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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 15, 1996 National H Amdt 1057 Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220)
May 15, 1996 National H Amdt 1058 Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171)
May 22, 1996 National H Amdt 1075 Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1084 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
June 6, 1996 National H Amdt 1133 Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
June 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1147 Animal Damage Control Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (139 - 279)
June 13, 1996 National H Amdt 1164 Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219)
June 13, 1996 National H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
June 20, 1996 National H Amdt 1183 Forest Service Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 211)
June 20, 1996 National H Amdt 1190 Tribal Land Trust Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1264 Education and Training Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1265 School Improvement Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1276 Human Embryo Research Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 256)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1278 Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
July 18, 1996 National H Amdt 1307 Food Stamp Recipient Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184)
July 22, 1996 National H Amdt 1309 Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223)
July 24, 1996 National H Amdt 1356 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 933 Peanut Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 934 Sugar Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 935 Dairy Program Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164)
Feb. 29, 1996 National H Amdt 936 Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37)
Feb. 29, 1996 National H Amdt 941 Florida Everglades Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (299 - 124)
March 7, 1996 National H Amdt 946 Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222)
March 7, 1996 National H Amdt 947 Lobby Disclosure Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209)
March 14, 1996 National H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
March 20, 1996 National H Amdt 968 Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269)
March 20, 1996 National H Amdt 969 Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163)
March 20, 1996 National H Amdt 974 Immigrant English Proficiency Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (210 - 207)
June 12, 1996 National H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211)
June 13, 1996 National H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 46)
May 16, 1996 National H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195)
June 6, 1996 National H J Res 1 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (64 - 35)
May 23, 1996 National HR 1227 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (281 - 144)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 123 English as the National Language Bill Passed - House (259 - 169)
March 22, 1996 National HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
Jan. 3, 1996 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156)
April 30, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188)
March 28, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44)
March 12, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172)
Sept. 26, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
Sept. 19, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
Jan. 4, 1996 National HR 1977 1996 Interior Appropriations Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177)
May 7, 1996 National HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
Sept. 25, 1996 National HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123)
May 2, 1996 National HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
March 21, 1996 National HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - House (333 - 87)
July 30, 1996 National HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
March 14, 1996 National HR 2703 Antiterrorism bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
March 28, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
March 29, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89)
Feb. 29, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 155)
April 25, 1996 National HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 25)
April 25, 1996 National HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
March 19, 1996 National HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
March 7, 1996 National HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - House (209 - 206)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
March 28, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Bill Passed - House (267 - 151)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
May 15, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Bill Passed - House (272 - 153)
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)
May 21, 1996 National HR 3415 Repeal Gas Tax bill Bill Passed - House (301 - 108)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
July 9, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
May 22, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
Sept. 27, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
Oct. 3, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
June 6, 1996 National HR 3562 Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (289 - 136)
Sept. 28, 1996 National HR 3610 Omnibus FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 37)
June 13, 1996 National HR 3610 Defense Department FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 126)
Sept. 24, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
June 26, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (269 - 147)
July 31, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
July 23, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
July 18, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
Sept. 17, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
Sept. 12, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
July 25, 1996 National HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
July 10, 1996 National HR 743 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46)
April 17, 1996 National HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
March 6, 1996 National HR 927 Cuba Sanctions Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86)
March 5, 1996 National HR 927 Cuba Sanctions Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22)
May 9, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
March 21, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
March 29, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
June 27, 1996 National H Res 468 Investigation of Speaker Newt Gingrich Resolution Tabled - House (229 - 170)
June 20, 1996 National PN 951 Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (91 - 7)
June 20, 1996 National PN 953 Alice M. Rivlin, Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Nomination Confirmed - Senate (57 - 41)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/15 H Amdt 1057 Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220)
5/15 H Amdt 1058 Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171)
5/22 H Amdt 1075 Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248)
5/23 H Amdt 1084 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
6/06 H Amdt 1133 Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
6/12 H Amdt 1147 Animal Damage Control Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (139 - 279)
6/13 H Amdt 1164 Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219)
6/13 H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
6/20 H Amdt 1183 Forest Service Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 211)
6/20 H Amdt 1190 Tribal Land Trust Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206)
7/11 H Amdt 1264 Education and Training Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227)
7/11 H Amdt 1265 School Improvement Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129)
7/11 H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
7/11 H Amdt 1276 Human Embryo Research Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 256)
7/11 H Amdt 1278 Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220)
7/12 H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)
7/12 H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
7/18 H Amdt 1307 Food Stamp Recipient Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184)
7/22 H Amdt 1309 Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223)
7/24 H Amdt 1356 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236)
7/25 H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
7/25 H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
2/28 H Amdt 933 Peanut Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212)
2/28 H Amdt 934 Sugar Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217)
2/28 H Amdt 935 Dairy Program Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164)
2/29 H Amdt 936 Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37)
2/29 H Amdt 941 Florida Everglades Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (299 - 124)
3/07 H Amdt 946 Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222)
3/07 H Amdt 947 Lobby Disclosure Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209)
3/14 H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
3/20 H Amdt 968 Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269)
3/20 H Amdt 969 Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163)
3/20 H Amdt 974 Immigrant English Proficiency Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (210 - 207)
6/12 H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211)
6/13 H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 46)
5/16 H Con Res 178 Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195)
6/06 H J Res 1 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (64 - 35)
5/23 HR 1227 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (281 - 144)
8/01 HR 123 English as the National Language Bill Passed - House (259 - 169)
3/22 HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
1/03 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156)
4/30 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188)
3/28 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44)
3/12 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172)
9/26 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
9/19 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
1/04 HR 1977 1996 Interior Appropriations Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177)
5/07 HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
9/25 HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123)
5/02 HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
3/21 HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - House (333 - 87)
7/30 HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
3/14 HR 2703 Antiterrorism bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
3/28 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
3/29 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89)
2/29 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 155)
4/25 HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 25)
4/25 HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
3/19 HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
3/07 HR 3019 Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus Bill Passed - House (209 - 206)
8/02 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
8/01 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
3/28 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Bill Passed - House (267 - 151)
9/10 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
8/01 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
5/15 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Bill Passed - House (272 - 153)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
7/12 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
5/21 HR 3415 Repeal Gas Tax bill Bill Passed - House (301 - 108)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
7/09 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
5/22 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
9/27 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
10/03 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
6/06 HR 3562 Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (289 - 136)
9/28 HR 3610 Omnibus FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 37)
6/13 HR 3610 Defense Department FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (278 - 126)
9/24 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
6/26 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (269 - 147)
7/31 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101)
8/01 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
7/23 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
7/18 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
9/17 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
9/12 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
7/25 HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
8/02 HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
7/10 HR 743 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46)
4/17 HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
3/06 HR 927 Cuba Sanctions Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86)
3/05 HR 927 Cuba Sanctions Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22)
5/09 HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
3/21 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
3/29 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
6/27 H Res 468 Investigation of Speaker Newt Gingrich Resolution Tabled - House (229 - 170)
6/20 PN 951 Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (91 - 7)
6/20 PN 953 Alice M. Rivlin, Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Nomination Confirmed - Senate (57 - 41)

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