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
May 10, 2018 CA SB 785 Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 30, 2018 CA AB 2965 Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (47 - 25)
April 17, 2018 CO SB 18-220 Prohibits Jurisdictions From Establishing Sanctuary Status Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 25, 2018 CT SB 4 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - House (91 - 59)
April 18, 2018 CT SB 4 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Jan. 12, 2018 FL HB 9 Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - House (71 - 35)
April 4, 2018 IA SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
April 3, 2018 IA SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
April 7, 2018 KS HB 2482 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32)
Feb. 22, 2018 MI HB 4053 Establishes English as Official Language Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
April 30, 2018 MO HB 2179 Prohibits State Contracts with Businesses that Support BDS Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
Aug. 1, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
Aug. 1, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
July 26, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54)
July 26, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Dec. 13, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
Dec. 13, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
Dec. 13, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
May 17, 2018 National PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (54 - 45)
April 26, 2018 National PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State (57 - 42)
May 17, 2018 National PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (54 - 45)
April 26, 2018 National PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State (57 - 42)
June 18, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)
June 18, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
May 17, 2018 National PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 44)
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 1959 Secure and Succeed Act (Grassley Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (39 - 60)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1958 Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (Schumer Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1948 Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
March 20, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
March 20, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
March 20, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
April 26, 2018 National PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
April 26, 2018 National PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
May 17, 2018 National PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 44)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
May 24, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - House (351 - 66)
May 24, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - House (351 - 66)
Jan. 17, 2018 National HR 3326 World Bank Accountability Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 184)
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)
July 19, 2018 National S Res 584 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate against the making available of current and former diplomats, officials, and members of the Armed Forces of the United States for questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
March 14, 2018 National HR 4909 STOP School Violence Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (407 - 10)
Sept. 4, 2018 National HR 6439 Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (272 - 119)
Sept. 13, 2018 National HR 1911 Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2018 (393 - 2)
April 12, 2018 NJ S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
June 21, 2018 NJ ACR 180 Recommends Congressional Support for Keep Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (60 - 4)
March 26, 2018 NJ S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
June 20, 2018 NY S 2493 Prohibits College Funds for Organizations that Promote Boycotts of Allied Nations Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 12)
March 21, 2018 NY S 3698 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
March 3, 2018 OR HB 4111 Authorizes DMV to Renew and Replace Limited-Term Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22)
March 3, 2018 OR SB 1563 Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
May 23, 2018 RI S 2678 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
April 25, 2018 TN HB 2315 Prohibits Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - House (64 - 23)
March 6, 2018 VA HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2018 VA HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
May 3, 2018 VT H 25 Amends State Domestic Terrorism Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/10 SB 785 Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/30 AB 2965 Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (47 - 25)
4/17 SB 18-220 Prohibits Jurisdictions From Establishing Sanctuary Status Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/25 SB 4 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - House (91 - 59)
4/18 SB 4 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
1/12 HB 9 Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - House (71 - 35)
4/04 SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
4/03 SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
4/07 HB 2482 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32)
2/22 HB 4053 Establishes English as Official Language Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
4/30 HB 2179 Prohibits State Contracts with Businesses that Support BDS Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
8/01 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
8/01 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
7/26 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54)
7/26 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
12/13 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
12/13 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
12/13 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 41)
5/17 PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (54 - 45)
4/26 PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State (57 - 42)
5/17 PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (54 - 45)
4/26 PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State (57 - 42)
6/18 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)
6/18 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
5/17 PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 44)
2/15 S Amdt 1955 Uniting and Securing America Act (Coons-McCain Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
2/15 S Amdt 1959 Secure and Succeed Act (Grassley Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (39 - 60)
2/15 S Amdt 1958 Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (Schumer Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
2/15 S Amdt 1948 Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
3/20 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
3/20 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
3/20 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
4/26 PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
4/26 PN 1761 Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
5/17 PN 1857 Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 44)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
5/24 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - House (351 - 66)
5/24 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - House (351 - 66)
1/17 HR 3326 World Bank Accountability Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 184)
6/21 HR 4760 Securing America's Future Act of 2018 Bill Failed - House (193 - 231)
6/27 HR 6136 Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 Bill Failed - House (121 - 301)
7/19 S Res 584 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate against the making available of current and former diplomats, officials, and members of the Armed Forces of the United States for questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
3/14 HR 4909 STOP School Violence Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (407 - 10)
9/04 HR 6439 Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (272 - 119)
9/13 HR 1911 Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2018 (393 - 2)
4/12 S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
6/21 ACR 180 Recommends Congressional Support for Keep Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (60 - 4)
3/26 S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
6/20 S 2493 Prohibits College Funds for Organizations that Promote Boycotts of Allied Nations Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 12)
3/21 S 3698 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
3/03 HB 4111 Authorizes DMV to Renew and Replace Limited-Term Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22)
3/03 SB 1563 Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
5/23 S 2678 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
4/25 HB 2315 Prohibits Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - House (64 - 23)
3/06 HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/13 HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
5/03 H 25 Amends State Domestic Terrorism Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)

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