How They Voted (Congress)

Here is how our House members and New York’s two senators voted on select issues during the legislative week ending May 16, as reported by Targeted News Service. Click here for previous votes.

Michael Lawler (R), District 17 (including Philipstown)
Lawler, 38, was elected to Congress in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. 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, 43, was elected to Congress in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. 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.

Local Police

The House on May 13, by a 411-1 vote, passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 30), sponsored by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), to express support for local police and other law enforcement officers. Ezell said: “It is time to make clear that we stand with the men and women of local law enforcement who protect each and every one of our communities with honor and courage.”

Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes

Police and Firearms Concealed Carry

The House on May 14, by a 229-193 vote, passed the LEOSA Reform Act (H.R. 2243), sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), to allow active and former law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms on their person in various federal government facilities and other places open to the public. A bill supporter, Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kansas), said it “improves public safety as our officers face increasingly greater dangers, and current restrictions hinder their ability to carry firearms and protect themselves and others.” An opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), said: “This legislation not only supersedes the considered policy judgments of the states, but it threatens the safety and security of federal agencies by forcing them to allow concealed carry in many federal buildings.”

Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no

Fighting Anti-Semitism

The House on May 14, by a 421-1 vote, passed a resolution (H. Res. 352), sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), calling on politicians and cultural and religious leaders to condemn and counter all acts of anti-Semitism.

Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes

Gun Purchases by Federal Police

The House on May 15, by a 234-182 vote, passed the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act (H.R. 2255), sponsored by Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), to have the federal government create a program for allowing a federal law enforcement officer to purchase a retired firearm from the agency that issued the officer the weapon. Fry said: “By allowing officers to purchase their retired service weapons, this provides a starting point to keeping them safe so that they may protect their communities as well as themselves and their families.” A bill opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), cited the lack of a background check requirement, and said selling the weapons at salvage value rather than fair market value would amount to a subsidy for the officers.

Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no

Attacks on Police

The House on May 15, by a 403-11 vote, passed the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act (H.R. 2240), sponsored by Rep. Tim Moore (R-N.C.), to require the Justice Department to provide Congress with a report on targeted attacks on law enforcement officers and potential methods to prevent such attacks. Moore said the report “will empower agencies around the country with the information that they need to strengthen their responses and better protect their personnel.”

Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes

The House passed these measures by voice vote:

■ The Expedited Appeals Review Act (H.R. 677) to establish a process to expedite the review of appeals of certain decisions by the Interior Department;

■ The South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act (H.R. 531);

■ The Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act (H.R. 2492) to authorize the Agriculture Department and Interior Department to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands without conducting a timber sale; and

■ A resolution (H. Res. 364), calling upon local communities to support organizations that provide resources and aid Gold Shield Families in their time of need.

SENATE

Diplomatic Chief of Protocol

The Senate on May 12, by a 52-45 vote, confirmed the nomination of Monica Crowley to be chief of protocol at the State Department. Crowley was a public affairs official at the Treasury Department during the first Trump administration and has been a radio-show host and TV anchor at Fox.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) did not vote
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no

Law and State Department

The Senate on May 13, by a 52-46 vote, confirmed the nomination of Reed Rubinstein to be the State Department’s legal advisor. After serving as a lawyer in various roles in the first Trump administration, Rubinstein joined the America First Legal Foundation. Before 2017, he was in private practice, specializing in commercial and regulatory law.