Democrats' health bill: Voting 220-215, the House passed a bill, HR 3962, that would provide affordable medical insurance to about 36 million uncovered U.S. residents while overhauling insurance-industry practices in ways that benefit the sick. Halvorson: Yes Biggert: No Foster: Yes

Republicans' health bill: In a 258-176 vote, the House rejected a Republican alternative to HR 3962 that would grant states tens of billions of dollars over ten years as an incentive for them to expand health-insurance coverage and reduce insurance premiums for their residents. The bill would cover up to five million uninsured. Halvorson: No Biggert: Yes Foster: No Dispute over abortion: House members voted 240-194 to amend HR 3962 and prohibit the bill's public option from funding abortions and bar those with premiums subsidized by taxpayers from buying private policies that contain abortion coverage. The amendment was backed by pro-life groups and opposed by pro-choice groups. Halvorson: No Biggert: Yes Foster: No Medical-malpractice suits: The House voted 247-187 and defeated a Republican motion to add limits on medical-malpractice suits to HR 3962. The underlying bill would fund state efforts to reduce the cost of "defensive medicine" practiced by doctors to fend off lawsuits. Republicans sought a noneconomic damage award cap. Halvorson: No Biggert: Yes Foster: No Judge Andre Davis: Voting 72-16, the Senate confirmed federal Judge Andre M. Davis, 60, of the Maryland District Court, for a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This gives Democratic appointees a 6-to-5 margin on the Richmond-based court, which hears appeals from federal courts in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Durbin: Yes Burris: Yes

Interior department budget: Voting 247-178, the House approved the conference report on a bill to appropriate $32.2 billion for the Department of the Interior and other agencies in fiscal 2010. The figure is nearly 17 percent above 2009 outlays, with most of the increase allocated to restoring the Great Lakes, helping communities provide clean drinking water, suppressing wildfires and addressing climate change. Halvorson: Yes Biggert: No Foster: Yes

Coast Guard budget: Voting 385-11, the House passed a bill authorizing $10 billion for the Coast Guard in fiscal 2010, about two-thirds of which would fund core missions such as conducting searches and rescues, combating drug smugglers and defending the U.S. coast against terrorist threats. The bill, which increases Coast Guard personnel by 1,500 positions to a force of 47,000, awaits Senate action. The bill requires the 125 to 150 cruise ships that enter U.S. ports to do a better job of preventing or responding to sexual assaults on passengers. Halvorson: Yes Foster: Yes