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
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)
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)
Oct. 3, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
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. 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)
July 31, 1996 National S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
April 18, 1996 National S Amdt 3677 Deletion of Medical Savings Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
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. 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)
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)
Dec. 22, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
Dec. 19, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43)
Dec. 14, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
Dec. 13, 1995 National S J Res 44 Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
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. 16, 1995 National HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
Sept. 22, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14)
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)
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)
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 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)
Sept. 29, 1994 National HR 4556 Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11)
Sept. 28, 1994 National HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
Sept. 27, 1994 National HR 4624 Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 9)
Sept. 13, 1994 National S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
Aug. 11, 1994 National HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
Aug. 10, 1994 National HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5)
Aug. 4, 1994 National HR 4624 Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 9)
Aug. 3, 1994 National S Amdt 2446 Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50)
July 25, 1994 National S Amdt 2396 Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42)
July 21, 1994 National HR 4556 Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
July 20, 1994 National S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
July 20, 1994 National HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
July 15, 1994 National HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2)
July 1, 1994 National S Amdt 2142 B-2 Bomber Funding Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
June 30, 1994 National S Amdt 2127 Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor Termination Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 46)
June 30, 1994 National HR 4506 Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 29, 1994 National S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
May 12, 1994 National S Amdt 1696 Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
April 19, 1994 National PN 1210 Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
April 13, 1994 National S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
April 13, 1994 National S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
Nov. 20, 1993 National S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
Nov. 10, 1993 National HR 3116 Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9)
Nov. 9, 1993 National HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
Nov. 9, 1993 National HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
Oct. 27, 1993 National HR 2445 Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11)
Oct. 21, 1993 National S Amdt 1072 Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81)
Oct. 19, 1993 National HR 2446 Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
Oct. 18, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
Oct. 15, 1993 National S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
Oct. 6, 1993 National HR 2750 Transportation Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
Sept. 30, 1993 National HR 2445 Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10)
Sept. 29, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
Sept. 22, 1993 National HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
Sept. 10, 1993 National S Amdt 816 Postponement of Base Closures Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79)
Sept. 9, 1993 National S Amdt 785 Ballistic Missile Defense Funding Reducation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
Sept. 9, 1993 National S Amdt 790 U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7)
Sept. 8, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
Sept. 7, 1993 National PN 452 M. Joycelyn Elders, United States Surgeon General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (65 - 34)
Aug. 3, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
May 13, 1993 National S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35)
Feb. 18, 1993 National S Amdt 39 Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23)
May 21, 1992 National S Amdt 1852 Eliminating Emergency Funding for Emergency Summer Youth Employment Programs Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
April 2, 1992 National S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
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)
10/03 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
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)
9/10 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)
7/31 S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
4/18 S Amdt 3677 Deletion of Medical Savings Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
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)
2/07 S 1541 Farm Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
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)
12/22 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30)
12/19 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43)
12/14 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
12/13 S J Res 44 Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
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)
11/16 HR 2126 Appropriations bill FY96, Defense Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
9/22 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14)
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)
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)
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)
6/20 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)
9/29 HR 4556 Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11)
9/28 HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
9/27 HR 4624 Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 9)
9/13 S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
8/11 HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
8/10 HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5)
8/04 HR 4624 Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 9)
8/03 S Amdt 2446 Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50)
7/25 S Amdt 2396 Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42)
7/21 HR 4556 Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
7/20 S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
7/20 HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
7/15 HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2)
7/01 S Amdt 2142 B-2 Bomber Funding Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
6/30 S Amdt 2127 Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor Termination Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 46)
6/30 HR 4506 Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/29 S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
5/12 S Amdt 1696 Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
4/19 PN 1210 Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
4/13 S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
4/13 S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
11/20 S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45)
11/10 HR 3116 Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9)
11/09 HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
11/09 HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
10/27 HR 2445 Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11)
10/21 S Amdt 1072 Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81)
10/19 HR 2446 Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
10/18 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
10/15 S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
10/06 HR 2750 Transportation Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
9/30 HR 2445 Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10)
9/29 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
9/22 HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
9/10 S Amdt 816 Postponement of Base Closures Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79)
9/09 S Amdt 785 Ballistic Missile Defense Funding Reducation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
9/09 S Amdt 790 U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7)
9/08 HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
9/07 PN 452 M. Joycelyn Elders, United States Surgeon General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (65 - 34)
8/03 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
5/13 S 714 Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35)
2/18 S Amdt 39 Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23)
5/21 S Amdt 1852 Eliminating Emergency Funding for Emergency Summer Youth Employment Programs Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
4/02 S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)

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