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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 121 | Delays National Flood Insurance Premiums Increases | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 146) |
June 6, 2013 | National | H Amdt 136 | Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 201) |
June 14, 2013 | National | H Amdt 167 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen | Amendment Adopted - House (236 - 188) |
June 14, 2013 | National | H Amdt 168 | Establishes Framework for the Closing of the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by December 1, 2014 | Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 249) |
June 19, 2013 | National | H Amdt 176 | Restores $20.5 Billion in Appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Rejected - House (188 - 234) |
June 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 227 | Amends the Federal Sugar Program | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221) |
Feb. 28, 2013 | National | H Amdt 23 | Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act | Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257) |
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) |
July 23, 2013 | National | H Amdt 375 | Prohibits the Use of Funds to Appoint Chaplains Without an Endorsing Agency | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 173) |
Jan. 15, 2013 | National | H Amdt 4 | Offsets Cost of Disaster Relief Appropriations Through Discretionary Budget Cuts | Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 258) |
July 24, 2013 | National | H Amdt 413 | Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the PATRIOT Act | Amendment Rejected - House (205 - 217) |
Aug. 2, 2013 | National | H Amdt 448 | Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176) |
Aug. 2, 2013 | National | H Amdt 450 | Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 185) |
Sept. 18, 2013 | National | H Amdt 463 | Amends the Definition of "Strategic and Critical Minerals" | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 241) |
Sept. 18, 2013 | National | H Amdt 466 | Requires Mine Operators to Include the Cost of Cleanup in Financial Insurance | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 235) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 498 | Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition | Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 499 | Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 503 | Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 504 | Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
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. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 512 | Requires Natural Gas Pipeline Applications to Include Certain Information | Amendment Rejected - House (183 - 233) |
Nov. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 513 | Removes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Permit Issuance Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 233) |
Nov. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 515 | Prohibits the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act from Taking Effect During the Sequester | Amendment Rejected - House (175 - 243) |
Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 521 | Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213) |
Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 524 | Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue | Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 67 | Requires a Finding be Added Concerning Oil Sand Crudes | Amendment Rejected - House (146 - 269) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 69 | Requires Threat Assessment of Pipeline Vulnerabilities to a Terrorist Attack | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 239) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 71 | Repeals Requirement that Secretary of the Army Approve All Keystone XL Pipeline Permit Applications | Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 234) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 72 | Increases Time to File a Claim Under the Northern Route Approval Act from 60 Days to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 234) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 75 | Requires All Oil and Refined Fuels Transported Through the Keystone XL Pipeline to be Used Only in The United States | Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 255) |
June 4, 2013 | National | H Amdt 84 | Authorizes Funds for the Construction of United States Prison for Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba | Amendment Rejected - House (170 - 254) |
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) |
Dec. 18, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
Dec. 12, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (332 - 94) |
Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 201) |
Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
Sept. 29, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
Sept. 27, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
Sept. 20, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (230 - 189) |
Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 70 | National Park Service Operations, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (252 - 176) |
Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 72 | Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (264 - 164) |
Oct. 4, 2013 | National | H J Res 75 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (244 - 164) |
Oct. 11, 2013 | National | H J Res 76 | National Nuclear Security Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - House (248 - 176) |
Oct. 7, 2013 | National | H J Res 77 | Food and Drug Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 162) |
Oct. 10, 2013 | National | H J Res 79 | Border Security and Enforcement Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (249 - 175) |
Oct. 8, 2013 | National | H J Res 84 | Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (248 - 168) |
Oct. 4, 2013 | National | H J Res 85 | Federal Emergency Management Agency Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (247 - 164) |
Oct. 9, 2013 | National | H J Res 90 | Federal Aviation Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (252 - 172) |
Oct. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 99 | Disapproval of the President's Exercise of Authority to Suspend the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (222 - 191) |
May 17, 2013 | National | HR 1062 | SEC Regulatory Accountability Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 161) |
Dec. 4, 2013 | National | HR 1105 | Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 159) |
April 12, 2013 | National | HR 1120 | Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act | Bill Passed - House (219 - 209) |
May 8, 2013 | National | HR 1406 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (223 - 204) |
Jan. 28, 2013 | National | HR 152 | Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
Jan. 15, 2013 | National | HR 152 | Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 180) |
Sept. 20, 2013 | National | HR 1526 | Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act | Bill Passed - House (244 - 173) |
Aug. 1, 2013 | National | HR 1582 | Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 181) |
June 18, 2013 | National | HR 1797 | Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 196) |
Nov. 21, 2013 | National | HR 1900 | Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (252 - 165) |
July 24, 2013 | National | HR 1911 | Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18) |
May 23, 2013 | National | HR 1911 | Smarter Solutions for Students Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 198) |
June 20, 2013 | National | HR 1947 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Failed - House (195 - 234) |
June 14, 2013 | National | HR 1960 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 | Bill Passed - House (315 - 108) |
June 14, 2013 | National | HR 1960 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 | Motion Rejected - House (194 - 225) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | HR 1965 | Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 192) |
Aug. 2, 2013 | National | HR 2009 | Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 185) |
Dec. 11, 2013 | National | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
June 6, 2013 | National | HR 2217 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
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. 29, 2013 | National | HR 2374 | Retail Investor Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 166) |
July 24, 2013 | National | HR 2397 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 | Bill Passed - House (315 - 109) |
April 15, 2013 | National | HR 249 | Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013 | Bill Failed - House (250 - 159) |
July 11, 2013 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (216 - 208) |
Nov. 14, 2013 | National | HR 2655 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
July 17, 2013 | National | HR 2667 | Authority for Mandate Delay Act | Bill Passed - House (264 - 161) |
July 17, 2013 | National | HR 2668 | Fairness for American Families Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 174) |
Nov. 20, 2013 | National | HR 2728 | Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 187) |
Feb. 15, 2013 | National | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
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) |
Aug. 1, 2013 | National | HR 2879 | Stop Government Abuse Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 176) |
May 22, 2013 | National | HR 3 | Northern Route Approval Act | Bill Passed - House (241 - 175) |
Oct. 3, 2013 | National | HR 3230 | Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act | Bill Passed - House (265 - 160) |
Jan. 31, 2013 | National | HR 325 | No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
Jan. 23, 2013 | National | HR 325 | No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 144) |
Dec. 5, 2013 | National | HR 3309 | Innovation Act | Bill Passed - House (325 - 91) |
Nov. 15, 2013 | National | HR 3350 | Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 157) |
Aug. 2, 2013 | National | HR 367 | Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 183) |
May 16, 2013 | National | HR 45 | Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 195) |
April 18, 2013 | National | HR 624 | Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
Jan. 1, 2013 | National | HR 6726 | Congressional Pay Freeze and Fiscal Responsibility Act | Bill Passed - House (287 - 129) |
Sept. 18, 2013 | National | HR 761 | National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 178) |
Jan. 1, 2013 | National | HR 8 | Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (257 - 167) |
Jan. 1, 2013 | National | HR 8 | Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 8) |
March 15, 2013 | National | HR 803 | Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) | Bill Passed - House (215 - 202) |
May 9, 2013 | National | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |