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. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
July 8, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
Sept. 27, 2006 | National | HR 6166 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 168) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
July 16, 2003 | National | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
May 19, 1993 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
June 29, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
July 27, 1993 | National | HR 2667 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 1993 | Bill Passed - House (400 - 27) |
Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
July 21, 2005 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (257 - 171) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
March 16, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - House (348 - 71) |
June 16, 2006 | National | H Res 861 | Global War on Terror | Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153) |
June 20, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (398 - 19) |
Dec. 16, 2005 | National | HR 4437 | Border Security Bill | Bill Passed - House (239 - 182) |
May 17, 2005 | National | HR 2360 | Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (424 - 1) |
March 16, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
Feb. 10, 2005 | National | HR 418 | Real ID Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 161) |
June 23, 2004 | National | HR 4548 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 | Bill Passed - House (360 - 61) |
June 18, 2004 | National | HR 4567 | Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (400 - 5) |
Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
March 27, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
Oct. 4, 2011 | National | HR 2608 | Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66) |
Aug. 1, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
Dec. 21, 2012 | National | HR 4310 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 14) |
Oct. 20, 2009 | National | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53) |
Sept. 26, 2011 | National | HR 2608 | Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 12) |
March 25, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
Oct. 15, 2009 | National | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (307 - 114) |
July 26, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54) |
Dec. 20, 2012 | National | HR 4310 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (315 - 107) |
Dec. 23, 2022 | National | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201) |
April 23, 2020 | National | HR 266 | Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5) |
May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153) |
June 3, 2019 | National | HR 2157 | Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (354 - 58) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
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) |
Feb. 17, 2011 | National | HR 514 | Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (279 - 143) |
March 10, 2021 | National | HR 1319 | American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 211) |
Oct. 1, 2020 | National | HR 925 | The Heroes Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (327 - 85) |
May 18, 2021 | National | S 937 | COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act | Bill Passed - House (364 - 62) |
March 14, 2019 | National | H J Res 46 | Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | National | PN 410 | Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security | (54 - 41) |
April 26, 2018 | National | PN 1761 | Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State | (57 - 42) |
May 21, 2020 | National | PN 1615 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44) |
Feb. 2, 2021 | National | PN 78-13 | Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
Jan. 20, 2021 | National | PN 78-10 | Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10) |
Dec. 14, 2021 | National | S 1605 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 | Cloture Invoked - Senate (86 - 13) |
May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 23) |
Dec. 22, 2022 | National | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
May 23, 2019 | National | HR 2157 | Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 8) |
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) |
March 6, 2021 | National | HR 1319 | American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 49) |
May 14, 2020 | National | HR 6172 | USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
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) |
Feb. 15, 2011 | National | HR 514 | Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 12) |
March 18, 2020 | National | HR 6201 | Families First Coronavirus Response Act | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8) |
July 23, 2019 | National | HR 1327 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
March 10, 2023 | National | S 619 | COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (419 - 0) |
July 27, 2017 | National | HR 3364 | Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2) |
June 14, 2013 | National | HR 1960 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 | Bill Passed - House (315 - 108) |
Dec. 28, 2012 | National | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23) |
April 22, 2021 | National | S 937 | COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 1) |
Sept. 27, 2019 | National | SJ Res 54 | Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 | Bill Passed - House (236 - 174) |
March 29, 2023 | National | H J Res 7 | Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (68 - 23) |
March 7, 2013 | National | PN 48 | Nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 34) |
April 26, 2018 | National | PN 1761 | Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State | Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
Nov. 12, 2019 | National | PN 410 | Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 40) |
June 2, 2011 | National | H Amdt 406 | Transportation Security Administration Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204) |
June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 935 | Prohibits a Federal Employee from Requesting Foreign Intelligence Information in Relation to a US Citizen | Amendment Adopted - House (293 - 123) |
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) |
Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3245 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
Jan. 31, 2023 | National | HR 497 | Freedom for Health Care Workers Act | Bill Passed - House (227 - 203) |
Sept. 12, 2012 | National | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (301 - 118) |
April 18, 2013 | National | HR 624 | Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
Oct. 10, 2013 | National | H J Res 79 | Border Security and Enforcement Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (249 - 175) |
May 18, 2012 | National | HR 4310 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 | Bill Passed - House (299 - 120) |
Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3018 | Prohibits the Indefinite Detention of Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents | Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 29) |
June 6, 2013 | National | HR 2217 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
Sept. 9, 2014 | National | H Res 644 | Condemning and Disapproving of the Failure of the Obama Administration to Comply with the Lawful Statutory Requirement to Notify Congress before Transferring Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Expressing Concern About the National Security Risks Over the Transfer of Five Taliban Leaders and the Repercussions of Negotiating with Terrorists | Resolution Passed - House (249 - 163) |
Feb. 1, 2023 | National | H J Res 7 | Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (229 - 197) |
Feb. 9, 2023 | National | H Res 104 | Condemning the Chinese Communist Party's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty | Resolution Passed - House (419 - 0) |
Sept. 28, 2023 | National | HR 4367 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 208) |
Nov. 1, 2023 | National | H Res 559 | Declaring it is the policy of the United States that a nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran is not acceptable. | Resolution Passed - House (354 - 53) |
Nov. 1, 2023 | National | HR 340 | Hamas International Financing Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (363 - 46) |
Nov. 30, 2023 | National | HR 5961 | No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act | Bill Passed - House (307 - 119) |
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) |
April 15, 2024 | National | HR 6408 | To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist supporting organizations | Bill Passed - House (382 - 11) |
April 15, 2024 | National | HR 5923 | Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (383 - 11) |
April 15, 2024 | National | HR 5921 | No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (294 - 105) |