Here is how New York’s senators voted on select issues during the legislative week ending Aug. 2, as reported by Targeted News Service. Click here for previous votes.

Confirmations

The Senate on July 29, by a 73-13 vote, confirmed the nomination of Adam Landy to be a judge on the U.S. Tax Court for a 15-year term. A special trial judge on the court for three years, Landy had been a senior attorney at the Internal Revenue Service for five years previously.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

The Senate on July 30, by a 50-43 vote, confirmed the nomination of Stacey Neumann to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Maine. A private practice lawyer in Portland since 2013, Neumann was previously an assistant U.S. attorney in the Maine district.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

The Senate on July 31, by a 50-41 vote, confirmed the nomination of Meredith Vacca to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Vacca was a county attorney in Rochester for over a decade before, in 2021, becoming a county judge then, in 2023, also being named an acting Supreme Court justice for New York.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

The Senate on July 31, by a 53-39 vote, confirmed the nomination of Joseph Saporito Jr. to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Saporito was a private practice lawyer for three decades then, in 2015, was named a magistrate judge for the Middle District.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

Social Media and Children

The Senate on July 30, by a 91-3 vote, concurred in the House amendment to the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 2073), sponsored by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). The bill would enact a variety of measures to restrict how social media and other Internet companies use children’s data and market to children. A supporter, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), said the bill “gives young people and parents the tools and safeguards to take back control over their online lives.”

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

U.N. Diplomat

The Senate on Aug. 1, by a 59-34 vote, confirmed the nomination of Dorothy Shea to be the deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations. Shea was U.S. ambassador to Lebanon from March 2020 to late 2023. Previously, she was a diplomat to various Middle East countries, including as deputy chief of mission in Egypt.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted yes

Changing Tax Measures

The Senate on Aug. 1, by a 48-44 vote, rejected a cloture motion to end debate on the American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024), sponsored by Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.). The bill would, among its provisions, increase the child tax credit for parents, increase the housing tax credit for low-income adults, and increase the independent contractor tax reporting income threshold to $1,000. A supporter, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said of the bill: “Let’s help the kids and the families. Let’s help the small businesses. Let’s help those who need housing. Let’s be there for those who face disasters.” An opponent, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), said: “The critical flaw with the bill is that it fails to provide meaningful tax relief to working families and instead goes too far toward the Democrats’ goal of turning the child tax credit into a subsidy untethered to work.” A three-fifths majority was needed to end debate. Schumer voted no to reserve his ability to re-introduce the motion.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voted yes
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no

Along with roll call votes this week, the Senate also passed these measures:

■ The National Fossil Act (S. 3574), to designate the mastodon as the national fossil of the U.S.;

■ A bill (S. 4610), to designate the bald eagle as the national bird;

■ The NAPA Reauthorization Act (S. 133), to extend the National Alzheimer’s Project; and

■ A resolution (S. Res. 778) acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam War and expressing regret for the mistreatment of veterans returning home from the war.

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Myron Struck is the editor and president of Targeted News Service in Washington, D.C. Before co-founding the service in 2003, he was a national staff writer for the Miami Herald and Washington Post, editor of Campaigns & Elections and managing editor of State News Service. The Highlands Current subscribes to the Targeted News Service.