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
July 29, 1997 National HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (322 - 105)
July 24, 1997 National H Amdt 271 Tobacco Crops Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
July 24, 1997 National HR 2160 Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 32)
July 9, 1997 National S Amdt 771 Base Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 33)
June 25, 1997 National S Amdt 468 Private Contracts Amendment Motion Agreed - Senate (64 - 35)
June 25, 1997 National S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
June 25, 1997 National S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
June 25, 1997 National S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
June 25, 1997 National HR 1119 Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (304 - 120)
June 24, 1997 National H Amdt 203 Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148)
June 24, 1997 National H Amdt 204 Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231)
June 23, 1997 National H Amdt 198 B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
May 16, 1997 National HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
May 14, 1997 National HR 2 Public Housing bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 132)
April 17, 1997 National S 495 Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44)
April 16, 1997 National HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
April 15, 1997 National S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
April 10, 1997 National HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 16)
Oct. 3, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
Sept. 27, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
Sept. 24, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
Sept. 17, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
Sept. 12, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
July 31, 1996 National S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1264 Education and Training Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1265 School Improvement Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129)
June 26, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (269 - 147)
June 20, 1996 National H Amdt 1190 Tribal Land Trust Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206)
June 13, 1996 National H Amdt 1164 Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219)
June 13, 1996 National H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
May 15, 1996 National H Amdt 1057 Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220)
May 15, 1996 National H Amdt 1058 Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171)
May 15, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Bill Passed - House (272 - 153)
May 1, 1996 National S 641 Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4)
April 18, 1996 National S Amdt 3677 Deletion of Medical Savings Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
April 17, 1996 National HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
March 29, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89)
March 28, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
March 21, 1996 National S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
March 21, 1996 National S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
Feb. 29, 1996 National H Amdt 936 Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37)
Feb. 29, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 155)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 934 Sugar Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 933 Peanut Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212)
Feb. 28, 1996 National H Amdt 935 Dairy Program Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164)
Feb. 7, 1996 National S 1541 Farm Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
Jan. 26, 1996 National S 1124 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (56 - 34)
Jan. 26, 1996 National Treaty Doc. 103-1 The START II Treaty Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (87 - 4)
Jan. 24, 1996 National S 1124 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129)
Jan. 4, 1996 National HR 1977 1996 Interior Appropriations Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177)
Jan. 3, 1996 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156)
Dec. 22, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
Dec. 20, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100)
Dec. 19, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43)
Dec. 15, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149)
Dec. 14, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
Dec. 13, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181)
Dec. 13, 1995 National S J Res 44 Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
Dec. 13, 1995 National HR 2770 Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill Bill Failed - House (210 - 218)
Dec. 6, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102)
Dec. 6, 1995 National HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Dec. 5, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30)
Nov. 17, 1995 National S 440 National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 16)
Nov. 17, 1995 National HR 2606 U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill Bill Passed - House (243 - 171)
Nov. 16, 1995 National HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
Nov. 16, 1995 National HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158)
Nov. 2, 1995 National HR 2546 Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia Bill Passed - House (224 - 191)
Oct. 30, 1995 National H Res 247 Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103)
Oct. 12, 1995 National HR 1976 Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132)
Sept. 22, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14)
Sept. 20, 1995 National H Amdt 808 Repeal National Speed Limit Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (112 - 313)
Sept. 20, 1995 National H Amdt 814 Drinking and Driving Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203)
Sept. 20, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98)
Sept. 7, 1995 National HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Bill Passed - House (294 - 125)
Sept. 6, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
Aug. 10, 1995 National S Amdt 2401 Space-Based Laser Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41)
Aug. 3, 1995 National H Amdt 725 Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286)
July 27, 1995 National S 641 Ryan White CARE Reauthorization Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
July 21, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
July 18, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 181)
June 28, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
June 22, 1995 National PN 245 Henry W. Foster Jr., Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 43)
June 21, 1995 National S Amdt 1446 Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
June 21, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (319 - 105)
June 20, 1995 National S Amdt 1437 Motorcycle Helmet Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
June 20, 1995 National S Amdt 1427 Commercial Vehicle Speed Limit Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
June 15, 1995 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18)
June 15, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - House (300 - 126)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/29 HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (322 - 105)
7/24 H Amdt 271 Tobacco Crops Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
7/24 HR 2160 Agriculture FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 32)
7/09 S Amdt 771 Base Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 33)
6/25 S Amdt 468 Private Contracts Amendment Motion Agreed - Senate (64 - 35)
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
6/25 HR 1119 Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (304 - 120)
6/24 H Amdt 203 Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148)
6/24 H Amdt 204 Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231)
6/23 H Amdt 198 B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
5/16 HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
5/14 HR 2 Public Housing bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 132)
4/17 S 495 Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44)
4/16 HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
4/15 S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
4/10 HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 16)
10/03 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
9/27 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
9/24 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
9/17 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
9/12 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
9/10 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30)
8/02 HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
8/01 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
7/31 S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
7/25 H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
7/25 H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
7/11 H Amdt 1264 Education and Training Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227)
7/11 H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
7/11 H Amdt 1265 School Improvement Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129)
6/26 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (269 - 147)
6/20 H Amdt 1190 Tribal Land Trust Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206)
6/13 H Amdt 1164 Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219)
6/13 H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
5/15 H Amdt 1057 Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220)
5/15 H Amdt 1058 Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171)
5/15 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Bill Passed - House (272 - 153)
5/01 S 641 Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4)
4/18 S Amdt 3677 Deletion of Medical Savings Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
4/17 HR 842 Truth in Budgeting Act Bill Passed - House (284 - 143)
3/29 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89)
3/28 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
3/21 S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
3/21 S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
2/29 H Amdt 936 Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37)
2/29 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 155)
2/28 H Amdt 934 Sugar Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217)
2/28 H Amdt 933 Peanut Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212)
2/28 H Amdt 935 Dairy Program Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164)
2/07 S 1541 Farm Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
1/26 S 1124 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (56 - 34)
1/26 Treaty Doc. 103-1 The START II Treaty Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (87 - 4)
1/24 S 1124 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129)
1/04 HR 1977 1996 Interior Appropriations Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177)
1/03 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156)
12/22 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
12/20 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100)
12/19 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43)
12/15 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149)
12/14 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
12/13 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181)
12/13 S J Res 44 Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
12/13 HR 2770 Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill Bill Failed - House (210 - 218)
12/06 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102)
12/06 HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
12/05 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30)
11/17 S 440 National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 16)
11/17 HR 2606 U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill Bill Passed - House (243 - 171)
11/16 HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
11/16 HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158)
11/02 HR 2546 Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia Bill Passed - House (224 - 191)
10/30 H Res 247 Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103)
10/12 HR 1976 Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132)
9/22 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14)
9/20 H Amdt 808 Repeal National Speed Limit Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (112 - 313)
9/20 H Amdt 814 Drinking and Driving Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203)
9/20 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98)
9/07 HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Bill Passed - House (294 - 125)
9/06 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
8/10 S Amdt 2401 Space-Based Laser Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41)
8/03 H Amdt 725 Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286)
7/27 S 641 Ryan White CARE Reauthorization Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
7/21 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
7/18 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 181)
6/28 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
6/22 PN 245 Henry W. Foster Jr., Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 43)
6/21 S Amdt 1446 Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
6/21 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (319 - 105)
6/20 S Amdt 1437 Motorcycle Helmet Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
6/20 S Amdt 1427 Commercial Vehicle Speed Limit Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
6/15 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18)
6/15 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - House (300 - 126)

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