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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NM | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | ID | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | NM | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | WV | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | WV | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | WA | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | WV | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | WV | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | SD | HB 1184 | Medical Treatments that Violate Medical Workers Principles | Bill Failed - House (34 - 35) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | RI | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Jan. 26, 2006 | AZ | HB 2661 | State Employees; Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 2) |
| Jan. 26, 2006 | IN | HB 1142 | Skills 2016 Training Fund | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | MS | HB 123 | Smoking Ban in Government Buildings | Bill Passed - House (83 - 37) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2661 | State Employees; Pay Increase | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | MD | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| July 26, 2005 | National | H Amdt 514 | Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230) |
| March 7, 2005 | National | S Amdt 128 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61) |
| March 7, 2005 | National | S Amdt 44 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49) |
| Sept. 9, 2004 | National | HR 5006 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 13) |
| May 12, 2004 | National | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| April 8, 2004 | National | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19) |
| April 2, 2004 | National | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69) |
| Feb. 25, 2004 | National | HR 2751 | GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (382 - 43) |
| June 19, 2003 | National | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| Jan. 8, 2003 | National | S 23 | Unemployment Benefits bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 4) |
| July 19, 2001 | National | H Amdt 200 | Community Solutions Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261) |
| March 21, 2001 | National | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
| March 7, 2001 | National | S J Res 6 | Ergonomics Regulations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (223 - 206) |
| March 6, 2001 | National | S J Res 6 | Ergonomics Regulations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44) |
| June 8, 2000 | National | H Amdt 760 | OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | H Amdt 594 | Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise | Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | HR 3846 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 143) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| Feb. 2, 2000 | National | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
| Nov. 9, 1999 | National | S Amdt 2751 | Two Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 48) |
| Nov. 9, 1999 | National | S Amdt 2547 | Three Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| May 5, 1999 | National | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (313 - 108) |
| Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| July 23, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| July 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
| May 18, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
| April 1, 1998 | National | H Amdt 548 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225) |
| March 30, 1998 | National | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
| March 26, 1998 | National | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| March 26, 1998 | National | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| March 6, 1998 | National | S Amdt 1708 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37) |
| Nov. 8, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
| March 19, 1997 | National | HR 1 | Compensatory Time Bill | Bill Passed - House (222 - 210) |
| Oct. 3, 1996 | National | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| Sept. 27, 1996 | National | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198) |
| Sept. 10, 1996 | National | S 2056 | Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 | Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
| July 30, 1996 | National | HR 2391 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1278 | Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| July 9, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4435 | Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| July 9, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1084 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | HR 1227 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (281 - 144) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| May 1, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3752 | Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Bill Passed - House (267 - 151) |
| Sept. 27, 1995 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| Sept. 27, 1995 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| July 12, 1994 | National | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| July 12, 1994 | National | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Nov. 9, 1993 | National | HR 1036 | Prevailing Wage Pre-emptions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| June 15, 1993 | National | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| June 15, 1993 | National | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15 | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/14 | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/14 | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/13 | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| 2/13 | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| 2/09 | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| 2/08 | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| 2/08 | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| 2/06 | HB 1184 | Medical Treatments that Violate Medical Workers Principles | Bill Failed - House (34 - 35) |
| 2/02 | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 1/26 | HB 2661 | State Employees; Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 2) |
| 1/26 | HB 1142 | Skills 2016 Training Fund | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| 1/25 | HB 123 | Smoking Ban in Government Buildings | Bill Passed - House (83 - 37) |
| 1/25 | HB 2661 | State Employees; Pay Increase | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
| 1/17 | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| 1/12 | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48) |
| 1/05 | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 1/05 | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 7/26 | H Amdt 514 | Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230) |
| 3/07 | S Amdt 128 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61) |
| 3/07 | S Amdt 44 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49) |
| 9/09 | HR 5006 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 13) |
| 5/12 | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| 4/08 | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19) |
| 4/02 | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69) |
| 2/25 | HR 2751 | GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (382 - 43) |
| 6/19 | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| 1/08 | S 23 | Unemployment Benefits bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 4) |
| 7/19 | H Amdt 200 | Community Solutions Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261) |
| 3/21 | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
| 3/07 | S J Res 6 | Ergonomics Regulations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (223 - 206) |
| 3/06 | S J Res 6 | Ergonomics Regulations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44) |
| 6/08 | H Amdt 760 | OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220) |
| 3/09 | H Amdt 594 | Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise | Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179) |
| 3/09 | HR 3846 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 143) |
| 3/09 | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| 2/02 | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
| 11/09 | S Amdt 2751 | Two Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 48) |
| 11/09 | S Amdt 2547 | Three Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 5/05 | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (313 - 108) |
| 9/24 | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| 7/23 | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| 7/20 | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 4/01 | H Amdt 548 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225) |
| 3/30 | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
| 3/26 | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| 3/26 | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| 3/06 | S Amdt 1708 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37) |
| 11/08 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| 11/07 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
| 3/19 | HR 1 | Compensatory Time Bill | Bill Passed - House (222 - 210) |
| 10/03 | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| 9/27 | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198) |
| 9/10 | S 2056 | Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 | Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| 8/02 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 8/01 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
| 7/30 | HR 2391 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1278 | Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 7/10 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 7/10 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 7/09 | S Amdt 4435 | Minimum Wage Increase Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 7/09 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1084 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162) |
| 5/23 | HR 1227 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (281 - 144) |
| 5/22 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| 5/01 | S Amdt 3752 | Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 3/28 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Bill Passed - House (267 - 151) |
| 9/27 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| 9/27 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| 7/12 | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 7/12 | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 11/09 | HR 1036 | Prevailing Wage Pre-emptions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| 6/15 | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| 6/15 | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |