Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 22, 2013 TX SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 7, 2013 IN HB 1005 Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (86 - 13)
July 25, 2012 National HR 459 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (327 - 98)
July 2, 2012 CA SB 900 Establishes Regulations for Home Loans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
July 2, 2012 CA AB 278 Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
June 6, 2012 PA HB 2191 Authorizes Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (102 - 90)
May 22, 2012 OH HB 322 Repeals Limits on Credit Card Interest Rates for Certain Banks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 30)
May 16, 2012 OH HB 322 Repeals Limits on Credit Card Interest Rates for Certain Banks Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 15, 2012 National HR 2072 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
May 9, 2012 National HR 2072 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (330 - 93)
May 1, 2012 DE HB 289 Limits Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (26 - 7)
April 24, 2012 IA HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
March 20, 2012 National S Amdt 1836 Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank of the United States Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
Feb. 29, 2012 FL HB 213 Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process Bill Passed - House (94 - 17)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
Nov. 10, 2011 National S Amdt 928 American Jobs and Economic Growth Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56)
Nov. 3, 2011 National H Amdt 849 Requires Public Disclosure of Bonuses and Golden Parachute Arrangements Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 234)
July 21, 2011 National HR 1315 Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bill Passed - House (241 - 173)
June 8, 2011 National S Amdt 392 Debit Card Transactions Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
June 2, 2011 NC HB 810 Consumer Finance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
May 18, 2011 NV SB 75 Investment in Private Equity Firms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 28, 2011 FL SB 408 Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
March 11, 2011 National HR 836 Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 177)
March 10, 2011 National HR 830 Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program Bill Passed - House (256 - 171)
Feb. 21, 2011 VA SB 1367 Motor Vehicle Title Loans for Non-Residents Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 2, 2011 National S Amdt 28 Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
Jan. 18, 2011 MS HB 455 Payday Lending Provisions Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
Sept. 23, 2010 National HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187)
Sept. 16, 2010 National HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
Sept. 16, 2010 National HR 4785 Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes Bill Passed - House (240 - 172)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 12, 2010 CA SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - House (45 - 24)
July 29, 2010 National S Amdt 4519 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
July 15, 2010 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
June 30, 2010 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192)
June 17, 2010 National HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (241 - 182)
June 3, 2010 CA AB 2529 Peer Review Requirements for Regulatory Economic Impact Analysis Bill Passed - House (44 - 18)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
May 20, 2010 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
May 19, 2010 National S Amdt 3746 Allowing States to Limit Credit Card Interest Rates Amendment Rejected - Senate (35 - 60)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4114 Credit Default Swap Regulations Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 38)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4071 Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4034 Federal Preemption Over State Consumer Financial Laws Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3987 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Termination Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 55)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3989 Debit Card Fee Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3991 Credit Rating Agency Board Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3832 Establishing Bankruptcy Process for Non-bank Financial Institutions Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3962 Home Loan Regulation Modifications Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3955 Establishing New Mortgage Underwriting Requirements and Eliminating a Risk Retention Requirement Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3816 Derivatives Regulation Modifications Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 59)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3938 Study on Ending the Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3760 Federal Reserve Audit Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
May 6, 2010 National S Amdt 3826 Consumer Financial Protection Division Within The FDIC Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
Jan. 28, 2010 National PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
Dec. 11, 2009 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Bill Passed - House (223 - 202)
March 5, 2009 National HR 1106 Mortgage Restructuring In Bankruptcy Bill Passed - House (234 - 191)
Jan. 22, 2009 National H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
Jan. 21, 2009 National HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
Jan. 15, 2009 National S J Res 5 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52)
Oct. 3, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
Oct. 1, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
Sept. 29, 2008 National HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
Sept. 23, 2008 National HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
June 26, 2008 National HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
June 25, 2008 National S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
Nov. 15, 2007 National HR 3915 Mortgage Reform and Anti-Subprime Lending Act Bill Passed - House (291 - 127)
July 12, 2006 National HR 2990 Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 166)
March 14, 2006 National S Amdt 3013 Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
April 14, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
March 10, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
March 18, 2004 National HR 1375 Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (392 - 25)
Jan. 28, 2004 National S 1920 Farmer Bankruptcy Bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 99)
July 15, 2002 National S 2673 Accounting Industry Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
Feb. 2, 2000 National HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
July 1, 1999 National HR 10 Financial Modernization bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 86)
May 5, 1999 National HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - House (313 - 108)
Oct. 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
May 13, 1998 National H Amdt 621 Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281)
May 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
May 13, 1998 National HR 10 Financial Services Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (214 - 213)
Dec. 22, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
Dec. 20, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100)
Dec. 6, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102)
