of the bill that would allow certain sites [including the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington and the Oak Ridge Nuclear Reservation in Tennessee] to be exempted from consideration as a temporary nuclear waste storage facility in the event that the president determines that Yucca Mountain, Nevada would not be an appropriate permanent storage site and an alternativeb temporary site must be designated.
Amendment introduced by Bingaman, D-NM.
(Amendment rejected 36-56 on 4/10/97)