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
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)

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