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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Nov. 8, 2001 National HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
Oct. 15, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
Sept. 24, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
April 30, 1998 National S 1502 Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
Nov. 16, 1995 National H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - House (277 - 151)
Oct. 7, 1999 National HR 2723 Patient Protection bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 151)
Oct. 17, 2001 National HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
Oct. 17, 2001 National HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28)
Oct. 6, 1999 National HR 2990 Patients' Bill of Rights bill Bill Passed - House (227 - 205)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (211 - 205)
Feb. 14, 1995 National HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
Dec. 6, 2006 National HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
Nov. 3, 1999 National HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 210)
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
May 9, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
March 24, 2004 National HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
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)
Nov. 16, 1995 National H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
Aug. 3, 2006 National HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
July 29, 2006 National HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 180)
Sept. 8, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
Aug. 6, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152)
Aug. 3, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
July 28, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
Feb. 24, 1998 National HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
March 2, 2000 National S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
July 14, 2003 National HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
Jan. 22, 2004 National HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
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. 22, 2004 National HR 5025 Transportation Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 12)
June 23, 2004 National S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
May 21, 2004 National S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
July 18, 2006 National HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
May 24, 2005 National HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
Feb. 3, 2005 National PN 12 Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 36)
May 25, 2005 National PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 43)
May 24, 2005 National PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 18)
June 20, 2005 National PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 38)
May 26, 2005 National PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
July 26, 2005 National S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 48)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
July 26, 2005 National S Amdt 1351 Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Nov. 8, 2005 National S Amdt 2430 National Commission on Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
Nov. 10, 2005 National S Amdt 2476 Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2518 Iraq Progress Reports Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2519 Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58)
June 30, 2005 National S 1307 CAFTA Implementation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2356 Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2348 Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2371 Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2381 Prescription Drug Plan Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2357 Medicare Premiums Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
June 27, 2003 National HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 215)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2400 Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2409 Targeted Case Management Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2358 ANWR Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2365 Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2351 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49)
Nov. 18, 2005 National S 2020 Tax Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 33)
June 3, 2003 National H J Res 4 Flag Burning Resolution Bill Passed - House (300 - 125)
Nov. 5, 1999 National HR 3196 Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (316 - 100)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2650 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2602 Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2610 Tax Rate Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2616 Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (55 - 43)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2626 Temporary Tax on Crude Oil Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2612 Price-Gouging During Emergencies Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (57 - 42)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2634 Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2601 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47)
March 10, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
April 14, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
March 8, 2005 National S Amdt 47 Violent Protestor Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
March 7, 2005 National S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
Oct. 20, 2005 National S 397 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 144)
July 29, 2005 National S 397 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
July 28, 2005 National S Amdt 1626 Child Safety Lock Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
March 17, 2005 National S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
Sept. 13, 2005 National S J Res 20 EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51)
Jan. 31, 2006 National PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
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)
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)
Feb. 25, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
Feb. 5, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
Nov. 8, 1997 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
July 18, 2006 National H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
Feb. 13, 1997 National HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
May 20, 2003 National HR 1904 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (256 - 170)
Sept. 16, 1999 National HR 2490 Appropriations bill FY2000, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 38)
Sept. 15, 1999 National HR 2490 Appropriations bill FY2000, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 126)
Nov. 6, 2003 National HR 1829 Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (350 - 65)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/08 HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
10/15 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
10/14 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
9/24 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
4/30 S 1502 Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
11/16 H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - House (277 - 151)
10/07 HR 2723 Patient Protection bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 151)
10/17 HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
10/17 HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28)
10/06 HR 2990 Patients' Bill of Rights bill Bill Passed - House (227 - 205)
10/14 HR 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (211 - 205)
2/14 HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
12/06 HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
11/03 HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 210)
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
5/09 HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
3/24 HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
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)
11/16 H J Res 122 Continuing Appropriation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
8/03 HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
7/29 HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 180)
9/08 HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
8/06 HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152)
8/03 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
7/28 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
2/24 HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
3/02 S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
7/14 HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
1/22 HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
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)
9/22 HR 5025 Transportation Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 12)
6/23 S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
5/21 S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
7/18 HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
5/24 HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
2/03 PN 12 Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 36)
5/25 PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 43)
5/24 PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 18)
6/20 PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 38)
5/26 PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
7/26 S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 48)
11/15 S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
7/26 S Amdt 1351 Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
11/08 S Amdt 2430 National Commission on Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
11/10 S Amdt 2476 Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
11/15 S Amdt 2518 Iraq Progress Reports Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
11/15 S Amdt 2519 Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58)
6/30 S 1307 CAFTA Implementation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
11/03 S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
11/03 S Amdt 2356 Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
11/03 S Amdt 2348 Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
11/03 S Amdt 2371 Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
11/03 S Amdt 2381 Prescription Drug Plan Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
11/03 S Amdt 2357 Medicare Premiums Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
6/27 HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Bill Passed - House (216 - 215)
11/03 S Amdt 2400 Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
11/03 S Amdt 2409 Targeted Case Management Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
11/03 S Amdt 2358 ANWR Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
11/03 S Amdt 2365 Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
11/03 S Amdt 2351 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49)
11/18 S 2020 Tax Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 33)
6/03 H J Res 4 Flag Burning Resolution Bill Passed - House (300 - 125)
11/05 HR 3196 Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (316 - 100)
11/17 S Amdt 2650 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48)
11/17 S Amdt 2602 Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55)
11/17 S Amdt 2610 Tax Rate Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
11/17 S Amdt 2616 Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (55 - 43)
11/17 S Amdt 2626 Temporary Tax on Crude Oil Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48)
11/17 S Amdt 2612 Price-Gouging During Emergencies Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (57 - 42)
11/17 S Amdt 2634 Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
11/17 S Amdt 2601 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47)
3/10 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
4/14 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
3/08 S Amdt 47 Violent Protestor Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
3/07 S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
10/20 S 397 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 144)
7/29 S 397 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
7/28 S Amdt 1626 Child Safety Lock Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
3/17 S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
9/13 S J Res 20 EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51)
1/31 PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
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)
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)
2/25 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
2/05 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
11/08 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
7/18 H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
2/13 HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
5/20 HR 1904 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (256 - 170)
9/16 HR 2490 Appropriations bill FY2000, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 38)
9/15 HR 2490 Appropriations bill FY2000, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 126)
11/06 HR 1829 Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (350 - 65)
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)

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