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
May 17, 2012 National H Amdt 1103 Limits Funding for War in Afghanistan to the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 303)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
March 29, 2011 National HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
Dec. 21, 2010 National HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 165)
Dec. 15, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
May 28, 2010 National HR 5136 2010-2011 Defense Appropriation Authorizations Bill Passed - House (229 - 186)
May 27, 2010 National H Amdt 672 Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" After Military Review and Certification Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 194)
April 10, 2010 MD SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - House (95 - 42)
Jan. 26, 2010 IA HF 2110 Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
Oct. 8, 2009 National HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 146)
Sept. 24, 2008 National S 3001 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 39)
July 23, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
June 19, 2008 National HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
May 8, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94)
May 8, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
Jan. 16, 2008 National HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - House (369 - 46)
Dec. 12, 2007 National HR 1585 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 49)
Oct. 29, 2007 MI H Sub for Sub SB 235 2007-2008 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 8)
Oct. 18, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156)
Oct. 2, 2007 National HR 3087 Requiring Reports from the Defense Department to Congress Regarding Withdrawal from Iraq Bill Passed - House (377 - 46)
Sept. 25, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159)
Aug. 27, 2007 CA SB 924 Iraq Withdrawal Ballot Question Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
Aug. 4, 2007 National HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 3159 Mandatory Troop Rest Periods Between Deployments to Iraq Bill Passed - House (229 - 194)
June 7, 2007 NH SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
April 23, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
April 5, 2007 CO SJM Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
April 5, 2007 CO SJM 2 Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26)
March 28, 2007 NH HR 10 Resolution Against the Iraq War Resolution Passed - House (214 - 151)
Feb. 16, 2007 National H Con Res 63 Iraq War Policy Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182)
Feb. 13, 2007 VT HR 11 Troop Withdrawal From Iraq Resolution Passed - House (95 - 52)
Sept. 26, 2006 National HR 5631 Department Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (394 - 22)
June 20, 2006 National HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
June 16, 2006 National H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
April 6, 2006 AZ SB 1273 Border Radar Lease Appropriation Bill Passed - House (38 - 19)
Feb. 21, 2006 MO SCS SB 578 Funeral Protests Prohibition Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
Dec. 19, 2005 National HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 41)
Dec. 19, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
June 20, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
May 25, 2005 National H Amdt 209 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
May 25, 2005 National HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (390 - 39)
May 5, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58)
April 14, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
March 16, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
July 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 12)
June 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (403 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/17 H Amdt 1103 Limits Funding for War in Afghanistan to the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 303)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
3/29 HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
12/21 HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 165)
12/15 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
5/28 HR 5136 2010-2011 Defense Appropriation Authorizations Bill Passed - House (229 - 186)
5/27 H Amdt 672 Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" After Military Review and Certification Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 194)
4/10 SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - House (95 - 42)
1/26 HF 2110 Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
10/08 HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 146)
9/24 S 3001 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 39)
7/23 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
6/19 HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
5/08 HR 3221 Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94)
5/08 HR 3221 Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154)
2/27 HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
1/16 HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - House (369 - 46)
12/12 HR 1585 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 49)
10/29 H Sub for Sub SB 235 2007-2008 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 8)
10/18 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156)
10/02 HR 3087 Requiring Reports from the Defense Department to Congress Regarding Withdrawal from Iraq Bill Passed - House (377 - 46)
9/25 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159)
8/27 SB 924 Iraq Withdrawal Ballot Question Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
8/04 HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
8/02 HR 3159 Mandatory Troop Rest Periods Between Deployments to Iraq Bill Passed - House (229 - 194)
6/07 SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
4/23 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
4/05 SJM Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
4/05 SJM 2 Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26)
3/28 HR 10 Resolution Against the Iraq War Resolution Passed - House (214 - 151)
2/16 H Con Res 63 Iraq War Policy Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182)
2/13 HR 11 Troop Withdrawal From Iraq Resolution Passed - House (95 - 52)
9/26 HR 5631 Department Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (394 - 22)
6/20 HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
6/16 H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
4/06 SB 1273 Border Radar Lease Appropriation Bill Passed - House (38 - 19)
2/21 SCS SB 578 Funeral Protests Prohibition Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
12/19 HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 41)
12/19 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
6/20 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
5/25 H Amdt 209 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
5/25 HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (390 - 39)
5/05 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58)
4/14 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
3/16 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 43)
7/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 12)
6/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (403 - 17)

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