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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 1, 2020 | National | HR 925 | The Heroes Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207) |
April 6, 2022 | National | H Res 1037 | Recommending that the House of Representatives find Peter K. Navarro and Daniel Scavino, Jr., in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. | Resolution Passed - House (220 - 203) |
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) |
Jan. 10, 2023 | National | H Res 11 | Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party | Resolution Passed - House (365 - 65) |
Jan. 10, 2023 | National | H Res 12 | Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary | Resolution Passed - House (221 - 211) |
Sept. 15, 2005 | National | H Res 437 | Bipartisan Committee to Investigate Hurricane Katrina | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 188) |
June 30, 2021 | National | H Res 503 | Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol | Bill Passed - House (222 - 190) |
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) |
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) |
June 16, 2006 | National | H Res 861 | Global War on Terror | Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153) |
June 29, 2006 | National | H Res 895 | Intelligence and Law Enforcement Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 183) |
Sept. 17, 2020 | National | H Res 908 | Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 164) |
April 23, 2020 | National | H Res 938 | Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform | Bill Passed - House (212 - 182) |
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) |
May 26, 2006 | National | PN 1552 | Michael Hayden, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 15) |
May 21, 2020 | National | PN 1615 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44) |
April 26, 2018 | National | PN 1761 | Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State | (57 - 42) |
April 26, 2018 | National | PN 1761 | Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State | Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
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) |
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) |
March 7, 2013 | National | PN 48 | Nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 34) |
Jan. 20, 2021 | National | PN 78-10 | Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10) |
Feb. 2, 2021 | National | PN 78-13 | Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
May 23, 2011 | National | S 1038 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 8) |
May 22, 2003 | National | S 1050 | Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
Nov. 21, 2013 | National | S 1197 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Jan. 11, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 164) |
Nov. 16, 2001 | National | S 1447 | Federalize Aviation Security bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 9) |
Dec. 14, 2021 | National | S 1605 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 | Cloture Invoked - Senate (86 - 13) |
Dec. 7, 2021 | National | S 1605 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 | Bill Passed - House (363 - 70) |
Aug. 4, 2007 | National | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - House (227 - 183) |
Aug. 3, 2007 | National | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28) |
Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S 2248 | FISA Amendments Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
June 23, 2004 | National | S 2400 | Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
June 18, 2002 | National | S 2600 | Terrorism Insurance Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
May 25, 2006 | National | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
Nov. 18, 2014 | National | S 2685 | USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
Oct. 6, 2004 | National | S 2845 | National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2) |
Nov. 14, 2012 | National | S 3414 | Cybersecurity Act of 2012 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
Aug. 2, 2012 | National | S 3414 | Cybersecurity Act of 2012 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
March 10, 2023 | National | S 619 | COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (419 - 0) |
April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
June 7, 1995 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8) |
Oct. 27, 2015 | National | S 754 | Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21) |
Nov. 7, 1997 | National | S 858 | Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36) |
May 18, 2021 | National | S 937 | COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act | Bill Passed - House (364 - 62) |
April 22, 2021 | National | S 937 | COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 1) |
May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153) |
May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 23) |
July 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1171 | Detention Beds Increase Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 56) |
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 6, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1215 | Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
July 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1222 | Disclosure of Classified Information Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
July 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1351 | Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
July 8, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1399 | Requiring Completion of Reinforced Border Fencing | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
Feb. 15, 2011 | National | S Amdt 14 | Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
Sept. 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1660 | Congressional Commission on Hurricane Katrina | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
Sept. 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2022 | Habeas Corpus for Detainees of the United States | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
Nov. 19, 2013 | National | S Amdt 2175 | Authorizes the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to the United States | Amendment Rejected - Senate (52 - 46) |
March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 220 | Homeland Security Grant Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 37) |
Nov. 19, 2013 | National | S Amdt 2255 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
July 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
July 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2405 | REAL ID Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44) |
July 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2480 | Border Fence and Customs Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1) |
Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3018 | Prohibits the Indefinite Detention of Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents | Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 29) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
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) |
Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S Amdt 3907 | Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67) |
Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S Amdt 3910 | FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41) |
June 19, 1997 | National | S Amdt 416 | Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56) |
May 27, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4214 | National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46) |
March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4231 | Immigration Enforcement and Border Fence Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 37) |
July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 11, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4560 | USEMA Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (87 - 11) |
July 11, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4563 | FEMA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66) |
July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4659 | Double-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4720 | Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4749 | Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
Aug. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4775 | Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
July 9, 2008 | National | S Amdt 5064 | Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
Sept. 15, 2011 | National | S Amdt 602 | Emergency Disaster Relief Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37) |
Sept. 23, 2011 | National | S Amdt 655 | Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 36) |
Oct. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 753 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for Prosecution of Enemy Combatants in Civilian Courts | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
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) |
March 27, 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 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
March 2, 2022 | National | S J Res 32 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination". | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (49 - 44) |
Feb. 27, 2015 | National | S J Res 35 | Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 | Bill Failed - House (203 - 224) |
March 15, 2022 | National | S J Res 37 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relating to "Requirement for Persons To Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs". | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 40) |