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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1086 | Prohibits States from Penalizing a Bank for Providing Financial Services to Marijuana Businesses | Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1093 | Prohibits Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from Preventing States from Implementing Broadband Internet Access Service Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 200) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1098 | Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (241 - 181) |
June 6, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1133 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
June 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1190 | Tribal Land Trust Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
July 12, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1286 | Definition of Marriage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311) |
July 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1309 | Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223) |
June 30, 1993 | National | H Amdt 188 | DC's Domestic Partners Ordinance | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 167) |
June 17, 1999 | National | H Amdt 200 | Ten Commandments Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (248 - 180) |
June 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 231 | Authorizes States to Require Federal Welfare Work Requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 198) |
June 15, 2005 | National | H Amdt 272 | Medical Marijuana Use Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (161 - 264) |
March 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 497 | Funding and Programs Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (173 - 245) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 507 | Specifies the Authority of the Secretary of Interior on the Regulation of Methane Emissions | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 230) |
Nov. 7, 2009 | National | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
July 25, 2007 | National | H Amdt 674 | State and Federal Medical Marijuana Law Enforcement and Implementation | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 262) |
Aug. 3, 1998 | National | H Amdt 690 | Shays Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 186) |
May 11, 2000 | National | H Amdt 694 | Local Government Participation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 238) |
June 7, 2000 | National | H Amdt 745 | San Rafael Swell Area Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 211) |
June 7, 2000 | National | H Amdt 748 | San Rafael Legacy District Motor Vehicle Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 214) |
May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 748 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Preventing States from Authorizing the Use of Medical Marijuana | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189) |
July 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 755 | Federal Land Appraisals | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 148) |
Sept. 23, 2011 | National | H Amdt 799 | Suspends Cross State Air Pollution Rule | Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 188) |
Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
June 21, 2000 | National | H Amdt 858 | EPA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 216) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 862 | Federal Campaign Finance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (147 - 222) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 865 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 243) |
Feb. 28, 1996 | National | H Amdt 935 | Dairy Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164) |
March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
March 21, 2013 | National | H Con Res 25 | Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207) |
May 18, 2023 | National | H Con Res 40 | Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies | Joint Resolution Passed - House (301 - 119) |
Feb. 9, 2023 | National | H J Res 24 | Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (260 - 162) |
March 8, 2023 | National | H J Res 26 | Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (81 - 14) |
Feb. 9, 2023 | National | H J Res 26 | Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 173) |
March 29, 2023 | National | H J Res 27 | Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States' " | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 43) |
March 9, 2023 | National | H J Res 27 | Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States' " | Joint Resolution Passed - House (227 - 198) |
May 16, 2023 | National | H J Res 42 | Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
April 19, 2023 | National | H J Res 42 | Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. | Joint Resolution Passed - House (229 - 189) |
Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
May 3, 2011 | National | HR 1213 | Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (238 - 183) |
May 5, 1998 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7) |
May 16, 1997 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - House (343 - 60) |
Sept. 20, 2013 | National | HR 1526 | Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act | Bill Passed - House (244 - 173) |
March 23, 2018 | National | HR 1625 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
March 22, 2018 | National | HR 1625 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 167) |
Oct. 26, 2011 | National | HR 1904 | Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 186) |
April 19, 2007 | National | HR 1905 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 177) |
July 13, 2011 | National | HR 2018 | Amending Clean Water Laws | Bill Passed - House (239 - 184) |
May 9, 2018 | National | HR 2152 | Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 197) |
July 25, 2013 | National | HR 2218 | Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (265 - 155) |
June 28, 2013 | National | HR 2231 | Offshore Energy and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 186) |
Oct. 14, 2011 | National | HR 2273 | Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act | Bill Passed - House (267 - 144) |
Jan. 9, 2014 | National | HR 2279 | Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 188) |
May 22, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 5) |
May 22, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (297 - 86) |
April 1, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 80) |
Oct. 27, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 201) |
July 27, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 29) |
June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 211) |
May 11, 2022 | National | HR 2499 | Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 131) |
Nov. 2, 1995 | National | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
June 19, 2012 | National | HR 2578 | Conservation and Economic Growth Act | Bill Passed - House (232 - 188) |
Oct. 9, 1997 | National | HR 2607 | District of Columbia FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (203 - 202) |
June 29, 2021 | National | HR 2662 | IG Independence and Empowerment Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 182) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | HR 2728 | Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 187) |
Oct. 16, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (285 - 144) |
Oct. 16, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18) |
Sept. 12, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
Feb. 5, 1998 | National | HR 2846 | National Student Testing bill | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
July 23, 2015 | National | HR 3009 | Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act | Bill Passed - House (241 - 179) |
May 10, 2018 | National | HR 3053 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (340 - 72) |
Nov. 2, 1999 | National | HR 3064 | DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
Oct. 28, 1999 | National | HR 3064 | DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 211) |
Oct. 14, 1999 | National | HR 3064 | District of Columbia Appropriations Act, FY 2000 | Bill Passed - House (211 - 205) |
Nov. 3, 1999 | National | HR 3194 | District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (216 - 210) |
Oct. 16, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
Oct. 10, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48) |
Sept. 10, 1996 | National | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
July 12, 1996 | National | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - House (342 - 67) |
June 6, 1996 | National | HR 3562 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (289 - 136) |
Dec. 23, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
March 21, 2010 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 212) |
Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
July 15, 1998 | National | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
May 10, 2000 | National | HR 3709 | Regarding Internet Taxation | Bill Passed - House (352 - 75) |
April 29, 1998 | National | HR 3717 | Needle Exchange Funding Ban | Bill Passed - House (287 - 140) |
Nov. 17, 2010 | National | HR 3808 | Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 2 | Veto Override Failed - House (185 - 235) |
Dec. 21, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
Sept. 19, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
March 24, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (234 - 199) |
July 16, 2008 | National | HR 415 | Adding Parts of the Taunton River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System | Bill Passed - House (242 - 175) |
Nov. 30, 2017 | National | HR 4182 | Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act) | Bill Passed - House (213 - 204) |
Aug. 7, 1998 | National | HR 4380 | District of Columbia FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
March 6, 2018 | National | HR 4607 | Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act | Bill Passed - House (246 - 143) |
Sept. 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27) |
July 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
July 13, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 210) |
March 30, 2011 | National | HR 471 | School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |