Here is how our House members voted on select issues during the legislative weeks ending June 28, as reported by Targeted News Service. Click here for previous votes.
Michael Lawler (R), District 17 (including Philipstown)
Lawler, 37, was elected to Congress in 2022. From 2021 to 2022, he was a Republican member of the state Assembly from the 97th district in Rockland County. A graduate of Suffern High School, he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Manhattan College. He is a former director of the state Republican Party and former deputy supervisor of Orangetown.
Pat Ryan (D), District 18 (including Beacon)
Ryan, 41, was elected to Congress in 2022. Formerly the county executive of Ulster, he grew up in Kingston and holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in security studies from Georgetown. Ryan served in the U.S. Army as a combat intelligence officer from 2004 to 2009, including two tours in Iraq. He is also a former technology executive.
Democracy in Pakistan
The House on June 25, by a 368-7 vote, passed a resolution (H. Res. 901), sponsored by Rep. Richard McCormick (R-Ga.), to call for the bolstering of democracy, human rights and free and fair elections in Pakistan. McCormick said: “The people of Pakistan must have their rights respected and their voices heard.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Korean Family Relations
The House on June 25, by a 375-8 vote, passed the Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act (H.R. 7152), sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Wexton, (D-Va.). The bill would direct the State Department to gather information about Korean Americans seeking to be reunited with family members in North Korea and press North Korea’s government to allow such reunions. Wexton said the measure “will help Korean Americans reconnect with the families they left behind in North Korea decades ago in the wake of the Korean war.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Relations with Latin America
The House on June 25, by a 368-19 vote, passed the American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act (H.R. 2789), sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), to require the State Department to conduct studies of potential cooperation with Mexico on trafficking in fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, and expanded financial access to Caribbean countries. Stanton said the bill “would foster sustained and strategic collaboration to fight the fentanyl crisis, ensuring that we are using our resources and local expertise wisely.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Homeland Security Secretary
The House on June 26, by a 193-173 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding to pay the salary of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Biggs said Mayorkas has “incentivized literally millions of people to come into this country. That is the lawlessness that has brought people to their knees in many communities around this country.” An opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) said Mayorkas “has served in his role admirably and has been an honorable public servant for decades.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Elections and Voter Registration
The House on June 26, by a 207-206 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tenn.) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding for implementation of most of an executive order issued by President Biden that directed various federal government agencies to work with private groups on voter registration and elections. Ogles said: “Congress has never granted the administration any authority to approve such groups or specified any criteria for doing so. This executive order is illegal.” An amendment opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), said the order merely sought to “help ensure that all Americans can exercise their right to vote.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Deporting Palestinians
The House on June 26, by a 204-203 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tenn.), to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding for implementation of a February directive from President Biden to delay deportation orders for some Palestinians living in the U.S. Ogles said delayed deportation would “keep thousands of Hamas sympathizers in the United States.” An opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), said deportation would mean Palestinian civilians returning to “dangerous, war-torn conditions to needlessly put their lives at risk.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Immigrants and Health Care
The House on June 26, by a 235-176 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.), to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding to compensate the Veterans Affairs Department for medical claims filed by people detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Steube said: “The money appropriated by this body and by Congress for the VA, for veterans and for veterans’ health care, should not be used to provide medical claims for illegal immigrants.” An amendment opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), said: “Regardless of your stance on immigration, those seeking medical attention should not be denied access to care.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Regulations
The House on June 27, by a 210-204 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for the finalizing of any regulation that would have at least a $100 million annual cost. Burchett said the amendment sought “to restore congressional oversight over burdensome executive actions and require that any major rule be approved by Congress before taking effect.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said a blanket prohibition on new regulations would prevent the president from implementing laws passed by Congress.
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Refugees and Narcotics
The House on June 27, by a 213-199 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would reduce funding for migration and refugee assistance programs by $500 million, with those funds instead going to international narcotics control and law enforcement programs. Mace said: “It is critical that we put people over politics, citizens over cartels, and pass this amendment to bolster law enforcement and counternarcotics operations to put an end to the cartels’ cruelty.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said: “By cutting this assistance, nations hosting these refugees will not accept growing refugee populations in their countries, potentially destabilizing regions and threatening global stability and security.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted no
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Statistics from War in Gaza
The House on June 27, by a 213-199 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would reduce funding for migration and refugee assistance programs by $500 million, with those funds instead going to international narcotics control and law enforcement programs. Mace said: “It is critical that we put people over politics, citizens over cartels, and pass this amendment to bolster law enforcement and counternarcotics operations to put an end to the cartels’ cruelty.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said: “By cutting this assistance, nations hosting these refugees will not accept growing refugee populations in their countries, potentially destabilizing regions and threatening global stability and security.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Restrictions on Military Aid
The House on June 27, by a 213-199 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would reduce funding for migration and refugee assistance programs by $500 million, with those funds instead going to international narcotics control and law enforcement programs. Mace said: “It is critical that we put people over politics, citizens over cartels, and pass this amendment to bolster law enforcement and counternarcotics operations to put an end to the cartels’ cruelty.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said: “By cutting this assistance, nations hosting these refugees will not accept growing refugee populations in their countries, potentially destabilizing regions and threatening global stability and security.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Gaza Shipping Pier
The House on June 27, by a 209-200 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for operation of the federal government’s temporary pier on the Gaza Strip coast. Waltz said the pier has cost more than $300 million, operated sporadically, and resulted in injuries to several U.S. soldiers; and Waltz characterized it as “one of the most embarrassing pieces of performance art I have ever seen in my 27-year military career.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said the pier provided an option for sending aid to Palestinians.
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Aid to Syria
The House on June 27, by a 257-154 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar both direct and indirect funding for Syria’s government, led by Bashar al-Assad. Wilson cited evidence that U.S. aid has, via the United Nations, reached the Assad regime, and said ending such indirect funding “would not only assert U.S. leadership but also strengthen the international leverage against the mass-murdering Assad regime.” An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said: “While we take every precaution to ensure that no assistance benefits this brutal regime, lines are continually shifting, and we need to make allowances for activities that could touch on government-controlled areas.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Army and Climate Research
The House on June 27, by a 210-201 vote, passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 8774), to decrease funding for climate change research by the military by $4.9 million, with a corresponding increase in funding for unmanned ground vehicles in the Army. Moore said: “This amendment aligns DOD dollars toward closing the most urgent warfighting gaps rather than funding climate research that does nothing to enhance national defense.” An opponent, Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii), said spending on unmanned ground vehicles should not be done “at the further expense of any research and development related to the impacts of climate on military readiness and warfighting capabilities.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Along with roll call votes this week, the House passed by voice vote:
■ A bill (H.R. 6586) to require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban; and
■ The Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132) to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within China.
Happy to see synergy.