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
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 507 Specifies the Authority of the Secretary of Interior on the Regulation of Methane Emissions Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 230)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
Nov. 20, 2013 National HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
Nov. 20, 2013 National HR 2728 Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
Nov. 20, 2013 National HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
Sept. 20, 2013 National HR 1526 Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act Bill Passed - House (244 - 173)
Sept. 18, 2013 National H Amdt 463 Amends the Definition of "Strategic and Critical Minerals" Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 241)
Sept. 18, 2013 National H Amdt 466 Requires Mine Operators to Include the Cost of Cleanup in Financial Insurance Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 235)
Sept. 18, 2013 National H Amdt 466 Requires Mine Operators to Include the Cost of Cleanup in Financial Insurance Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 235)
Sept. 18, 2013 National HR 761 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 178)
Sept. 12, 2013 CA SB 359 Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Sept. 12, 2013 CA SB 359 Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
Sept. 11, 2013 MO SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 50)
Sept. 11, 2013 MO SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 50)
Sept. 11, 2013 MO SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Sept. 11, 2013 MO SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 29)
Sept. 9, 2013 CA AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Aug. 2, 2013 National H Amdt 448 Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176)
Aug. 1, 2013 National HR 1582 Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 181)
July 25, 2013 NC HB 938 Amends Wetland Permit Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
July 25, 2013 National HR 2218 Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (265 - 155)
July 11, 2013 National HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (216 - 208)
July 7, 2013 OR SB 838 Prohibits Motorized Mining Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
July 6, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
July 3, 2013 OR SB 838 Prohibits Motorized Mining Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
July 1, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 28, 2013 National HR 2231 Offshore Energy and Jobs Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 186)
June 20, 2013 National H Amdt 227 Amends the Federal Sugar Program Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221)
June 20, 2013 National HR 1947 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Bill Failed - House (195 - 234)
June 11, 2013 ME LD 1286 Prohibits Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (94 - 49)
June 10, 2013 National S 954 Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 27)
June 4, 2013 OR SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
May 30, 2013 OR SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
May 27, 2013 IL SB 1639 Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
May 23, 2013 National S Amdt 953 Limits Subsidy Payments for Individuals with Incomes More Than $750,000 Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 33)
May 23, 2013 National S Amdt 923 Prohibits the Payment of the Premium for an Insurance Policy For Tobacco Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 52)
May 22, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 41)
May 21, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11)
May 15, 2013 MO HB 650 Limits Punitive Awards for Lead Exposure from Certain Mines Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 63)
May 13, 2013 OR SB 602 Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake Bill Passed - House (37 - 20)
May 13, 2013 NC HB 628 Requires Promotion of State Lumber in Building Projects Bill Passed - House (70 - 43)
May 13, 2013 NY A 1792 Extends Worker's Benefits to Farm Laborers Bill Passed - House (83 - 53)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/20 H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
11/20 H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
11/20 H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
11/20 H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
11/20 H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
11/20 H Amdt 507 Specifies the Authority of the Secretary of Interior on the Regulation of Methane Emissions Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 230)
11/20 H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
11/20 H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
11/20 H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
11/20 HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
11/20 HR 2728 Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
11/20 HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
9/20 HR 1526 Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act Bill Passed - House (244 - 173)
9/18 H Amdt 463 Amends the Definition of "Strategic and Critical Minerals" Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 241)
9/18 H Amdt 466 Requires Mine Operators to Include the Cost of Cleanup in Financial Insurance Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 235)
9/18 H Amdt 466 Requires Mine Operators to Include the Cost of Cleanup in Financial Insurance Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 235)
9/18 HR 761 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 178)
9/12 SB 359 Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
9/12 SB 359 Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
9/11 SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 50)
9/11 SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 50)
9/11 SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
9/11 SB 9 Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
9/10 AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 29)
9/09 AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
8/02 H Amdt 448 Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176)
8/01 HR 1582 Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 181)
7/25 HB 938 Amends Wetland Permit Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
7/25 HR 2218 Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (265 - 155)
7/11 HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (216 - 208)
7/07 SB 838 Prohibits Motorized Mining Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
7/06 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
7/03 SB 838 Prohibits Motorized Mining Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
7/01 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/28 HR 2231 Offshore Energy and Jobs Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 186)
6/20 H Amdt 227 Amends the Federal Sugar Program Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221)
6/20 HR 1947 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Bill Failed - House (195 - 234)
6/11 LD 1286 Prohibits Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (94 - 49)
6/10 S 954 Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 27)
6/04 SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
5/30 SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
5/27 SB 1639 Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
5/23 S Amdt 953 Limits Subsidy Payments for Individuals with Incomes More Than $750,000 Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 33)
5/23 S Amdt 923 Prohibits the Payment of the Premium for an Insurance Policy For Tobacco Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 52)
5/22 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 41)
5/21 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11)
5/15 HB 650 Limits Punitive Awards for Lead Exposure from Certain Mines Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 63)
5/13 SB 602 Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake Bill Passed - House (37 - 20)
5/13 HB 628 Requires Promotion of State Lumber in Building Projects Bill Passed - House (70 - 43)
5/13 A 1792 Extends Worker's Benefits to Farm Laborers Bill Passed - House (83 - 53)

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