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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Jan. 22, 2009 National H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
June 28, 2000 National HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
June 29, 2006 National HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
March 19, 2009 National HR 1586 TARP Recipient Bonuses Tax Bill Passed - House (328 - 93)
Jan. 5, 2007 National H Res 6 Pay-As-You-Go Rule Resolution Passed - House (280 - 152)
March 29, 2007 National H Con Res 99 Congressional Budget for 2008 Joint Resolution Passed - House (216 - 210)
July 31, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
May 10, 2007 National HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
May 22, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
Jan. 26, 1995 National H J Res 1 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (300 - 132)
Dec. 16, 2009 National HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - House (218 - 214)
July 17, 2007 National HR 2641 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
July 1, 2010 National HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
June 5, 1998 National H Con Res 284 Budget Resolution FY98 Resolution Passed - House (216 - 204)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
May 16, 1995 National HR 961 Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
Feb. 1, 2006 National H Res 653 Budget Reconciliation Adoption Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
July 26, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
May 23, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
July 27, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - House (231 - 191)
Jan. 24, 2011 WA HB 1086 2011-2012 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Jan. 24, 2011 WA HB 1086 2011-2012 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Nov. 16, 1995 National H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - House (277 - 151)
May 16, 2002 National HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
July 23, 1998 National HR 4193 Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 181)
Sept. 23, 1993 National HR 2750 Transportation Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (312 - 89)
March 11, 1994 National H Con Res 218 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (223 - 175)
Oct. 11, 2001 National HR 3061 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 Bill Passed - House (373 - 43)
Sept. 29, 1997 National H J Res 94 Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - House (355 - 57)
Sept. 25, 1998 National HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
July 15, 1993 National HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 138)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (211 - 205)
June 22, 1993 National HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 144)
June 22, 1993 National HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 144)
March 12, 1997 National H Res 89 Balanced Budget Request resolution Resolution Passed - House (231 - 197)
July 29, 1998 National HR 4194 Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD Bill Passed - House (259 - 164)
Sept. 25, 1998 National HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
June 17, 1994 National HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 127)
June 14, 2006 National HR 5576 Transportation, Treasury and Housing Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (406 - 22)
Feb. 14, 1995 National HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
May 18, 2006 National HR 5386 Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 128)
Oct. 25, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
July 16, 2003 National HR 1950 State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill Bill Passed - House (382 - 42)
Nov. 3, 1999 National HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 210)
March 16, 1995 National HR 1158 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Bill Passed - House (227 - 200)
Jan. 29, 2008 National HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - House (385 - 35)
March 31, 1998 National HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
April 12, 2011 IL HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
Sept. 26, 1998 National HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
March 13, 2008 National H Con Res 312 Concurrent Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (212 - 207)
May 16, 1997 National HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
March 19, 1993 National HR 1335 Economic Stimulus Package Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
April 2, 2008 National HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - House (308 - 116)
April 16, 2008 National HR 2634 Expanding the List of Countries Eligible for Debt Forgiveness Bill Passed - House (285 - 132)
July 12, 2004 National HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (327 - 43)
April 23, 2008 National HR 5613 Medicaid Extensions and Changes Bill Passed - House (349 - 62)
June 10, 2008 National HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
June 8, 1995 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - House (222 - 192)
June 29, 1995 National HR 1944 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Bill Passed - House (276 - 151)
June 12, 2008 National HR 5749 Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (274 - 137)
July 13, 2004 National HR 4766 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (389 - 31)
July 15, 2004 National HR 4818 Omnibus FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (365 - 41)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2800 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (45 - 34)
June 24, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
May 16, 1996 National H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195)
March 7, 1996 National HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - House (209 - 206)
July 20, 2005 National HR 2601 State Department FY 2006/2007 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (351 - 78)
June 17, 2005 National HR 2745 United Nations Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 184)
April 1, 1998 National HR 2400 Transportation Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (337 - 80)
June 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
July 23, 2003 National HR 2799 Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (400 - 21)
April 17, 1996 National HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
July 10, 2003 National HR 2660 Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (215 - 208)
July 17, 2002 National HR 5093 Department of the Interior Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (377 - 46)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4871 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (216 - 202)
July 15, 1997 National HR 2107 Interior Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
May 17, 2005 National HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (424 - 1)
May 18, 1995 National H Con Res 67 Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193)
Nov. 6, 1997 National HR 2386 U.S.-Taiwan Missile Defense Cooperation bill Bill Passed - House (301 - 116)
July 14, 2003 National HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
Sept. 4, 1997 National HR 2159 Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (375 - 49)
June 30, 2005 National HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - House (405 - 18)
June 22, 1998 National HR 4059 Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (396 - 10)
March 25, 2004 National H Con Res 393 Budget Appropriations- Fiscal Year 2005 Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212)
July 28, 1997 National HR 2209 FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 203)
June 22, 1998 National HR 4060 Energy FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (405 - 4)
July 18, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
March 16, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
March 16, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
