Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 13, 2006 | MA | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
June 7, 2006 | MA | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
June 7, 2006 | MA | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (64 - 8) |
Feb. 7, 2006 | MI | Sub for HB 5453 | Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (63 - 42) |
May 23, 2006 | MI | Sub for HB 5453 | Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
March 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
March 16, 2006 | OK | HB 2844 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Bill | Bill Passed - House (70 - 18) |
June 29, 2006 | PA | HB 1588 | Fluoride Content in Water | Bill Passed - House (150 - 42) |
April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
March 1, 2006 | UT | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1713 | Trafficking Illegal Drugs | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24) |
June 15, 2006 | LA | SB 742 | Smoking Ban Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 33) |
April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
March 13, 2006 | OK | HB 2842 | Medicaid Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (81 - 17) |
Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 32) |
Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | KS | Amend | Abortion Clinic Regulation | Amendment Adopted - House (66 - 56) |
Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | HB 1883 | Abortion Clinic Licensure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
Jan. 29, 2007 | AZ | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
May 10, 2007 | AZ | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Failed - House (26 - 29) |
Jan. 26, 2007 | ND | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (61 - 26) |
Jan. 29, 2007 | AR | HB 1173 | Reversal of the BMI Report Card Requirement | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
Jan. 26, 2007 | ND | HB 1464 | Abortion Regulation | Bill Failed - House (39 - 49) |
Jan. 26, 2007 | ND | HB 1494 | Prenatal Testing | Bill Failed - House (29 - 60) |
Jan. 24, 2007 | SD | SB 74 | Allowing Friends to Make Medical Decisions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
Jan. 26, 2007 | CO | SB 1 | Discounted Prescription Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
Jan. 30, 2007 | CO | SB 60 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
July 18, 2006 | National | S 2754 | Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act | Bill Failed - House (273 - 154) |
Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
Sept. 17, 1996 | National | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
Sept. 12, 1996 | National | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29) |
Nov. 8, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
July 27, 2006 | National | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
Feb. 1, 2006 | National | H Res 653 | Budget Reconciliation Adoption | Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214) |
Dec. 19, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
Dec. 19, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
Nov. 16, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
Nov. 9, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
Nov. 18, 2003 | National | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
July 12, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
June 9, 2006 | National | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
June 9, 2006 | National | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
June 9, 2006 | National | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
Aug. 1, 2006 | National | S 3711 | Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25) |
Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
Nov. 21, 2003 | National | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
Feb. 11, 1998 | National | S 1601 | Human Cloning Research bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54) |
May 3, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
Oct. 30, 2003 | National | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
Jan. 12, 2007 | National | HR 4 | Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 170) |
March 8, 2006 | National | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
March 8, 2006 | National | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3103 | Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
May 1, 1996 | National | S 641 | Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
7/13 | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
6/07 | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
6/07 | H 4176 | Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
6/27 | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
6/27 | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (64 - 8) |
2/07 | Sub for HB 5453 | Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (63 - 42) |
5/23 | Sub for HB 5453 | Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
2/15 | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
3/27 | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
3/16 | HB 2844 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Bill | Bill Passed - House (70 - 18) |
6/29 | HB 1588 | Fluoride Content in Water | Bill Passed - House (150 - 42) |
4/11 | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
3/01 | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
5/24 | SB 1713 | Trafficking Illegal Drugs | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24) |
6/15 | SB 742 | Smoking Ban Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 33) |
4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
3/13 | HB 2842 | Medicaid Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (81 - 17) |
8/31 | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 32) |
8/30 | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
2/22 | Amend | Abortion Clinic Regulation | Amendment Adopted - House (66 - 56) |
1/23 | HB 1883 | Abortion Clinic Licensure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
1/29 | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
5/10 | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Failed - House (26 - 29) |
1/26 | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (61 - 26) |
1/29 | HB 1173 | Reversal of the BMI Report Card Requirement | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
1/26 | HB 1464 | Abortion Regulation | Bill Failed - House (39 - 49) |
1/26 | HB 1494 | Prenatal Testing | Bill Failed - House (29 - 60) |
1/24 | SB 74 | Allowing Friends to Make Medical Decisions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
1/26 | SB 1 | Discounted Prescription Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
1/30 | SB 60 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
7/18 | S 2754 | Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act | Bill Failed - House (273 - 154) |
12/07 | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
12/07 | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
9/17 | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
9/12 | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29) |
11/08 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
11/07 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
7/27 | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
2/01 | H Res 653 | Budget Reconciliation Adoption | Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214) |
12/19 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
12/19 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
11/16 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
11/09 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
11/18 | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
7/12 | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
6/09 | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
6/09 | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
6/09 | HR 5522 | Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act | Bill Passed - House (373 - 34) |
8/01 | S 3711 | Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25) |
8/01 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
8/02 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
11/21 | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
2/11 | S 1601 | Human Cloning Research bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54) |
5/03 | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
10/30 | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
1/12 | HR 4 | Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 170) |
3/08 | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
3/08 | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3103 | Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
5/01 | S 641 | Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4) |