Here's how area members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Jan. 26.

HOUSE

STOPGAP FUNDING TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT: Voting 266 for and 150 against, the House on Jan. 22 joined the Senate (below) 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.

South Carolina voting yes: Mark Sanford, Joe Wilson, Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Ralph Norman, Tom Rice

Voting no: James Clyburn

 

SENATE

TEMPORARY FUNDING TO END SHUTDOWN: Voting 81 for and 18 against, the Senate on Jan. 22 passed 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-old partial government shutdown.

South Carolina voting yes: Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott

Voting no: None

 

ALEX AZAR, HEALTH SECRETARY: Voting 55 for and 43 against, the Senate on Jan. 24 confirmed 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.

South Carolina voting yes: Graham, Scott

Voting no: None

 

JEROME POWELL, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR: Voting 84 for and 13 against, the Senate on Jan. 23 confirmed 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.

South Carolina voting yes: Graham

Voting no: None

Not voting: Scott

 

SAM BROWNBACK, AMBASSADOR AT LARGE: Voting 50 for and 49 against, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the decisive vote, the Senate on Jan. 24 confirmed 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.

South Carolina voting yes: Graham, Scott

Voting no: None

 

The Senate will vote on an anti-abortion bill and judicial nominations in the week of Jan. 29, while the House schedule was to be announced.