June 24, 1998 National HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (373 - 48)
July 16, 1998 National HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (218 - 203)
July 18, 2002 National HR 5121 Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 Bill Passed - House (365 - 49)
May 24, 2002 National HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
Feb. 13, 2003 National HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
June 25, 1998 National HR 4112 Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (235 - 179)
June 18, 2004 National HR 4567 Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (400 - 5)
June 8, 1999 National HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (246 - 183)
June 11, 2003 National HR 2350 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (406 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/22 H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
6/28 HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
6/29 HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
3/19 HR 1586 TARP Recipient Bonuses Tax Bill Passed - House (328 - 93)
1/05 H Res 6 Pay-As-You-Go Rule Resolution Passed - House (280 - 152)
3/29 H Con Res 99 Congressional Budget for 2008 Joint Resolution Passed - House (216 - 210)
7/31 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
5/10 HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
5/22 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
1/26 H J Res 1 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (300 - 132)
12/16 HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - House (218 - 214)
7/17 HR 2641 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
7/01 HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
6/05 H Con Res 284 Budget Resolution FY98 Resolution Passed - House (216 - 204)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
5/16 HR 961 Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
2/01 H Res 653 Budget Reconciliation Adoption Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
7/26 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
5/23 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
7/27 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - House (231 - 191)
1/24 HB 1086 2011-2012 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
1/24 HB 1086 2011-2012 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
11/16 H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - House (277 - 151)
5/16 HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
7/23 HR 4193 Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 181)
9/23 HR 2750 Transportation Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (312 - 89)
3/11 H Con Res 218 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (223 - 175)
10/11 HR 3061 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 Bill Passed - House (373 - 43)
9/29 H J Res 94 Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - House (355 - 57)
9/25 HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
7/15 HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 138)
10/14 HR 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (211 - 205)
6/22 HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 144)
6/22 HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 144)
3/12 H Res 89 Balanced Budget Request resolution Resolution Passed - House (231 - 197)
7/29 HR 4194 Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD Bill Passed - House (259 - 164)
9/25 HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
6/17 HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 127)
6/14 HR 5576 Transportation, Treasury and Housing Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (406 - 22)
2/14 HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
5/18 HR 5386 Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 128)
10/25 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
7/16 HR 1950 State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill Bill Passed - House (382 - 42)
11/03 HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 210)
3/16 HR 1158 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Bill Passed - House (227 - 200)
1/29 HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - House (385 - 35)
3/31 HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
4/12 HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
9/26 HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
3/13 H Con Res 312 Concurrent Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (212 - 207)
5/16 HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
3/19 HR 1335 Economic Stimulus Package Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
4/02 HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - House (308 - 116)
4/16 HR 2634 Expanding the List of Countries Eligible for Debt Forgiveness Bill Passed - House (285 - 132)
7/12 HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (327 - 43)
4/23 HR 5613 Medicaid Extensions and Changes Bill Passed - House (349 - 62)
6/10 HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
6/08 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - House (222 - 192)
6/29 HR 1944 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Bill Passed - House (276 - 151)
6/12 HR 5749 Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (274 - 137)
7/13 HR 4766 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (389 - 31)
7/15 HR 4818 Omnibus FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (365 - 41)
6/23 A 2800 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (45 - 34)
6/24 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
5/16 H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195)
3/07 HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - House (209 - 206)
7/20 HR 2601 State Department FY 2006/2007 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (351 - 78)
6/17 HR 2745 United Nations Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 184)
4/01 HR 2400 Transportation Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (337 - 80)
6/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
7/23 HR 2799 Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (400 - 21)
4/17 HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
7/10 HR 2660 Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (215 - 208)
7/17 HR 5093 Department of the Interior Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (377 - 46)
7/20 HR 4871 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (216 - 202)
7/15 HR 2107 Interior Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
5/17 HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (424 - 1)
5/18 H Con Res 67 Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193)
11/06 HR 2386 U.S.-Taiwan Missile Defense Cooperation bill Bill Passed - House (301 - 116)
7/14 HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
9/04 HR 2159 Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (375 - 49)
6/30 HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - House (405 - 18)
6/22 HR 4059 Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (396 - 10)
3/25 H Con Res 393 Budget Appropriations- Fiscal Year 2005 Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212)
7/28 HR 2209 FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 203)
6/22 HR 4060 Energy FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (405 - 4)
7/18 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
3/16 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
3/16 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
6/24 HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (373 - 48)
7/16 HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (218 - 203)
7/18 HR 5121 Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 Bill Passed - House (365 - 49)
5/24 HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
2/13 HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
6/25 HR 4112 Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (235 - 179)
6/18 HR 4567 Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (400 - 5)
6/08 HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (246 - 183)
6/11 HR 2350 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (406 - 6)

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