Here is New York’s two senators voted on select issues during the legislative week ending Feb. 21, as reported by Targeted News Service. There were no key votes in the House this week. Click here for previous votes.
Commerce Secretary
The Senate on Feb. 18, by a 51-45 vote, confirmed Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary. Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald since 1991, has been at the financial services company since 1983. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), said, “I am confident that he will work every day to help American commerce thrive so that the American people can thrive.” An opponent, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), criticized Lutnick for failing to commit to investments in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, growing U.S. exports while avoiding a trade war, and insufficient backing for new technologies, such as advanced computer chips.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Budget Resolution Debate
The Senate on Feb 18, by a vote of 50-47, agreed to a motion to proceed to consideration of a resolution (S. Con. Res. 7), sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), that would set out a federal government budget for fiscal 2025, and outline budget levels for fiscal 2026 through 2034. Under the resolution, government deficits would be anticipated to be about $1 trillion per year, with a resulting increase in debt, to about $49 trillion in fiscal 2034.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Small Businesses
The Senate on Feb. 19, by a 52-46 vote, confirmed the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be administrator of the Small Business Administration. Loeffler was a senator for Georgia from early 2020 to early 2021; she has been a financial company CEO, owner of a professional woman’s basketball team, the Atlanta Dream, and, most recently, founded a political activism group, Greater Georgia. A supporter, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), said Loeffler “truly understands what it takes to be an entrepreneur and will be an effective voice for small businesses across America.” An opponent, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), said Loeffler “has offered an unapologetic defense of Trump’s executive orders, which attempt to supersede the law of the land, and has supported pardons for the Jan. 6 insurrectionists.”
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
FBI Director
The Senate on Feb. 20, by a 51-49 vote, confirmed the nomination of Kashyap Patel to be director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the first Trump administration, Patel was a staffer on the National Security Council and at the Defense Department. He has also been a public defender, a prosecutor at the Justice Department, and more recently, an author, consultant, and corporate board member, including Trump Media and Technology Group. A supporter, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), said Patel’s “career has been a study in fighting for unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption, and putting America first.” An opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), cited “myriad red flags about Mr. Patel, especially his recurring instinct to threaten retribution against his political enemies and President Trump’s perceived enemies.”
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Medicare and Medicaid
The Senate on Feb. 20, by a 51-49 vote, approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) to a budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 7), that would establish a spending reserve fund intended to prevent funding cuts to Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Regulatory Power
The Senate on Feb. 21, by a 53-47 vote, approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to a budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 7), that would curtail authority for federal government agencies to enact major rules without approval from Congress.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Budget Resolution
The Senate on Feb. 21, by a 52-48 vote, passed a resolution (S. Con. Res. 7), sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), to set out a federal government budget for fiscal 2025, and outline budget levels for fiscal 2026 through 2034. The resolution would increase funding for a border wall and other immigration control measures, increase military spending by $150 billion, and direct Senate committees to reduce spending in other areas to offset those spending increases.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
