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 25, 2002 | National | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| April 25, 2002 | National | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| Feb. 13, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Feb. 13, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Nov. 15, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| Nov. 13, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
| Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 29) |
| 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. 5, 2001 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| Oct. 5, 2001 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| Aug. 2, 2001 | National | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Aug. 2, 2001 | National | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Aug. 1, 2001 | National | H Amdt 288 | Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (160 - 269) |
| Aug. 1, 2001 | National | H Amdt 298 | Prohibiting Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 223) |
| Sept. 26, 2000 | National | HR 5175 | Small Business Superfund Exemption | Bill Failed - House (253 - 161) |
| June 21, 2000 | National | H Amdt 858 | EPA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 216) |
| June 7, 2000 | National | H Amdt 748 | San Rafael Legacy District Motor Vehicle Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 214) |
| June 7, 2000 | National | H Amdt 745 | San Rafael Swell Area Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 211) |
| May 11, 2000 | National | H Amdt 694 | Local Government Participation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 238) |
| May 11, 2000 | National | HR 701 | Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (315 - 102) |
| May 10, 2000 | National | H Amdt 685 | Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315) |
| May 10, 2000 | National | H Amdt 687 | Social Security and Medicare Solvency Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 208) |
| May 10, 2000 | National | H Amdt 685 | Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315) |
| April 6, 2000 | National | S Amdt 2955 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 22, 2000 | National | S 1287 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| Feb. 10, 2000 | National | S 1287 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
| Oct. 13, 1999 | National | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26) |
| Oct. 13, 1999 | National | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Oct. 1, 1999 | National | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (240 - 175) |
| Sept. 28, 1999 | National | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 3) |
| Sept. 27, 1999 | National | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 87) |
| Aug. 4, 1999 | National | S Amdt 1499 | Agricultural Aid Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 8) |
| July 27, 1999 | National | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (420 - 8) |
| June 8, 1999 | National | H Amdt 140 | Lethal Predator Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
| June 8, 1999 | National | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (246 - 183) |
| March 25, 1999 | National | S Amdt 178 | Agricultural Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Oct. 6, 1998 | National | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43) |
| Oct. 2, 1998 | National | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 53) |
| Sept. 28, 1998 | National | HR 4060 | Energy FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (389 - 25) |
| Sept. 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| July 23, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| July 23, 1998 | National | HR 4193 | Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 181) |
| June 24, 1998 | National | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (373 - 48) |
| June 22, 1998 | National | HR 4060 | Energy FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (405 - 4) |
| June 4, 1998 | National | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50) |
| May 12, 1998 | National | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
| March 27, 1998 | National | H Amdt 542 | Road Construction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (200 - 187) |
| March 27, 1998 | National | HR 2515 | Forest Recovery and Protection bill | Bill Failed - House (181 - 201) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/25 | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 4/25 | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 2/13 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 2/13 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 11/15 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| 11/13 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
| 11/01 | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 11/01 | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 29) |
| 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) |
| 10/05 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| 10/05 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| 8/02 | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| 8/02 | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| 8/01 | H Amdt 288 | Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (160 - 269) |
| 8/01 | H Amdt 298 | Prohibiting Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 223) |
| 9/26 | HR 5175 | Small Business Superfund Exemption | Bill Failed - House (253 - 161) |
| 6/21 | H Amdt 858 | EPA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 216) |
| 6/07 | H Amdt 748 | San Rafael Legacy District Motor Vehicle Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 214) |
| 6/07 | H Amdt 745 | San Rafael Swell Area Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 211) |
| 5/11 | H Amdt 694 | Local Government Participation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 238) |
| 5/11 | HR 701 | Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (315 - 102) |
| 5/10 | H Amdt 685 | Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315) |
| 5/10 | H Amdt 687 | Social Security and Medicare Solvency Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 208) |
| 5/10 | H Amdt 685 | Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315) |
| 4/06 | S Amdt 2955 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/22 | S 1287 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| 2/10 | S 1287 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
| 10/13 | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26) |
| 10/13 | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 10/01 | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (240 - 175) |
| 9/28 | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 9/27 | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 87) |
| 8/04 | S Amdt 1499 | Agricultural Aid Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 8) |
| 7/27 | HR 2605 | Energy FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (420 - 8) |
| 6/08 | H Amdt 140 | Lethal Predator Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
| 6/08 | HR 1906 | FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (246 - 183) |
| 3/25 | S Amdt 178 | Agricultural Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 10/06 | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43) |
| 10/02 | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 53) |
| 9/28 | HR 4060 | Energy FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (389 - 25) |
| 9/01 | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| 7/23 | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| 7/23 | HR 4193 | Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 181) |
| 6/24 | HR 4101 | Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (373 - 48) |
| 6/22 | HR 4060 | Energy FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (405 - 4) |
| 6/04 | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50) |
| 5/12 | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
| 3/27 | H Amdt 542 | Road Construction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (200 - 187) |
| 3/27 | HR 2515 | Forest Recovery and Protection bill | Bill Failed - House (181 - 201) |