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 15, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| July 15, 1994 | National | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2) |
| July 15, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| July 14, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
| July 14, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| 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 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| May 25, 1994 | National | PN 898 | Sam W. Brown, Jr., Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
| May 25, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 87) |
| May 25, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 87) |
| May 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| May 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| May 24, 1994 | National | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (380 - 42) |
| May 23, 1994 | National | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| May 23, 1994 | National | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| April 19, 1994 | National | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| April 19, 1994 | National | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| March 16, 1994 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Feb. 3, 1994 | National | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| Feb. 2, 1994 | National | HR 2333 | State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| Feb. 2, 1994 | National | HR 2333 | State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| Jan. 27, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | National | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Nov. 17, 1993 | National | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (234 - 200) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| Oct. 21, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| Oct. 21, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| Oct. 19, 1993 | National | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 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. 15, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Oct. 15, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Oct. 15, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Sept. 30, 1993 | National | HR 2295 | Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| Sept. 30, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| 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 | HR 2295 | Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (321 - 108) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/15 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| 7/15 | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2) |
| 7/15 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| 7/14 | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
| 7/14 | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 6/29 | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| 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 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| 5/25 | PN 898 | Sam W. Brown, Jr., Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
| 5/25 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 87) |
| 5/25 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 87) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| 5/24 | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (380 - 42) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 4/19 | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 4/19 | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 3/16 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 2/03 | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| 2/02 | HR 2333 | State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| 2/02 | HR 2333 | State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| 1/27 | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| 11/20 | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 11/17 | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (234 - 200) |
| 11/10 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| 11/10 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| 10/21 | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| 10/21 | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| 10/19 | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 10/19 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| 10/15 | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 10/15 | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 10/15 | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 9/30 | HR 2295 | Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 9/30 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| 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 | HR 2295 | Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (321 - 108) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |