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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 1994 | National | H Amdt 778 | Prohibiting Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 176) |
| July 22, 1994 | National | H Amdt 778 | Prohibiting Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 176) |
| July 21, 1994 | National | H Amdt 771 | Limiting Entitlement Program Expenditures | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| July 20, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2320 | Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41) |
| July 12, 1994 | National | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - House (344 - 84) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| May 26, 1994 | National | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (210 - 205) |
| May 23, 1994 | National | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| April 19, 1994 | National | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| March 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 491 | Homosexuality Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 194) |
| Feb. 10, 1994 | National | H Amdt 436 | Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 | Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188) |
| Feb. 8, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1390 | Contraceptives Distribution Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59) |
| Nov. 22, 1993 | National | H Amdt 416 | Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| Nov. 9, 1993 | National | HR 2520 | Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9) |
| Oct. 21, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| Oct. 19, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| Oct. 18, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| Oct. 18, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| Oct. 15, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Oct. 7, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| Oct. 7, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| Sept. 30, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | H Amdt 318 | "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (295 - 133) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | H Amdt 318 | "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (295 - 133) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Sept. 22, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | S Amdt 783 | Homosexuals in the Military Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | S Amdt 783 | Homosexuals in the Military Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | S Amdt 790 | U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7) |
| 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 | PN 422 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 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) |
| July 23, 1993 | National | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
| July 15, 1993 | National | HR 2520 | Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (278 - 138) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | H Amdt 188 | DC's Domestic Partners Ordinance | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 167) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| June 29, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| June 28, 1993 | National | H Amdt 151 | Selective Service Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 207) |
| June 15, 1993 | National | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| June 10, 1993 | National | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (224 - 187) |
| May 19, 1993 | National | H Amdt 62 | Citizens/Legal Residents Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (288 - 127) |
| March 25, 1993 | National | HR 670 | Abortion Counseling Bill | Motion Rejected - House (179 - 243) |
| March 25, 1993 | National | HR 670 | Abortion Counseling Bill | Bill Passed - House (273 - 149) |
| Feb. 18, 1993 | National | S Amdt 39 | Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | S Amdt 19 | Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | S Amdt 19 | Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| Feb. 3, 1993 | National | HR 1 | Family & Medical Leave Bill | Bill Passed - House (265 - 163) |
| Oct. 1, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Sept. 30, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74) |
| July 21, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Bill Passed - House (339 - 62) |
| April 29, 1992 | National | H Res 441 | House Bank Records - Comply with Subpoena | Resolution Passed - House (347 - 64) |
| April 9, 1992 | National | H Res 423 | House Administrative Reforms | Resolution Passed - House (269 - 81) |
| April 2, 1992 | National | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/22 | H Amdt 778 | Prohibiting Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 176) |
| 7/22 | H Amdt 778 | Prohibiting Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 176) |
| 7/21 | H Amdt 771 | Limiting Entitlement Program Expenditures | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 7/20 | S Amdt 2320 | Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41) |
| 7/12 | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 7/01 | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27) |
| 6/29 | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| 6/29 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| 6/29 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - House (344 - 84) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| 5/26 | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (210 - 205) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| 4/19 | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 3/24 | H Amdt 491 | Homosexuality Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 194) |
| 2/10 | H Amdt 436 | Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 | Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188) |
| 2/08 | S Amdt 1390 | Contraceptives Distribution Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59) |
| 11/22 | H Amdt 416 | Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
| 11/10 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| 11/09 | HR 2520 | Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9) |
| 10/21 | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| 10/19 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| 10/18 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| 10/18 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| 10/15 | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 10/07 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| 10/07 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| 9/30 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| 9/29 | H Amdt 318 | "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (295 - 133) |
| 9/29 | H Amdt 318 | "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (295 - 133) |
| 9/29 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| 9/29 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 9/22 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| 9/09 | S Amdt 783 | Homosexuals in the Military Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63) |
| 9/09 | S Amdt 783 | Homosexuals in the Military Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63) |
| 9/09 | S Amdt 790 | U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7) |
| 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 | PN 422 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 8/03 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| 7/28 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Bill Passed - House (275 - 152) |
| 7/23 | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
| 7/15 | HR 2520 | Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (278 - 138) |
| 6/30 | H Amdt 188 | DC's Domestic Partners Ordinance | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 167) |
| 6/30 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| 6/30 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| 6/29 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| 6/28 | H Amdt 151 | Selective Service Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 207) |
| 6/15 | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| 6/10 | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (224 - 187) |
| 5/19 | H Amdt 62 | Citizens/Legal Residents Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (288 - 127) |
| 3/25 | HR 670 | Abortion Counseling Bill | Motion Rejected - House (179 - 243) |
| 3/25 | HR 670 | Abortion Counseling Bill | Bill Passed - House (273 - 149) |
| 2/18 | S Amdt 39 | Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23) |
| 2/04 | S Amdt 19 | Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37) |
| 2/04 | S Amdt 19 | Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37) |
| 2/04 | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| 2/04 | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| 2/03 | HR 1 | Family & Medical Leave Bill | Bill Passed - House (265 - 163) |
| 10/01 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 9/30 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74) |
| 7/21 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Bill Passed - House (339 - 62) |
| 4/29 | H Res 441 | House Bank Records - Comply with Subpoena | Resolution Passed - House (347 - 64) |
| 4/09 | H Res 423 | House Administrative Reforms | Resolution Passed - House (269 - 81) |
| 4/02 | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |