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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 4, 1996 | National | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
July 20, 2001 | National | HR 2216 | 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
May 3, 2006 | National | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
May 5, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
May 12, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30) |
May 11, 2000 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
May 4, 2000 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 110) |
Nov. 3, 1999 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
May 12, 1998 | National | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
June 4, 1998 | National | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50) |
Nov. 13, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
Nov. 15, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
Oct. 6, 1997 | National | HR 2160 | Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 18) |
July 24, 1997 | National | HR 2160 | Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (392 - 32) |
Oct. 6, 1998 | National | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43) |
June 24, 1998 | National | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (373 - 48) |
May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
Sept. 21, 2001 | National | HR 2926 | Airline Industry Financial Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (356 - 54) |
July 18, 2006 | National | S 2754 | Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act | Bill Failed - House (273 - 154) |
Oct. 3, 2000 | National | S 2045 | American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3128 | ANWR Revenues Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
Sept. 21, 2006 | National | S 2832 | Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2006 | Bill Failed - House (215 - 204) |
Oct. 20, 1999 | National | HR 2670 | Appropriations bill FY2000, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
Nov. 15, 2001 | National | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
Nov. 14, 2001 | National | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (411 - 15) |
Aug. 19, 1994 | National | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 10) |
Aug. 18, 1994 | National | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (322 - 98) |
Sept. 12, 1996 | National | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29) |
Sept. 17, 1996 | National | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
Nov. 8, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
Sept. 30, 1997 | National | HR 2378 | Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 207) |
Oct. 1, 1997 | National | HR 2378 | Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 45) |
Sept. 17, 1998 | National | HR 4569 | Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations | Bill Passed - House (255 - 161) |
Oct. 20, 1998 | National | HR 4328 | Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 95) |
Oct. 21, 1998 | National | HR 4328 | Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 29) |
Oct. 7, 1998 | National | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - House (290 - 137) |
Sept. 3, 1998 | National | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 5) |
July 16, 1998 | National | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - House (218 - 203) |
April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
Jan. 3, 1996 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
Jan. 24, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
Jan. 26, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (56 - 34) |
May 25, 1993 | National | S J Res 45 | Authorization for Use of U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia | Bill Passed - House (243 - 179) |
Oct. 30, 2003 | National | HR 2115 | Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207) |
July 27, 2006 | National | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
May 18, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193) |
June 29, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 194) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1/04 | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
7/20 | HR 2216 | 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30) |
3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
5/03 | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
5/05 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
5/12 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30) |
5/11 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
5/04 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 110) |
11/03 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
5/12 | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
6/04 | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50) |
11/13 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
11/15 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
10/06 | HR 2160 | Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 18) |
7/24 | HR 2160 | Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (392 - 32) |
10/06 | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43) |
6/24 | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (373 - 48) |
5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
9/21 | HR 2926 | Airline Industry Financial Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (356 - 54) |
7/18 | S 2754 | Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act | Bill Failed - House (273 - 154) |
10/03 | S 2045 | American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
12/07 | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3128 | ANWR Revenues Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
9/21 | S 2832 | Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2006 | Bill Failed - House (215 - 204) |
10/20 | HR 2670 | Appropriations bill FY2000, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
11/15 | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
11/14 | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (411 - 15) |
8/19 | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 10) |
8/18 | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (322 - 98) |
9/12 | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29) |
9/17 | HR 3816 | Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
11/07 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
11/08 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
9/30 | HR 2378 | Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 207) |
10/01 | HR 2378 | Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 45) |
9/17 | HR 4569 | Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations | Bill Passed - House (255 - 161) |
10/20 | HR 4328 | Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 95) |
10/21 | HR 4328 | Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 29) |
10/07 | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Conference Report Adopted - House (290 - 137) |
9/03 | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 5) |
7/16 | HR 4104 | Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - House (218 - 203) |
4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
1/03 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
1/24 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
1/26 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (56 - 34) |
5/25 | S J Res 45 | Authorization for Use of U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia | Bill Passed - House (243 - 179) |
10/30 | HR 2115 | Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207) |
7/27 | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
5/18 | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193) |
6/29 | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 194) |