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A bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes.

Public Law 111-98 · S. 509 · 111th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Nov 11, 2009 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 352 yea, 0 nay352–0
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington.

Authorizes appropriations.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 111th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 352 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

352 yea0 nay80 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(204)

  • Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
  • Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
  • Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
  • Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
  • Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
  • Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
  • Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
  • Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
  • Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
  • Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
  • Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
  • Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
  • Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
  • Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
  • Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
  • Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
  • Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Judy ChuD-CA-32
  • Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
  • Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
  • Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
  • Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
  • Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
  • Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
  • Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
  • Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
  • Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
  • Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
  • Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
  • Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
  • Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
  • Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
  • Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
  • Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
  • Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
  • Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
  • Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
  • Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
  • Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
  • Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
  • Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
  • Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
  • Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
  • Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
  • Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
  • Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
  • Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
  • Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
  • Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
  • Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
  • Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
  • Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
  • Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
  • Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
  • Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
  • Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
  • Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
  • Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
  • Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
  • Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
  • Rep. Steve KagenD-WI-8
  • Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
  • Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
  • Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
  • Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
  • Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
  • Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
  • Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
  • Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
  • Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Alan GraysonD-FL-8
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
  • Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
  • Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
  • Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
  • Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
  • Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
  • Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
  • Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
  • Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
  • Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
  • Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
  • Rep. David WuD-OR-1
  • Rep. Mary Jo KilroyD-OH-15
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
  • Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
  • Rep. Mike QuigleyD-IL-5
  • Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
  • Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
  • Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
  • Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
  • Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
  • Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
  • Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
  • Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
  • Rep. Joe SestakD-PA-7
  • Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
  • Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
  • Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
  • Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
  • Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
  • Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
  • Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
  • Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
  • Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
  • Rep. Daniel MaffeiD-NY-25
  • Rep. Dina TitusD-NV-3
  • Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
  • Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
  • Rep. Mark SchauerD-MI-7
  • Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
  • Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
  • Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
  • Rep. Paul HodesD-NH-2
  • Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
  • Rep. Eric MassaD-NY-29
  • Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
  • Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
  • Rep. Betsy MarkeyD-CO-4
  • Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
  • Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
  • Rep. Steve DriehausD-OH-1
  • Rep. Deborah HalvorsonD-IL-11
  • Rep. John BoccieriD-OH-16
  • Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
  • Rep. Kathleen DahlkemperD-PA-3
  • Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
  • Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
  • Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
  • Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
  • Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
  • Rep. Suzanne KosmasD-FL-24
  • Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
  • Rep. Michael McMahonD-NY-13
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
  • Rep. Charles MelanconD-LA-3
  • Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-8
  • Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
  • Rep. Thomas PerrielloD-VA-5
  • Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
  • Rep. John AdlerD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Scott MurphyD-NY-20
  • Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
  • Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
  • Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
  • Rep. Ann KirkpatrickD-AZ-1
  • Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
  • Rep. Frank KratovilD-MD-1
  • Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
  • Rep. Glenn NyeD-VA-2
  • Rep. Travis ChildersD-MS-1
  • Rep. Harry MitchellD-AZ-5
  • Rep. Bobby BrightD-AL-2
  • Rep. Walter MinnickD-ID-1

Republicans who voted yea(148)

  • Rep. Joseph CaoR-LA-2
  • Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
  • Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
  • Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
  • Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
  • Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
  • Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10
  • Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
  • Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
  • Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
  • Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
  • Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
  • Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
  • Rep. Leonard LanceR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
  • Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
  • Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
  • Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
  • Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
  • Rep. Christopher LeeR-NY-26
  • Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
  • Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-5
  • Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2
  • Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
  • Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
  • Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
  • Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
  • Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
  • Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
  • Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
  • Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
  • Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
  • Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-50
  • Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
  • Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
  • Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
  • Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
  • Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
  • Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
  • Rep. Parker GriffithD-AL-5
  • Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
  • Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
  • Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
  • Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4
  • Rep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3
  • Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
  • Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
  • Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
  • Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
  • Rep. Steve AustriaR-OH-7
  • Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
  • Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
  • Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3
  • Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
  • Rep. Thomas RooneyR-FL-16
  • Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
  • Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
  • Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
  • Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
  • Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
  • Rep. Mary FallinR-OK-5
  • Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
  • Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
  • Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-9
  • Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
  • Rep. Bill CassidyR-LA-6
  • Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
  • Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
  • Rep. Dean HellerR-NV-2
  • Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
  • Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
  • Rep. John FlemingR-LA-4
  • Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
  • Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
  • Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
  • Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
  • Rep. Lynn JenkinsR-KS-2
  • Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
  • Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Pete OlsonR-TX-22
  • Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
  • Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
  • Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
  • Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
  • Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6
  • Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
  • Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
  • Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
  • Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
  • Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
  • Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
  • Rep. Michele BachmannR-MN-6
  • Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
  • Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
  • Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
  • Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
  • Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
  • Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
  • Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
  • Rep. Louie GohmertR-TX-1
  • Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
  • Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
  • Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
  • Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
  • Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
  • Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
  • Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
  • Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
  • Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
  • Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
  • Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
  • Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
  • Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
  • Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
  • Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
  • Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
  • Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. Cynthia LummisR-WY
  • Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
  • Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
  • Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
  • Rep. Jason ChaffetzR-UT-3
  • Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
  • Rep. Tom McClintockR-CA-4
  • Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
  • Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-3
  • Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 832 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

The record lists no related bills.

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

  1. Nov 11, 2009Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 111-98.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 4, 2009FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 2, 2009FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 0 (Roll no. 834).House roll call 834
  6. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  7. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 509.
  9. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Walz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
  12. Jul 16, 2009FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  13. FloorFloor · Received in the House.
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  15. Jul 15, 2009FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  17. Mar 2, 2009CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  18. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

No amendments to this bill are on record.

Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.