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
March 1, 2011 GA HB 326 Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (152 - 22)
Feb. 28, 2011 UT HB 191 Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments Bill Passed - House (44 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2011 KS HB 2006 Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates Bill Passed - House (72 - 50)
Feb. 21, 2011 ND HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (65 - 28)
Feb. 18, 2011 National H Amdt 94 Prohibits Funds for the Gainful Employment Rule Amendment Adopted - House (289 - 136)
Feb. 17, 2011 ND HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)
Feb. 16, 2011 UT HB 75 Guns On School Premises Bill Passed - House (58 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2011 ND HB 1470 Higher Education Tuition Bill Failed - House (41 - 51)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA HB 2314 Education Improvement Scholarships Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 3, 2011 VA SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Dec. 8, 2010 National HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
Aug. 25, 2010 CA SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Aug. 23, 2010 CA SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 7)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 21, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
Sept. 17, 2009 National HR 3221 Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN Bill Passed - House (253 - 171)
April 29, 2009 National S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
April 29, 2009 National S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193)
Sept. 26, 2008 National HR 7060 Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits Bill Passed - House (257 - 166)
July 31, 2008 National HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 8)
July 31, 2008 National HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49)
May 22, 2008 National S Amdt 4803 GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 22)
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 (256 - 166)
May 1, 2008 National HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21)
April 17, 2008 National HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes Bill Passed - House (383 - 27)
Feb. 7, 2008 National HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Bill Passed - House (354 - 58)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
Dec. 17, 2007 National HR 2764 Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201)
Sept. 7, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12)
Sept. 7, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 97)
July 20, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 11, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - House (273 - 149)
March 30, 2006 National H Amdt 772 Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220)
March 30, 2006 National HR 609 College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 199)
Feb. 2, 2006 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Nov. 17, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
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. 25, 2005 National S Amdt 2213 Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
July 22, 2005 National H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
June 23, 2005 National H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
June 13, 2000 National H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
March 2, 2000 National S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
Sept. 29, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
July 9, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
June 24, 1998 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36)
June 18, 1998 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197)
May 6, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 4)
April 23, 1998 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
Oct. 23, 1997 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
June 26, 1997 National S Amdt 527 Family Tax Relief Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
April 25, 1996 National S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
Oct. 18, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
Oct. 7, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115)
Sept. 29, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
July 22, 1993 National S Amdt 608 National Service Educational Awards Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
June 30, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/01 HB 326 Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (152 - 22)
2/28 HB 191 Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments Bill Passed - House (44 - 28)
2/22 HB 2006 Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates Bill Passed - House (72 - 50)
2/21 HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (65 - 28)
2/18 H Amdt 94 Prohibits Funds for the Gainful Employment Rule Amendment Adopted - House (289 - 136)
2/17 HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)
2/16 HB 75 Guns On School Premises Bill Passed - House (58 - 15)
2/11 HB 1470 Higher Education Tuition Bill Failed - House (41 - 51)
2/08 HB 2314 Education Improvement Scholarships Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
2/08 HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/03 SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
12/08 HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
8/25 SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
8/23 SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
6/02 SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
4/21 SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 7)
4/21 SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/21 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
9/17 HR 3221 Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN Bill Passed - House (253 - 171)
4/29 S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
4/29 S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193)
9/26 HR 7060 Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits Bill Passed - House (257 - 166)
7/31 HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 8)
7/31 HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49)
5/22 S Amdt 4803 GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 22)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166)
5/01 HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21)
4/17 HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes Bill Passed - House (383 - 27)
2/07 HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Bill Passed - House (354 - 58)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
12/17 HR 2764 Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201)
9/07 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12)
9/07 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 97)
7/20 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/11 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - House (273 - 149)
3/30 H Amdt 772 Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220)
3/30 HR 609 College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 199)
2/02 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
11/17 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
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)
10/25 S Amdt 2213 Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
7/22 H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
6/23 H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
3/17 S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
6/13 H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
3/02 S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
9/29 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
7/09 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
6/24 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36)
6/18 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197)
5/06 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 4)
4/23 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
10/23 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
6/26 S Amdt 527 Family Tax Relief Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
4/25 S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
10/18 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
10/07 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115)
9/29 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
7/22 S Amdt 608 National Service Educational Awards Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
6/30 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)

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