Dec. 5, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30)
June 28, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
March 8, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - House (325 - 99)
Nov. 23, 1993 National S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 191)
Nov. 20, 1993 National S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
May 13, 1993 National S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/22 SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/07 HB 1005 Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (86 - 13)
7/25 HR 459 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (327 - 98)
7/02 SB 900 Establishes Regulations for Home Loans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
7/02 AB 278 Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
6/06 HB 2191 Authorizes Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (102 - 90)
5/22 HB 322 Repeals Limits on Credit Card Interest Rates for Certain Banks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 30)
5/16 HB 322 Repeals Limits on Credit Card Interest Rates for Certain Banks Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/15 HR 2072 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
5/09 HR 2072 Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (330 - 93)
5/01 HB 289 Limits Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (26 - 7)
4/24 HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
3/20 S Amdt 1836 Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank of the United States Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
2/29 HB 213 Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process Bill Passed - House (94 - 17)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/02 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
11/10 S Amdt 928 American Jobs and Economic Growth Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56)
11/03 H Amdt 849 Requires Public Disclosure of Bonuses and Golden Parachute Arrangements Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 234)
7/21 HR 1315 Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bill Passed - House (241 - 173)
6/08 S Amdt 392 Debit Card Transactions Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
6/02 HB 810 Consumer Finance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
5/18 SB 75 Investment in Private Equity Firms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/28 SB 408 Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
3/11 HR 836 Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 177)
3/10 HR 830 Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program Bill Passed - House (256 - 171)
2/21 SB 1367 Motor Vehicle Title Loans for Non-Residents Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/02 S Amdt 28 Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
1/18 HB 455 Payday Lending Provisions Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
9/23 HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187)
9/16 HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
9/16 HR 4785 Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes Bill Passed - House (240 - 172)
8/31 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30)
8/26 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/12 SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - House (45 - 24)
7/29 S Amdt 4519 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
7/15 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
6/30 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192)
6/17 HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (241 - 182)
6/03 AB 2529 Peer Review Requirements for Regulatory Economic Impact Analysis Bill Passed - House (44 - 18)
6/03 SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
5/20 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
5/19 S Amdt 3746 Allowing States to Limit Credit Card Interest Rates Amendment Rejected - Senate (35 - 60)
5/18 S Amdt 4114 Credit Default Swap Regulations Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 38)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
5/18 S Amdt 4071 Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
5/18 S Amdt 4034 Federal Preemption Over State Consumer Financial Laws Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
5/13 S Amdt 3987 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Termination Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 55)
5/13 S Amdt 3989 Debit Card Fee Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
5/13 S Amdt 3991 Credit Rating Agency Board Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
5/13 S Amdt 3832 Establishing Bankruptcy Process for Non-bank Financial Institutions Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
5/12 S Amdt 3962 Home Loan Regulation Modifications Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
5/12 S Amdt 3955 Establishing New Mortgage Underwriting Requirements and Eliminating a Risk Retention Requirement Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
5/12 S Amdt 3816 Derivatives Regulation Modifications Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 59)
5/11 S Amdt 3938 Study on Ending the Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
5/11 S Amdt 3760 Federal Reserve Audit Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
5/06 S Amdt 3826 Consumer Financial Protection Division Within The FDIC Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
1/28 PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
12/11 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Bill Passed - House (223 - 202)
3/05 HR 1106 Mortgage Restructuring In Bankruptcy Bill Passed - House (234 - 191)
1/22 H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
1/21 HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
1/15 S J Res 5 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52)
10/03 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
10/01 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
9/29 HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
9/23 HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
6/26 HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
6/25 S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
11/15 HR 3915 Mortgage Reform and Anti-Subprime Lending Act Bill Passed - House (291 - 127)
7/12 HR 2990 Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 166)
3/14 S Amdt 3013 Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
4/14 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
3/10 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
3/18 HR 1375 Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (392 - 25)
1/28 S 1920 Farmer Bankruptcy Bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 99)
7/15 S 2673 Accounting Industry Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
2/02 HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
7/01 HR 10 Financial Modernization bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 86)
5/05 HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - House (313 - 108)
10/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
5/13 H Amdt 621 Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281)
5/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
5/13 HR 10 Financial Services Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (214 - 213)
12/22 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
12/20 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100)
12/06 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102)
12/05 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30)
6/28 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
3/08 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - House (325 - 99)
11/23 S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 191)
11/20 S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
5/13 S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35)

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