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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 25, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123) |
April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
May 18, 1998 | National | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
May 2, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3) |
May 25, 2006 | National | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
Feb. 10, 2005 | National | HR 418 | Real ID Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 161) |
May 18, 2005 | National | HR 1817 | Homeland Security Department Authorization Act FY06 | Bill Passed - House (424 - 4) |
March 21, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (333 - 87) |
Oct. 3, 2000 | National | S 2045 | American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
March 16, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
May 19, 1993 | National | H Amdt 62 | Citizens/Legal Residents Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (288 - 127) |
Aug. 1, 2007 | National | HR 3162 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (225 - 204) |
Sept. 14, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (283 - 138) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
Dec. 16, 2005 | National | HR 4437 | Border Security Bill | Bill Passed - House (239 - 182) |
June 7, 1995 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8) |
May 18, 2004 | National | HR 3722 | Undocumented Immigrant Emergency Medical Assistance | Bill Failed - House (88 - 331) |
Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 123 | English as the National Language | Bill Passed - House (259 - 169) |
Sept. 21, 2006 | National | HR 6095 | Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 140) |
June 27, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (305 - 102) |
Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
June 26, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8) |
June 27, 2013 | National | S 744 | Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
Nov. 30, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 139) |
June 11, 2013 | National | S 744 | Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (82 - 15) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | National | S Amdt 1959 | Secure and Succeed Act (Grassley Amendment) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (39 - 60) |
July 6, 2016 | National | S 2193 | Stop Illegal Reentry Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42) |
Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | National | S Amdt 1955 | Uniting and Securing America Act (Coons-McCain Amendment) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | National | S Amdt 1948 | Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey Amendment) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | National | S Amdt 1958 | Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (Schumer Amendment) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
June 6, 2013 | National | H Amdt 136 | Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 201) |
June 18, 2013 | National | S Amdt 1197 | Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 54) |
June 18, 2013 | National | S Amdt 1228 | Requires US-VISIT System to be Established at Every Port of Entry | Amendment Rejected - Senate (36 - 58) |
April 20, 2024 | National | HR 3602 | End the Border Catastrophe Act | Bill Failed - House (215 - 199) |
Jan. 14, 2015 | National | HR 240 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (236 - 191) |
Sept. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Failed - House (257 - 158) |
Oct. 10, 2013 | National | H J Res 79 | Border Security and Enforcement Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (249 - 175) |
Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5230 | Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (223 - 189) |
Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5272 | To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (216 - 192) |
Dec. 4, 2014 | National | HR 5759 | Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 197) |
July 23, 2015 | National | HR 3009 | Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act | Bill Passed - House (241 - 179) |
March 17, 2016 | National | H Res 639 | Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 | Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186) |
June 7, 2017 | National | HR 2213 | Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (282 - 137) |
June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3004 | Kate's Law | Bill Passed - House (257 - 167) |
June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
Sept. 14, 2017 | National | HR 3697 | Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 175) |
June 21, 2018 | National | HR 4760 | Securing America's Future Act of 2018 | Bill Failed - House (193 - 231) |
June 27, 2018 | National | HR 6136 | Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 | Bill Failed - House (121 - 301) |
June 4, 2019 | National | HR 6 | American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 187) |
June 25, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 195) |
July 16, 2019 | National | H Res 489 | Condemning President Trump's Racist Comments Directed at Members of Congress | Bill Passed - House (240 - 187) |
July 24, 2019 | National | HR 3239 | Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 195) |
July 25, 2019 | National | HR 549 | Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 158) |
Sept. 25, 2019 | National | HR 2203 | Homeland Security Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 194) |
Sept. 26, 2019 | National | HR 3525 | US Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 184) |
Dec. 11, 2019 | National | HR 5038 | Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (260 - 165) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | National | H Res 1153 | Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent | Bill Passed - House (232 - 157) |
March 18, 2021 | National | HR 6 | American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 197) |
March 18, 2021 | National | HR 1603 | Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 174) |
April 21, 2021 | National | HR 1573 | Access to Counsel Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 207) |
April 21, 2021 | National | HR 1333 | NO BAN Act | Bill Passed - House (218 - 208) |
July 22, 2021 | National | HR 3985 | Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (407 - 16) |
May 26, 2022 | National | S J Res 46 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Procedures for Credible Fear Screening and Consideration of Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Protection Claims by Asylum Officers". | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (46 - 48) |
July 27, 2022 | National | HR 3771 | South Asian Heart Awareness and Research Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 192) |
Dec. 6, 2022 | National | HR 7946 | Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 208) |
Dec. 15, 2022 | National | HR 8393 | Puerto Rico Status Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 191) |
May 11, 2023 | National | HR 2 | Secure the Border Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 213) |
May 17, 2023 | National | HR 2494 | POLICE Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (255 - 175) |
June 22, 2023 | National | H Res 461 | Condemning the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens who are not admitted to the United States. | Resolution Passed - House (223 - 201) |
July 19, 2023 | National | HR 3941 | Schools Not Shelters Act | Bill Passed - House (222 - 201) |
Sept. 29, 2023 | National | HR 5525 | Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024 | Bill Failed - House (198 - 232) |
Nov. 30, 2023 | National | HR 5283 | Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act | Bill Passed - House (224 - 203) |
Jan. 17, 2024 | National | H Res 957 | Denouncing the Biden administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety crisis along the southwest border, and urging President Biden to end his administration's open-borders policies. | Resolution Passed - House (225 - 187) |
Jan. 30, 2024 | National | HR 5585 | Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 154) |
Jan. 31, 2024 | National | HR 6679 | No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act | Bill Passed - House (422 - 2) |
Jan. 31, 2024 | National | HR 6678 | Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act | Bill Passed - House (272 - 155) |
Feb. 1, 2024 | National | HR 6976 | Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act | Bill Passed - House (274 - 150) |
March 12, 2024 | National | H Res 1065 | Denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies. | Resolution Passed - House (226 - 193) |
Nov. 29, 2011 | National | HR 3012 | Repeals Certain Green Cards Limitations | Bill Passed - House (389 - 15) |
July 1, 2022 | NC | SB 101 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
Sept. 29, 2015 | NC | HB 318 | Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 43) |
June 30, 2022 | NC | SB 101 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
June 24, 2019 | NC | HB 370 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
June 28, 2016 | NC | HB 100 | Rescinds Certain Funds from Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
Sept. 28, 2015 | NC | HB 318 | Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
April 3, 2019 | NC | HB 370 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers | Bill Passed - House (63 - 51) |
June 26, 2019 | NC | HB 135 | Prohibits "Sanctuary" Cities | Bill Passed - House (65 - 52) |
March 11, 2021 | NC | SB 101 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
March 9, 2007 | ND | SB 2417 | Verifying Employee Work Status | Bill Failed - House (18 - 70) |
April 17, 2023 | ND | SB 2142 | Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5) |
April 6, 2023 | ND | SB 2142 | Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers | Bill Passed - House (64 - 28) |
April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
April 20, 2016 | NE | LB 947 | Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 947 | Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 599 | Prenatal Care for Children of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |