Royce voted in line with President Trump's position in 97.9% of the votes in the
115th United States Congress. For the
114th United States Congress, Royce was ranked as the 27th most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives (and the most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California) in the Bipartisan Index created by
The Lugar Center and the
McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party). Over his career, Royce has received nearly $7 million from PACs. In the 2016 race, he raised over $4.2 million and spent over $3.5 million. with 40 percent being considered a passing score. Royce's website highlights support from
conservative groups such as
60 Plus and business organizations such as the
National Taxpayers Union and
Citizens Against Government Waste. He received praise from the American Share Holders Association,
Citizens for a Sound Economy, and the Small Business Survival Committee. For the 113th Congress, the Washington Post named Royce as one of the “10 most effective lawmakers in the U.S. Congress”, citing his authorship of the Global Anti-Poaching Act (H.R. 2494) and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (H.R. 2297).
Domestic policy Royce's voting record, his scores on VoteMatch, and ratings by the
Cato Institute indicate mixed or moderate positions on
free trade,
privatization of
social security, campaign finance,
Banking deregulation, business issues One of Royce's early signature issues was banking deregulation. He has sponsored legislation on
tax policy, small businesses, and credit. Many of his biggest campaign contributors have been banks: his five top contributors in 2006 were Credit Union National Assn, Irvine Co., Wells Fargo, Orange County Teachers Fed Credit Union, and GUS plc. He is among the representatives receiving the largest percentage of their campaign contributions from the banking industry. On November 13, 2013, Royce introduced the
Credit Union Share Insurance Fund Parity Act (H.R. 3468; 113th Congress) into the House. The bill would expand federal deposit insurance to include
Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTAs) and similar escrow accounts housed within credit unions.
Cannabis Royce has a "C" rating from
NORML regarding his voting record on
cannabis-related matters. He voted against allowing veterans access to
medical marijuana, if legal in their state, per their Veterans Health Administration doctor's recommendation.
Guns Royce had a "A" rating from the
NRA Political Victory Fund regarding his voting record on
gun-related matters. In the wake of the 2016
Orlando nightclub shooting, Royce posted on Facebook: "We need to defeat the terrorists and make it our top national security priority to prevail in the war against radical
Islamic extremism."
Taxes and budgets He has received 14 "Taxpayer Friend Awards" from the National Taxpayers' Union. Royce opposes funding for the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Royce has posited that these overseas investments expose taxpayers to a serious potential liability, just like the S&L crisis did.
Victims' rights Royce sponsored anti-stalking legislation signed into law by President Bill Clinton, which was based on legislation Royce had authored as a California State Senator. In 2003, he sponsored another bill as US representative related to victims.
Health care On May 4, 2017, he voted to repeal the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the
American Health Care Act.
Foreign policy In
foreign policy, Royce's voting record has earned a 0% rating from the peace organization
SANE.
Iran nuclear agreement In 2016, Royce criticized the Iran nuclear agreement and Obama administration harshly, saying the deal was "a financial windfall” for Iran and a "a cash bonanza, a boost to its international standing, and a lighted path toward nuclear weapons." He called for re-introducing sanctions on Iran. Later, in 2017, after Donald Trump had become president, Royce said that he was in favor of staying in the Iran nuclear agreement.
North Korea and House Speaker
Newt Gingrich face
North Korea from the
Joint Security Area in 1997 Royce serves as a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia. He and has been especially involved in policy regarding North Korea, working on issues such as human rights, counterfeiting of U.S. currency, nuclear proliferation, and stopping repatriation of refugees. Royce's district includes
Fullerton, which has a large population of Korean immigrants. During a slow-rolling crisis in 2017 between the US and North Korea, Royce introduced legislation expanding sanctions against North Korea and requiring that its designation as a state sponsor of terror be reinstated.
Conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen Royce was a supporter of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2002, he voted in favor of authorizing
President George W. Bush to use force in Iraq. In 2003, he voted yes on an emergency appropriation of $78 billion for the
wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. In 2005, he voted against Amendment 214 to HR 1815, which called on Bush to develop a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq; in favor of Amendment 488 to HR 2601 to keep troops in Iraq; and in favor of HR 612 opposing a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. In 2006, he voted for HR 861, a resolution labeling the war in Iraq as part of a
global war against terrorism. Royce had a mixed voting record on the 2011
US involvement in Libya. In 2015, he supported the
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.
Genocide in Myanmar In 2018, Royce condemned the
genocide of the
Rohingya Muslim minority in
Myanmar and called for a stronger response to the crisis, saying that "Defining these atrocities for what they are is critical to building international public awareness – and support – to stop them."
Africa Royce was formerly chair of the Africa Subcommittee. He co-led, with
Colin Powell, a delegation to observe
Nigeria's
historic elections in 1999 and led a delegation to
Darfur to bring attention to the ongoing
genocide in 2005 and led efforts in the House to bring
Charles Taylor, the former
President of Liberia, to stand trial before the Special Court of
Sierra Leone.
Legislation On April 26, 2013, Royce introduced the
North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1771; 113th Congress), a bill that would increase U.S. sanctions on
North Korea. Royce said that "by shutting down North Korea's illicit activities, we deprive the Kim regime of the money he needs to pay his generals and to conduct nuclear weapons research." Royce also argued that "North Korea is undoubtedly one of the most significant security threats that we here face and our allies face." On November 13, 2013, Royce introduced the
Taiwan Relations Act Affirmation and Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2014 (H.R. 3470; 113th Congress) into the House. The bill would allow the sale of several
Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates to
Mexico,
Thailand, and
Taiwan. Mexico and Thailand would each receive two vessels as a grant. Royce also said that "these transfers help support the priorities of the U.S. Navy while strengthening the capability of allies and our close partners to meet our share maritime security objectives." ==Awards and honors==