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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 27, 2015 | National | HR 597 | Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 118) |
| Oct. 23, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Oct. 22, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2564 | Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | National | HR 10 | Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 191) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | National | HR 692 | Default Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 194) |
| Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Oct. 9, 2015 | National | HR 702 | To Adapt to Changing Crude Oil Market Conditions | Bill Passed - House (261 - 159) |
| Oct. 8, 2015 | National | HR 538 | Native American Energy Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 156) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 3457 | Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 173) |
| Sept. 30, 2015 | National | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (277 - 151) |
| Sept. 30, 2015 | National | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| Sept. 29, 2015 | National | HR 3495 | Women's Public Health and Safety Act | Bill Passed - House (236 - 193) |
| Sept. 25, 2015 | National | HR 348 | Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 170) |
| Sept. 24, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
| Sept. 22, 2015 | National | HR 36 | Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| Sept. 18, 2015 | National | HR 3504 | Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (248 - 177) |
| Sept. 18, 2015 | National | HR 3134 | Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 187) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | National | HR 3461 | To Approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, Relating to the Nuclear Program of Iran. | Bill Failed - House (162 - 269) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | National | HR 3460 | To Suspend Until January 21, 2017, the Authority of the President to Waive, Suspend, Reduce, Provide Relief from, or Otherwise Limit the Application of Sanctions Pursuant to an Agreement Related to the Nuclear Program of Iran | Bill Passed - House (247 - 186) |
| Sept. 10, 2015 | National | H Res 411 | Finding that the President Has Not Complied with Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 186) |
| July 30, 2015 | National | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| July 29, 2015 | National | HR 1994 | VA Accountability Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 170) |
| July 28, 2015 | National | HR 427 | Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 165) |
| July 23, 2015 | National | HR 3009 | Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act | Bill Passed - House (241 - 179) |
| July 23, 2015 | National | HR 1599 | Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (275 - 150) |
| July 22, 2015 | National | HR 1734 | Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulations Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (258 - 166) |
| July 16, 2015 | National | HR 2898 | Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 176) |
| July 15, 2015 | National | HR 3038 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (312 - 119) |
| July 9, 2015 | National | HR 2647 | Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 167) |
| July 8, 2015 | National | HR 5 | Student Success Act | Bill Passed - House (218 - 213) |
| June 24, 2015 | National | HR 2042 | Ratepayer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (247 - 180) |
| June 18, 2015 | National | HR 160 | Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (280 - 140) |
| June 16, 2015 | National | HR 2596 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
| June 11, 2015 | National | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Bill Passed - House (278 - 149) |
| June 10, 2015 | National | HR 2393 | Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (300 - 131) |
| June 9, 2015 | National | HR 2577 | Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 | Bill Passed - House (216 - 210) |
| June 3, 2015 | National | HR 2578 | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 183) |
| June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
| June 1, 2015 | National | HR 1335 | Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act | Bill Passed - House (225 - 152) |
| May 21, 2015 | National | HR 2262 | Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (284 - 133) |
| May 20, 2015 | National | HR 880 | American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 145) |
| May 20, 2015 | National | HR 1806 | America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 205) |
| May 15, 2015 | National | H Amdt 226 | Limits Use of Funds to Implement New START Treaty | Amendment Adopted - House (235 - 182) |
| May 15, 2015 | National | H Amdt 230 | Prohibits Listing Lesser Prairie Chicken as Endangered | Amendment Adopted - House (229 - 190) |
| May 15, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (269 - 151) |
| May 13, 2015 | National | HR 36 | Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (242 - 184) |
| May 12, 2015 | National | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
| May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
| May 1, 2015 | National | HR 2028 | Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 177) |
| April 23, 2015 | National | PN 4 | Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| April 16, 2015 | National | HR 622 | State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Fairness Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 152) |
| April 16, 2015 | National | HR 1105 | Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 179) |
| April 14, 2015 | National | HR 650 | Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (263 - 162) |
| March 27, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| March 26, 2015 | National | S Amdt 798 | Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| March 4, 2015 | National | S 1 | A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline | Veto Override Failed - Senate (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 27, 2015 | National | S J Res 35 | Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 | Bill Failed - House (203 - 224) |
| Feb. 13, 2015 | National | HR 636 | America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 142) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | National | HR 644 | America Gives More Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (279 - 137) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | National | S 1 | A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline | Bill Passed - House (270 - 152) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | National | HR 527 | Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (260 - 163) |
| Feb. 4, 2015 | National | HR 50 | Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 173) |
| Feb. 3, 2015 | National | HR 596 | Repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 186) |
| Jan. 29, 2015 | National | S 1 | A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
| Jan. 22, 2015 | National | HR 7 | No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 179) |
| Jan. 21, 2015 | National | HR 161 | Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (253 - 169) |
| Jan. 14, 2015 | National | HR 37 | Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 154) |
| Jan. 14, 2015 | National | HR 240 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (236 - 191) |
| Jan. 13, 2015 | National | HR 185 | Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 175) |
| Jan. 9, 2015 | National | HR 3 | Keystone XL Pipeline Act | Bill Passed - House (266 - 153) |
| Jan. 8, 2015 | National | HR 30 | Save American Workers Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 172) |
| Dec. 4, 2014 | National | HR 5759 | Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 197) |
| Nov. 19, 2014 | National | HR 4012 | Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 190) |
| Nov. 18, 2014 | National | S 2685 | USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
| Nov. 18, 2014 | National | HR 1422 | EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| Nov. 18, 2014 | National | S 2280 | A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline | Bill Failed - Senate (59 - 41) |
| Nov. 14, 2014 | National | HR 5682 | To Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline | Bill Passed - House (252 - 161) |
| Sept. 18, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
| Sept. 17, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1141 | Authorizes Aid to Syrian Opposition | Amendment Adopted - House (273 - 156) |
| Sept. 17, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (319 - 108) |
| Sept. 11, 2014 | National | S J Res 19 | A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| Sept. 11, 2014 | National | HR 3522 | Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 167) |
| Sept. 9, 2014 | National | H Res 644 | Condemning and Disapproving of the Failure of the Obama Administration to Comply with the Lawful Statutory Requirement to Notify Congress before Transferring Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Expressing Concern About the National Security Risks Over the Transfer of Five Taliban Leaders and the Repercussions of Negotiating with Terrorists | Resolution Passed - House (249 - 163) |
| Sept. 9, 2014 | National | HR 5078 | Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 152) |
| Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5230 | Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (223 - 189) |
| Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5272 | To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (216 - 192) |
| July 31, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | (81 - 13) |
| July 30, 2014 | National | S 2569 | Bring Jobs Home Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| July 30, 2014 | National | H Res 676 | Providing for Authority to Initiate Litigation for Actions by the President or Other Executive Branch Officials Inconsistent with Their Duties Under the Constitution of the United States | Resolution Passed - House (225 - 201) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1098 | Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (241 - 181) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1079 | Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from Providing Bonuses to Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (282 - 138) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1093 | Prohibits Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from Preventing States from Implementing Broadband Internet Access Service Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 200) |