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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Aug. 8, 2026 National HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 6)
Aug. 8, 2026 National HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 6)
Aug. 3, 2026 National HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (89 - 4)
Aug. 3, 2026 National HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (89 - 4)
July 30, 2026 National S J Res 181 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
July 30, 2026 National S J Res 181 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
July 23, 2026 National S J Res 180 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 49)
July 23, 2026 National S J Res 180 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 49)
July 21, 2026 National PN 851-8 Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, vice Stephen A. Vaden, resigned Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 48)
July 16, 2026 National PN 851-8 Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, vice Stephen A. Vaden, resigned Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
July 14, 2026 National S 4784 An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 46)
June 25, 2026 DE HB 368 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Acting on Behalf of Federal Immigration Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 24, 2026 National S J Res 185 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
June 24, 2026 National S J Res 185 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
June 23, 2026 NC HB 133 Prohibits Acquisition of Certain Lands by Foreign Adversaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 3)
June 23, 2026 NC HB 133 Prohibits Acquisition of Certain Lands by Foreign Adversaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 3)
June 23, 2026 National H Con Res 86 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 48)
June 23, 2026 National H Con Res 86 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 48)
June 23, 2026 National PN 859-3 Nomination of Darrell Owens, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador Nomination Confirmed - Senate (67 - 30)
June 18, 2026 National PN 730-33 Nomination of George Holding, of North Carolina, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vice J. Steven Dowd Nomination Confirmed - Senate (48 - 39)
June 17, 2026 National PN 901-8 Nomination of Michelle Steel, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Korea Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 39)
June 17, 2026 National S Res 616 A resolution requesting information on Honduras's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 50)
June 16, 2026 National S J Res 172 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 48)
June 16, 2026 National S J Res 172 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 48)
June 16, 2026 National S J Res 190 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Executive Office for Immigration Review relating to "Appellate Procedures for the Board of Immigration Appeals" Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 48)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/08 HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 6)
8/08 HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 6)
8/03 HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (89 - 4)
8/03 HR 6500 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (89 - 4)
7/30 S J Res 181 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
7/30 S J Res 181 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
7/23 S J Res 180 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 49)
7/23 S J Res 180 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 49)
7/21 PN 851-8 Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, vice Stephen A. Vaden, resigned Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 48)
7/16 PN 851-8 Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, vice Stephen A. Vaden, resigned Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
7/14 S 4784 An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 46)
6/25 HB 368 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Acting on Behalf of Federal Immigration Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/24 S J Res 185 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
6/24 S J Res 185 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
6/23 HB 133 Prohibits Acquisition of Certain Lands by Foreign Adversaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 3)
6/23 HB 133 Prohibits Acquisition of Certain Lands by Foreign Adversaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 3)
6/23 H Con Res 86 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 48)
6/23 H Con Res 86 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 48)
6/23 PN 859-3 Nomination of Darrell Owens, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador Nomination Confirmed - Senate (67 - 30)
6/18 PN 730-33 Nomination of George Holding, of North Carolina, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vice J. Steven Dowd Nomination Confirmed - Senate (48 - 39)
6/17 PN 901-8 Nomination of Michelle Steel, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Korea Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 39)
6/17 S Res 616 A resolution requesting information on Honduras's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 50)
6/16 S J Res 172 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 48)
6/16 S J Res 172 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 48)
6/16 S J Res 190 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Executive Office for Immigration Review relating to "Appellate Procedures for the Board of Immigration Appeals" Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 48)

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