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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 11, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
April 11, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
March 21, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212) |
Feb. 13, 2003 | National | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 20) |
Feb. 13, 2003 | National | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (338 - 83) |
June 3, 2003 | National | H J Res 4 | Flag Burning Resolution | Bill Passed - House (300 - 125) |
Nov. 22, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215) |
Nov. 25, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
June 27, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Bill Passed - House (216 - 215) |
April 9, 2003 | National | HR 1036 | Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act | Bill Passed - House (285 - 140) |
May 1, 2003 | National | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
April 30, 2003 | National | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
Sept. 23, 2003 | National | HR 1409 | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
March 31, 2003 | National | HR 1463 | Vaccine Compensation bill | Bill Failed - House (184 - 206) |
June 19, 2003 | National | HR 1528 | Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
April 3, 2003 | National | HR 1559 | Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 | Bill Passed - House (414 - 12) |
Nov. 12, 2003 | National | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
Nov. 7, 2003 | National | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40) |
May 22, 2003 | National | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (361 - 68) |
Nov. 6, 2003 | National | HR 1829 | Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (350 - 65) |
Nov. 21, 2003 | National | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
May 20, 2003 | National | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | (256 - 170) |
July 16, 2003 | National | HR 1950 | State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill | Bill Passed - House (382 - 42) |
May 23, 2003 | National | HR 2 | Jobs and Economic Growth bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
May 23, 2003 | National | HR 2 | Jobs and Economic Growth bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (231 - 200) |
Oct. 30, 2003 | National | HR 2115 | Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207) |
July 16, 2003 | National | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
June 10, 2003 | National | HR 2143 | Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act | Bill Passed - House (319 - 104) |
July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
July 9, 2003 | National | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
June 11, 2003 | National | HR 2350 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (406 - 6) |
Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 2417 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163) |
July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2427 | Imports of Prescription Drugs bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 186) |
Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8) |
June 24, 2003 | National | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (425 - 2) |
Nov. 5, 2003 | National | HR 2559 | Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 5) |
Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56) |
July 11, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
July 9, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - House (394 - 26) |
Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
July 8, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
July 10, 2003 | National | HR 2660 | Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (215 - 208) |
July 14, 2003 | National | HR 2673 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA | Bill Passed - House (347 - 64) |
Oct. 30, 2003 | National | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
July 17, 2003 | National | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 152) |
July 24, 2003 | National | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 156) |
July 31, 2003 | National | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
July 31, 2003 | National | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
July 24, 2003 | National | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (272 - 155) |
Nov. 18, 2003 | National | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
July 23, 2003 | National | HR 2799 | Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (400 - 21) |
July 24, 2003 | National | HR 2800 | Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (370 - 50) |
July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2859 | Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 60) |
July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2861 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act, 2004 | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |
Sept. 9, 2003 | National | HR 2989 | Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (381 - 39) |
Sept. 25, 2003 | National | HR 3161 | Do-Not-Call-Registry bill | Bill Passed - House (412 - 8) |
Oct. 31, 2003 | National | HR 3289 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
Feb. 13, 2003 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 192) |
July 9, 2003 | National | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
March 13, 2003 | National | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 196) |
Feb. 27, 2003 | National | HR 534 | Cloning of Humans bill | Bill Passed - House (241 - 155) |
Nov. 18, 2003 | National | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (246 - 180) |
July 31, 2003 | National | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
April 11, 2003 | National | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - House (247 - 175) |
June 19, 2003 | National | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
Sept. 17, 2003 | National | HR 7 | Charitable Contributions bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 13) |
April 2, 2003 | National | HR 743 | Social Security Protection Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (396 - 28) |
June 4, 2003 | National | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
Oct. 16, 2003 | National | H Res 198 | Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31) |
Oct. 28, 2003 | National | PN 884 | Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (88 - 8) |
June 27, 2003 | National | S 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
May 22, 2003 | National | S 1050 | Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
Nov. 21, 2003 | National | S 1156 | Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (423 - 2) |
April 10, 2003 | National | S 151 | Enhance AMBER Alert bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/11 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
4/11 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
3/21 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212) |
2/13 | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 20) |
2/13 | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (338 - 83) |
6/03 | H J Res 4 | Flag Burning Resolution | Bill Passed - House (300 - 125) |
11/22 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215) |
11/25 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
6/27 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Bill Passed - House (216 - 215) |
4/09 | HR 1036 | Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act | Bill Passed - House (285 - 140) |
5/01 | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
4/30 | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
9/23 | HR 1409 | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
3/31 | HR 1463 | Vaccine Compensation bill | Bill Failed - House (184 - 206) |
6/19 | HR 1528 | Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
4/03 | HR 1559 | Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 | Bill Passed - House (414 - 12) |
11/12 | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
11/07 | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40) |
5/22 | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (361 - 68) |
11/06 | HR 1829 | Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (350 - 65) |
11/21 | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
5/20 | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | (256 - 170) |
7/16 | HR 1950 | State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill | Bill Passed - House (382 - 42) |
5/23 | HR 2 | Jobs and Economic Growth bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
5/23 | HR 2 | Jobs and Economic Growth bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (231 - 200) |
10/30 | HR 2115 | Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207) |
7/16 | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
6/10 | HR 2143 | Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act | Bill Passed - House (319 - 104) |
7/25 | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
7/09 | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
6/11 | HR 2350 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (406 - 6) |
11/20 | HR 2417 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163) |
7/25 | HR 2427 | Imports of Prescription Drugs bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 186) |
11/20 | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
9/24 | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8) |
6/24 | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (425 - 2) |
11/05 | HR 2559 | Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 5) |
9/24 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56) |
7/11 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
7/09 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - House (394 - 26) |
9/24 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
7/08 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
7/10 | HR 2660 | Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (215 - 208) |
7/14 | HR 2673 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA | Bill Passed - House (347 - 64) |
10/30 | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
7/17 | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 152) |
7/24 | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 156) |
7/31 | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
7/31 | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
7/24 | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (272 - 155) |
11/18 | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
7/23 | HR 2799 | Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (400 - 21) |
7/24 | HR 2800 | Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (370 - 50) |
7/25 | HR 2859 | Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 60) |
7/25 | HR 2861 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act, 2004 | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |
9/09 | HR 2989 | Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (381 - 39) |
9/25 | HR 3161 | Do-Not-Call-Registry bill | Bill Passed - House (412 - 8) |
10/31 | HR 3289 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
2/13 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 192) |
7/09 | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
3/13 | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 196) |
2/27 | HR 534 | Cloning of Humans bill | Bill Passed - House (241 - 155) |
11/18 | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (246 - 180) |
7/31 | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
4/11 | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - House (247 - 175) |
6/19 | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
9/17 | HR 7 | Charitable Contributions bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 13) |
4/02 | HR 743 | Social Security Protection Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (396 - 28) |
6/04 | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
10/16 | H Res 198 | Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31) |
10/28 | PN 884 | Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (88 - 8) |
6/27 | S 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
5/22 | S 1050 | Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
11/21 | S 1156 | Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (423 - 2) |
4/10 | S 151 | Enhance AMBER Alert bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25) |