Here's how area members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Oct. 23.

COAST GUARD BUDGET: Voting 385 for and 11 against, the House on Oct. 23 passed a bill (HR 3619) 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. Cruise operators would be required to report alleged crimes to the FBI and Coast Guard, publish crime data online, establish procedures to assist victims and have at least one crew member trained to investigate crime scenes.

The bill sets tougher safety rules for commercial fishing vessels that operate beyond three nautical miles of the U.S. coast, including a requirement for crew training every five years in preventing and surviving collisions. Additionally, the bill authorizes $70 million over five years for Arctic-shipping programs in areas such as icebreaking, navigation, and preventing oil spills.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Tim Walz, D-1, John

Kline, R-2, Erik Paulsen, R-3, Betty McCollum,

D-4, Keith Ellison, D-5, Michele Bachmann, R-6,

Collin Peterson, D-7, James Oberstar, D-8