Here is how our House members and New York’s two senators voted on select issues during the legislative weeks ending June 20 and June 27, as reported by Targeted News Service. Click here for previous votes.
Michael Lawler (R), District 17 (including Philipstown)
Lawler, 39, 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.
Punishing Piracy at Sea
The House on June 23, by a 392-14 vote, passed the Sanction Sea Pirates Act (H.R. 1998), sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), to require the executive branch to impose immigration and property sanctions on those foreigners believed to be supporting acts of piracy.
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Regulating Private Investing
The House on June 23, by a 397-12 vote, passed the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act (H.R. 3394), sponsored by Rep. J. French Hill (R-Ark.). The bill would expand the definition of an accredited investor used by the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the private marketing of a company’s securities. Hill said the expansion would give “more Americans a chance to participate in the American Dream, build capital, help start a business, and use their God-given talent, skills, ability, and professional expertise to help that company be successful.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
SEC Support for Small Businesses
The House on June 23, by a 321-87 vote, passed the Promoting Opportunities for Non-Traditional Capital Formation Act (H.R. 3422), sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). The bill would require the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation at the Securities and Exchange Commission to do more outreach with state regulators and certain types of small businesses deemed traditionally underrepresented.
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Impeachment Resolution
The House on June 24, by a 344-79 vote, tabled a resolution (H. Res. 537), sponsored by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), that would have impeached President Trump on the charge of starting an unconstitutional war with Iran by bombing its nuclear facilities last week without consent from or adequate notice to Congress. Green said: “We will have to decide whether we will have a country that abides by a Constitution that is meaningful or ignores a Constitution such that it becomes meaningless.” A resolution opponent, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), said: “Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Minnesota Politician Shootings
The House on June 25, by unanimous vote, passed a resolution (H. Res. 519), sponsored by Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), to condemn the shooting of two Minnesota state legislators on June 14, one of them fatally, and reaffirm commitment to a safe, civil and peaceful democracy in the U.S.
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
VA and Military Construction Spending
The House on June 25, by a 218-206 vote, passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3944), sponsored by Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), to provide $435 billion to fund the Veterans Affairs Department, and $18 billion for military construction programs, in fiscal 2026. Carter said the bill “provides critical funding for military bases, provides housing for our troops and their families, and makes other investments aimed at improving the quality of life of our servicemembers. It ensures that our national defense needs are met both at home and abroad.” An opponent, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), said: “This bill would worsen the quality of life for servicemembers and their families while putting veterans’ safety at risk.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted no
Immigration and DUIs
The House on June 26, by a 246-160 vote, passed the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (H.R. 875), sponsored by Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.), to make convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs a deportable offense. Moore said: “We shouldn’t have to wait for repeat drunk drivers to injure someone or kill before they are deported.” A bill opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), said it was unnecessary because “immigrants who drive drunk are already covered by the criminal law, and the undocumented ones are already categorically deportable.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Reports on Immigration and Security
The House on June 26, by a 231-182 vote, passed the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act (H.R. 275), sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), to require the Homeland Security Department to issue monthly reports, retroactive to January 2021, summarizing attempts to enter the U.S. illegally by foreigners who are considered potential national security risks. Taylor Greene said the reports “will increase the transparency and accountability that are critical to the health of our constitutional republic.” A bill opponent, Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), said the reports put “our national security at risk by forcing DHS to hand over parts of its playbook on how it stops potential actors from entering the United States.”
Michael Lawler (R-17, including Philipstown) voted yes
Pat Ryan (D-18, including Beacon) voted yes
Along with roll call votes this week, the House also passed these bills:
■ The Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act (H.R. 1190), to expand access to capital for rural-area small businesses;
■ The Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 910), to require the Secretary of the Treasury to pursue more equitable treatment of Taiwan at the international financial institutions;
■ The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 1520) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability in cases of organ transplants;
■ The No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act (H.R. 260), to require the State Department to discourage foreign countries and nongovernmental organizations from providing financial or material support to the Taliban.
SENATE
Health Care Legislation Official
The Senate on June 17, by a 57-40 vote, confirmed the nomination of Gary Andres to be the Health and Human Services Department’s assistant secretary for legislation. Andres has been a House committee staffer and a legislative affairs aide in both of the Bush administrations.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Regulating Stablecoins
The Senate on June 17, by a 68-30 vote, passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (S. 1582), sponsored by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). The bill would outline standards for federal regulation of stablecoins, which are digital cryptocurrencies intended to have a relatively static value by tying them to another asset, such as gold or the dollar. Hagerty said: “This legislation establishes procedures for issuing stablecoins; it designates clear roles for federal and state regulators; it implements standards for consumer protection; and it includes strong safeguards to deter illicit activity.” An opponent, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said the bill lacked “real guardrails that will protect consumers and provide real tools for our national security agencies to address this new technology” and its use by terrorists and rogue governments such as North Korea and Russia.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
FCC Commissioner
The Senate on June 18, by a 53-45 vote, confirmed the nomination of Olivia Trusty to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission for a five-year term ending in mid-2030. Over the past two decades Trusty has worked for telecommunications companies and then been a staffer on House and Senate committees, specializing in security, consumer protections, and telecommunications policies. Trusty had been confirmed, in a separate roll call vote, for the remainder of a term ending June 30.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Border, Customs Commissioner
The Senate on June 18, by a 51-46 vote, confirmed the nomination of Rodney Scott to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Scott was first a patrol agent and then a CBP official at various levels for three decades including, from early 2020 to August 2021, as chief of the Border Patrol. For the past four years, he was a consultant and think tank official. A supporter, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) called Scott “well-positioned to lead CBP in fulfilling these important priorities” of border and trade security, and counter-terrorism action. An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), said Scott “would be nothing more than a rubberstamp for some of Donald Trump’s nastiest, cruelest immigration policies.”
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Military and Foreign Relations
The Senate on June 24, by a 61-35 vote, confirmed the nomination of Daniel Zimmerman to be assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. Zimmerman has worked at the Central Intelligence Agency, White House and most recently as an aide to Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), over the last two decades.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Commerce Deputy Secretary
The Senate on June 25, by a 56-40 vote, confirmed the nomination of Paul Dabbar to be the Commerce Department’s deputy secretary. Dabbar, a senior Energy Department official in the first Trump administration, is a former nuclear submarine officer in the Navy and has been an energy specialist at the J.P. Morgan bank and CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Treasury Assistant Secretary
The Senate on June 26, by a 53-45 vote, confirmed the nomination of Kenneth Kies to be the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for tax policy. Kies is a long-time lobbyist and consultant at the Federal Policy Group in Washington, D.C., following briefer stints at two Congressional committees on taxation and two tax consultancies. A supporter, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), cited Kies’ decades of experience in tax law and legislation, and said he would be “a valuable partner in our efforts to prevent a $4 trillion-plus tax hike on American families and businesses and to deliver additional tax relief for middle-class workers and families.”
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted no
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no
Along with roll call votes, the Senate also passed:
■ A resolution (S. Res. 259), recognizing June 2 as the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN chronicling democracy in the Senate;
■ A resolution (S. Res. 286), recognizing the life, achievements, and public service of former First Lady Barbara Bush on what would have been her 100th birthday;
■ A resolution (S. Res. 301), condemning the attacks on Minnesota lawmakers in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, Minnesota, and calling for unity and the rejection of political violence in Minnesota and across the U.S.; and
■ A resolution (S. Res. 308), honoring the life, achievements and legacy of Frederick Smith, the founder of FedEx.
