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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 19, 2007 IA SF 599 Iowa Power Fund Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
April 10, 2007 OR SB 838 Renewable Electricity Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 4, 2007 MD HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
April 3, 2007 WA HB 1024 Prohibition of PBDEs Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
April 2, 2007 IA SF 485 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 8, 2007 HI SB 1276 Environmental Impact of Harbor Improvements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
March 6, 2007 OK SCS SB 709 Pollution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
Feb. 28, 2007 WV Com Sub for Com Sub SB 337 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Feb. 26, 2007 MD SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1379 Biomonitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2006 CA AB 32 Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA AB 2496 Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Aug. 1, 2006 National S 3711 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25)
July 18, 2006 NC HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
July 8, 2006 NJ A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
June 8, 2006 AK CCS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 6)
June 6, 2006 AK HCS CS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 12)
June 1, 2006 CA SB 1675 Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 23, 2006 MI Sub for HB 5453 Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
May 22, 2006 AK CSSB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
May 20, 2006 MN SF 762 Clean Water Legacy Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 12)
May 9, 2006 LA SB 655 Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 3, 2006 IA HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2)
May 3, 2006 IA SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
May 2, 2006 HI HB 3115 Gasoline Industry Controls Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
May 2, 2006 VT S 18 Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8)
April 27, 2006 CO SB 138 Ethanol Requirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 20, 2006 MO SS SCS SB 1236 Dam and Reservoir Safety Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
April 20, 2006 NH HB 1673 Reduction of Mercury Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
April 3, 2006 MN SF 2734 Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22)
March 31, 2006 MD SB 154 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
March 30, 2006 ID H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
March 28, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
March 20, 2006 ID S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 20, 2006 ID H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3103 Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 9, 2006 WI ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
March 8, 2006 MS HB 1089 Wildlife Feeding Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
March 8, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2006 MO SA 5 Renewable Energy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22)
Feb. 15, 2006 PA SB 1025 PA Clean Vehicles Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 8, 2006 AK SB 85 Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Jan. 30, 2006 IN SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
Jan. 5, 2006 NJ S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
Dec. 21, 2005 National S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
Nov. 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2358 ANWR Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2400 Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Oct. 7, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
Sept. 13, 2005 National S J Res 20 EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51)
July 29, 2005 National HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1)
July 1, 2005 National HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3)
June 29, 2005 National HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0)
June 14, 2005 National S Amdt 781 Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38)
May 10, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
April 21, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
Jan. 22, 2004 National HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
Oct. 28, 2003 National PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
March 19, 2003 National S Amdt 272 ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48)
May 8, 2002 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
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)
Oct. 17, 2001 National HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
April 15, 1997 National S Amdt 31 Yucca Mountain Alternate Sites amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
April 15, 1997 National S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 17, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/19 SF 599 Iowa Power Fund Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
4/10 SB 838 Renewable Electricity Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/04 HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
4/03 HB 1024 Prohibition of PBDEs Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
4/02 SF 485 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/08 SB 1276 Environmental Impact of Harbor Improvements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
3/06 SCS SB 709 Pollution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
2/28 Com Sub for Com Sub SB 337 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
2/26 SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
2/23 SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
8/31 SB 1379 Biomonitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/30 AB 32 Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/29 AB 2496 Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
8/01 S 3711 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25)
7/18 HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
7/08 A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
6/08 CCS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 6)
6/06 HCS CS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 12)
6/01 SB 1675 Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/30 SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/23 Sub for HB 5453 Changes to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
5/22 CSSB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
5/20 SF 762 Clean Water Legacy Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 12)
5/09 SB 655 Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/03 HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2)
5/03 SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
5/02 HB 3115 Gasoline Industry Controls Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
5/02 S 18 Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8)
4/27 SB 138 Ethanol Requirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/20 SS SCS SB 1236 Dam and Reservoir Safety Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
4/20 HB 1673 Reduction of Mercury Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
4/03 SF 2734 Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22)
3/31 SB 154 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
3/30 H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
3/28 Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/24 SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
3/20 S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/20 H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/16 S Amdt 3103 Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/09 ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
3/08 HB 1089 Wildlife Feeding Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
3/08 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/27 SA 5 Renewable Energy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22)
2/15 SB 1025 PA Clean Vehicles Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/08 SB 85 Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
1/30 SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
1/05 S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
12/21 S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
11/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
11/03 S Amdt 2358 ANWR Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
11/03 S Amdt 2400 Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
10/07 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
9/13 S J Res 20 EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51)
7/29 HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1)
7/01 HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3)
6/29 HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0)
6/14 S Amdt 781 Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38)
5/10 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
4/21 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
1/22 HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
10/28 PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
3/19 S Amdt 272 ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48)
5/08 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
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)
10/17 HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
4/15 S Amdt 31 Yucca Mountain Alternate Sites amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
4/15 S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/17 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)

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