Voting 244-185, members approved the conference report on a bill providing net tax cuts of nearly $70 billion over five years. The bill would extend through 2010 the 15 percent rate for capital gains and dividends, saving taxpayers $21 billion, and protect some 15 million middle-income taxpayers against the alternative minimum tax in 2006, saving them nearly $34 billion. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting 190-234, the House defeated a Democratic alternative to the tax-cut bill. The substitute sought to strip the bill of tax cuts on capital gains and dividends but retain, and increase, alternative minimum tax relief for middle-income taxpayers. A yes vote backed the Democratic plan.

Voting 191-237, the House refused to overturn a 10-year-old policy that keeps U.S. servicewomen from receiving privately financed abortions at U.S. military hospitals abroad. The amendment was proposed to the 2007 defense authorization bill. A yes vote was to overturn the ban.

Voting 396-31, the House approved a $462.9 billion military budget for fiscal 2007, up 4.5 percent from the comparable 2006 bill. Additionally, the bill provides $50 billion for war in Iraq and Afghanistan, raising total outlays there to more than $377 billion since Sept. 11, 2001. The bill funds a 2.7 percent military pay raise; adds 30,000 active duty troops to the Army and 5,000 to the Marines; authorizes a full-strength Army National Guard at 350,000 soldiers; and authorizes $9.3 billion for the National Missile Defense. The bill funds technology for jamming the radio signals used to detonate roadside bombs, and funds more protective armor for U.S. personnel and Humvees. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting 252-171, the House authorized the U.S. military to help the Department of Homeland Security control U.S. borders in non-emergency situations, if asked to do so. A yes vote backed the amendment.

Voting 202-220, the House defeated a Democratic motion to stop the Department of Defense from reducing military death benefits for surviving spouses by the amount received in Veterans Affairs dependency and indemnity compensation. The vote affirmed a policy that lowers Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments by the amount of VA compensation. A yes vote was to end the subtraction policy.

Voting 54-44, senators sent President Bush the bill yielding nearly $70 billion in net tax cuts over five years. A yes vote backed the conference report.

Voting 48-42, the Senate failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a GOP bill to restrict medical malpractice lawsuits by capping jury awards for non-economic damages, narrowing the period for filing lawsuits and limiting lawyers' contingency fees at 15 percent. The bill would federalize state tort laws. It would cap pain-and-suffering awards and punitive damages — now unlimited — at $250,000, or $750,000 in some instances. A yes vote was to advance the bill.

Voting 55-43, the Senate failed reach the 60 votes needed to advance a bill empowering small businesses to band together across state lines to form federally regulated health-insurance plans for their employees. The bill was disputed over its pre-emption of state consumer-protection and health-insurance laws. A yes vote was to advance the bill.

The House will debate bills on fiscal 2007 appropriations and U.S. Forest Service policies, while the Senate will resume work on an immigration bill.

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