Recent House Votes:

FDA User Fee Reauthorization - Vote Passed (387-5, 39 Not Voting), Roll Call No. 294

Fresh on the heels of Senate passage, the House last week passed its version of FDA user fee legislation with a show of overwhelming support. The bill would reauthorize the FDA to impose user fees on drug and device manufacturers for five years. Unlike the Senate bill, there was little controversy surrounding the reauthorization in the House, as evidenced by the final vote tally. The bill was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. At this point the House and Senate will move to conference to iron out a few minor differences. Both chambers have reportedly set a goal of July 4 for getting a final product to the president’s desk.

Sex-Selective Abortion Ban - Vote Failed (246-168, 17 Not Voting), Roll Call No. 299

Occasioning considerably more controversy than the FDA bill, the House also considered legislation to criminalize the administering or facilitating of abortions based on the sex of the fetus. The practice, known as sex-selective abortion, has long been associated with countries such as China and India, where social and economic pressures can lead to families to abort females at much higher rates than males. Republicans contend that this practice has reached the United States; Democrats say there is insufficient evidence and that a blanket ban would be unenforceable in any case. Despite garnering majority support, the measure failed because it was considered under suspension of the rules.

Intelligence Authorization - Vote Passed (386-28, 17 Not Voting), Roll Call No. 301

The House passed legislation to authorize funding for the 16 intelligence agencies last week. Although total funding levels are classified, the bill would fund agencies such as the CIA and National Security Agency at a level above President Obama’s request of $71.8 billion, according to Intelligence committee chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich. and ranking member C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md. A handful of amendments were adopted during debate, including one offered by Michigan Democrat John Conyers, Jr. to require a report from the director of national intelligence on the consequences of a military strike against Iran. The Senate has not yet moved on its authorization bill, but action is expected at the committee level sometime this summer.

Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations - Vote Passed (407-12, 12 Not Voting), Roll Call No. 305

The House passed its second FY13 appropriations bill last week, providing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and for military construction and housing. The bill would provide $71.7 billion in discretionary funds, including $60.6 billion for the VA and $10.6 billion for base construction and military family housing. A provision forbidding agencies from using project labor agreements (PLA) for construction projects was removed from the bill by an amendment from Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y. (Roll Call #302). The PLA language was controversial among most Democrats and a handful of Republicans; its removal sped passage of what is usually a strongly bipartisan bill. President Obama threatened to veto the bill because the House GOP has set total FY13 appropriations levels below what had been agreed to in last year’s debt-ceiling standoff. Because the House kept funding levels in this bill constant with last year, deeper cuts will be necessary in other appropriations bills, which the administration views as unacceptable.

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Unlike anti-war protests under President Bush, this year’s rally lacked a clear target.

Hundreds of activists marched in front of the White House Saturday, but many of them stopped short of blaming President Obama for the continuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The crowd, a lot smaller than in years past, instead targeted military contractors, Republicans, and the media.

“Follow the money, it all leads to corporate greed,” sang a group of senior activists called the Raging Grannies at one point.

Activists seemed split on where to direct their ire. They marched towards the offices of military contractor Halliburton, the Washington Post, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Veterans Administration.

“We’re against the policy not the president,” said Brian Becker of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, which organized the rally. He added that “many of Obama’s supporters have become more disenchanted month by month.”

Some of the speakers at Saturday’s event to mark the seventh anniversary of Iraq took a harsher tone: Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and activist Cindy Sheehan said President Obama, who said the Iraq war was a mistake during the campaign, was continuing on the path of his predecessor.

“What’s the difference except for rhetoric?” Nader said.

But among the crowd, the mood was different. A handful of people wore Obama campaign t-shirts. Shirley Allan carried a sign that read, “President Obama we love you but we must tell you your hands are getting bloody.”

“It’s only been one year. He still has a chance to do something different,” said Moises, an Arlington, Va., resident who declined to give his last name. His shirt said, “Obama ’08. Let the force be with him.”

Veteran protester Peter Coleman said many people who are against the wars are afraid to speak up against a Democratic president they may have helped elect.

“People don’t want to go after Obama,” Coleman said. He and his wife drove from Staten Island, N.Y., to attend their eighth consecutive anti-war rally. They said the crowd was noticeably smaller than in years past.

The couple said they don’t see any difference between the war policies of the Democrats and Republicans. But instead of shouting slogans at the White House, the couple sprawled out on the grass and enjoyed the warm weather.

The change in administration may partly be why this year’s protest had a festive rather than angry air. People sat about catching up with old friends. Some perused bookstalls set up by various liberal groups ranging from socialist parties to “Free Palestine” student organizations.

A group of high school and college students from the Northeast beat drums to songs such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Tony Stuck was riding his bike past the White House when he stopped to check out the protest.

Stuck, a resident of Alexandria, Va., said he was confused about the message. He too opposes the wars but said that he believed Obama was taking the right steps to end it.

“Everything is more complicated than it seems,” he said. “If we could hit the stop button on the war, great, but I think we have to trust that he’s doing the right thing.”