Connecticut
JA

James A. Himes

D

U.S. Representative · Connecticut

Last updated

May 11, 2026

Next election

November 2026

Votes cast

946

On record

Bills sponsored

0

Including co-sponsored

Ledger entries

946

All actions

Policy pillars — derived from activity record

Electoral integrity

16 actions

Himes supports electoral transparency and ballot tracking measures while opposing citizenship verification requirements and restrictions on voting access, reflecting a tension between integrity safeguards and voting inclusivity priorities.

Criminal justice

48 actions

Himes supports enhanced drug enforcement and human trafficking prevention while opposing measures that expand criminal penalties, restrict accountability, or lower juvenile trial ages, reflecting a selective approach to criminal justice reform.

Fiscal policy

89 actions

Himes shows inconsistent fiscal policy positions, supporting revenue-enhancing measures and discretionary spending while opposing mechanisms for spending reduction and reallocation.

Healthcare

34 actions

Himes shows conflicting healthcare priorities, supporting expansions in specialized areas like pediatric research and rural access while opposing provisions that reduce emergency healthcare funding and maternal health support.

Education

27 actions

Himes supports parental transparency and student support initiatives in education but opposes certain workforce training and financial aid efficiency measures.

Economy and labor

48 actions

Himes demonstrates a consistent commitment to facilitating small business growth and economic opportunity through deregulation and expanded access to capital while supporting strategic trade policies that protect American competitive interests.

Environment and energy

163 actions

Himes demonstrates a strong pro-environment voting record, consistently supporting measures that strengthen pollution controls, protect ecosystems, and advance clean energy initiatives while occasionally accepting trade-offs between environmental review processes and renewable energy development.

Immigration

51 actions

Himes's votes on immigration show no consistent ideological pattern, with support and opposition distributed across both restrictive and permissive immigration measures.

National security and foreign policy

188 actions

Himes shows a generally pro-national security orientation with selective opposition to certain Iran-related measures and State Department funding, suggesting a complex approach that prioritizes some security initiatives while questioning others.

Civil rights and liberties

46 actions

Himes demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing civil rights protections, particularly regarding discrimination and violence prevention, while showing inconsistency on free speech restrictions when applied to political accountability measures.

Social policy

24 actions

Himes demonstrates consistent support for expansive social welfare policies, veteran benefits, child protection programs, and vulnerable population services with only isolated opposition to welfare spending restrictions.

Technology and data

34 actions

Himes demonstrates consistent support for technology innovation and development while favoring regulatory frameworks that protect consumers and national security interests in digital markets.

Civil liberties and government power

7 actions

Himes demonstrates a consistent willingness to defer to government authority over civil liberties protections, opposing restrictions on government surveillance powers and judicial oversight while resisting transparency constraints on executive discretion.

Government accountability and transparency

139 actions

Himes demonstrates a consistent pattern of supporting mechanisms that create public records of official conduct and congressional oversight of executive power, despite opposing several bills that would have expanded transparency requirements.

Infrastructure and public investment

28 actions

Himes demonstrates consistent support for federal infrastructure investment across transportation, utilities, broadband, water systems, and space exploration initiatives.

Activity ledger — most recent first

Jul 17, 2025

Himes spoke for one minute to welcome Reverend Dr. Lindsay Curtis, who opened the House with a prayer, and praised Curtis's leadership of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, and his community service work.

On the record

Apr 8, 2025

Himes addressed the House for 5 minutes to discuss the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on families like the Currans, specifically referencing a 14-year-old constituent with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

On the record

Feb 4, 2025

Himes spoke on the House floor for 5 minutes in support of the FBI, defending its agents and operations while opposing what he characterized as attacks and purges of FBI leadership and personnel.

On the record

Jan 23, 2025

Himes spoke on the House floor about the January 6th Capitol riot and the new President's decision to pardon participants in the attack, including those involved in assaults on 140 police officers.

On the record

Dec 18, 2024

Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 — This bill advances government transparency by requiring the Department of Agriculture to report to Congress on threats to agriculture and natural resources.

Government accountability and transparencyEthics and financial disclosure↗ Source
Voted yes

Dec 18, 2024

DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024 — This bill supports national security by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to develop better technology for detecting dangerous drugs at borders and ports of entry.

National security and foreign policyDefense spending↗ Source
Voted yes

Dec 18, 2024

Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act — This bill advances Native American sovereignty and self-determination by transferring land to tribal control, supporting the civil right of indigenous peoples to govern their own territories.

Civil rights and libertiesVoting rights↗ Source
Voted yes

Dec 17, 2024

Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 — This bill supports Holocaust education programs by extending federal authorization and funding for educational initiatives through 2030.

EducationK-12 funding and standards↗ Source
Voted yes

Dec 17, 2024

Midnight Rules Relief Act — This bill makes it easier for Congress to overturn multiple regulations at once during presidential transitions, which could reduce executive branch accountability by allowing rapid reversal of rules without individual scrutiny.

Government accountability and transparencyEthics and financial disclosure↗ Source
Voted no

Dec 11, 2024

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 — This bill extends and updates federal programs that protect endangered wildlife species and their habitats through conservation funding and partnerships.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted yes

Dec 11, 2024

Increasing Baseline Updates Act — This bill would advance government transparency by requiring the Congressional Budget Office to publish more frequent budget projections and disclose the economic data behind their calculations.

Government accountability and transparencyEthics and financial disclosure↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 21, 2024

Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act — This bill streamlines the permitting process for dredging and filling activities in U.S. waters, potentially making it easier to conduct these projects but risking reduced environmental protections.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted no

Mar 21, 2024

Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 — This bill strengthens national security by reducing Chinese government influence over U.S. shipping infrastructure and giving federal authorities more power to prevent foreign manipulation of maritime commerce.

National security and foreign policyDefense spending↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 21, 2024

Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. — This bill opposes a carbon tax as economically harmful, taking a stance against a potential revenue-raising or economy-regulating tax policy.

Fiscal policyFederal and state taxation↗ Source
Voted no

Mar 21, 2024

Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes. — This bill opposes environmental regulations on energy production and federal lands while promoting increased domestic fossil fuel development.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted no

Mar 20, 2024

Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted no

Mar 20, 2024

Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 20, 2024

Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted no

Mar 20, 2024

Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.

Environment and energyClimate legislation↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 19, 2024

Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. — This bill strengthens the U.S. position on a major foreign conflict by formally condemning Russian actions against Ukrainian children and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

National security and foreign policyDefense spending↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 19, 2024

Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act — This bill uses sanctions to protect the stability and democracy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, advancing U.S. foreign policy interests in maintaining peace in a strategically important region.

National security and foreign policyDefense spending↗ Source
Voted yes

Mar 13, 2024

Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — This bill would restrict or ban applications controlled by foreign adversaries like China from operating in the United States to protect national security and prevent foreign surveillance of Americans.

National security and foreign policyDefense spending↗ Source
Voted no

Feb 29, 2024

Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024 — This bill extends federal funding and authorization for airport infrastructure programs and aviation services, supporting continued public investment in transportation infrastructure.

Infrastructure and public investmentTransportation and roads↗ Source
Voted yes

Feb 29, 2024

Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024 — This bill authorizes federal spending to keep government operating and funds student aid programs, representing a decision to maintain current spending levels rather than make cuts or increases.

Fiscal policyFederal and state taxation↗ Source
Voted yes

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