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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| Oct. 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2253 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| Oct. 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2194 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (54 - 43) |
| Oct. 20, 2005 | National | HR 3058 | Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1) |
| Oct. 5, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2033 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49) |
| Sept. 22, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| Sept. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1678 | Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52) |
| July 29, 2005 | National | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
| July 29, 2005 | National | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
| July 20, 2005 | National | HR 3057 | Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| July 20, 2005 | National | HR 3057 | Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| July 19, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| July 19, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| July 14, 2005 | National | HR 2360 | Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 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) |
| May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 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) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Con Res 18 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Sept. 21, 2004 | National | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| May 11, 2004 | National | S Amdt 3114 | Unemployment Benefits Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40) |
| March 12, 2004 | National | S Con Res 95 | Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| Feb. 12, 2004 | National | S 1072 | Highway Trust Fund Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
| Jan. 22, 2004 | National | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| July 11, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
| July 25, 2002 | National | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
| July 24, 2002 | National | HR 4775 | Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| May 8, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| Feb. 13, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Dec. 18, 2001 | National | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| Nov. 15, 2001 | National | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| Nov. 6, 2001 | National | HR 3061 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10) |
| Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2590 | Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 15) |
| Oct. 17, 2001 | National | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
| Sept. 21, 2001 | National | S 1450 | Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
| Oct. 25, 2000 | National | HR 4811 | Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27) |
| Oct. 25, 2000 | National | HR 4811 | Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27) |
| June 29, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3689 | Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43) |
| June 29, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3690 | Off-budget Lockbox Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 37) |
| June 22, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3598 | Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| April 13, 2000 | National | H Con Res 290 | Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| April 7, 2000 | National | H Con Res 290 | Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| Nov. 2, 1999 | National | HR 3064 | DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/03 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18) |
| 11/03 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 10/27 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 10/26 | S Amdt 2253 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 10/26 | S Amdt 2194 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 10/20 | HR 3058 | Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1) |
| 10/05 | S Amdt 2033 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 9/22 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 9/15 | S Amdt 1678 | Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52) |
| 7/29 | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
| 7/29 | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
| 7/20 | HR 3057 | Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 7/20 | HR 3057 | Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 7/19 | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 7/19 | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 7/14 | HR 2360 | Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 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) |
| 5/10 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 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) |
| 4/21 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| 3/17 | S Con Res 18 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 9/21 | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 5/11 | S Amdt 3114 | Unemployment Benefits Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 3/12 | S Con Res 95 | Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| 2/12 | S 1072 | Highway Trust Fund Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
| 1/22 | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| 7/11 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
| 7/25 | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
| 7/24 | HR 4775 | Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| 5/08 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 2/13 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 12/18 | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| 11/15 | HR 2500 | Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 11/06 | HR 3061 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10) |
| 11/01 | HR 2311 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 11/01 | HR 2590 | Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 15) |
| 10/17 | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
| 9/21 | S 1450 | Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
| 10/25 | HR 4811 | Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27) |
| 10/25 | HR 4811 | Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27) |
| 6/29 | S Amdt 3689 | Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 6/29 | S Amdt 3690 | Off-budget Lockbox Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 6/22 | S Amdt 3598 | Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| 4/13 | H Con Res 290 | Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| 4/07 | H Con Res 290 | Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| 11/02 | HR 3064 | DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |