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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | HR 5016 | Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| July 15, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (367 - 55) |
| July 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1040 | Prohibits Implementation of Certain Climate Assessments | Amendment Adopted - House (229 - 188) |
| July 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1012 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Contracting with Businesses Chartered in Bermuda or in the Cayman Islands | Amendment Adopted - House (221 - 200) |
| July 9, 2014 | National | PN 1736 | Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26) |
| June 26, 2014 | National | HR 4899 | Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 185) |
| June 24, 2014 | National | H Amdt 956 | Prohibits Pending Pipeline Permit Applications from Receiving Automatic Approval | Amendment Rejected - House (171 - 240) |
| June 24, 2014 | National | HR 3301 | North American Energy Infrastructure Act | Bill Passed - House (238 - 173) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 908 | Prohibits United States Combat Operations in Iraq | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 250) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 905 | Prohibits Transfer of Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Any Foreign Country | Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 184) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 917 | Prohibits United States from Providing Weapons in Syria | Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 244) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 901 | Prohibits Transfer of Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Yemen | Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 179) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 907 | Repeals Prohibition on Guantanamo Bay Detainee Transfers and Facility Construction | Amendment Rejected - House (163 - 249) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 935 | Prohibits a Federal Employee from Requesting Foreign Intelligence Information in Relation to a US Citizen | Amendment Adopted - House (293 - 123) |
| June 19, 2014 | National | H Amdt 912 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used Pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 | Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 231) |
| June 11, 2014 | National | S 2432 | Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38) |
| June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 823 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the California High-Speed Rail | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 186) |
| June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 813 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement a Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 207) |
| June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 815 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Acquire Traffic Cameras | Amendment Adopted - House (255 - 171) |
| June 10, 2014 | National | HR 4745 | Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 192) |
| June 9, 2014 | National | H Amdt 783 | Reduces Appropriations to Amtrak | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 248) |
| May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 763 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Require Journalists to Disclose Sources | Amendment Adopted - House (225 - 183) |
| May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 750 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the Transfer of Clemency Application Screening Personnel | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189) |
| May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 748 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Preventing States from Authorizing the Use of Medical Marijuana | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189) |
| May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 738 | Authorizes Funds to be Used for Guantanamo Bay Operations | Amendment Rejected - House (169 - 230) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | H Amdt 680 | Repeals Military Force Authorization | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 233) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | H Amdt 679 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement the New START Treaty | Amendment Adopted - House (233 - 191) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | H Amdt 671 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for Certain Climate Change Reports | Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | H Amdt 676 | Repeals Indefinite Military Detention Provisions | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 230) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | H Amdt 675 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for Guantanmo Bay Operations | Amendment Rejected - House (177 - 247) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | HR 4435 | Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 | Bill Passed - House (325 - 98) |
| May 22, 2014 | National | HR 3361 | USA FREEDOM Act | Bill Passed - House (303 - 121) |
| May 21, 2014 | National | H Amdt 669 | Amends Intercontinental-Range Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (222 - 196) |
| May 9, 2014 | National | HR 4438 | American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 131) |
| May 7, 2014 | National | H Res 574 | Recommends that the House of Representatives Find Lois G. Lerner in Contempt of Congress | Resolution Passed - House (231 - 187) |
| April 30, 2014 | National | S 2223 | Minimum Wage Fairness Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| April 10, 2014 | National | H Con Res 96 | Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2015 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2016 Through 2024 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (219 - 205) |
| April 9, 2014 | National | S 2199 | Paycheck Fairness Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44) |
| April 8, 2014 | National | HR 1871 | Baseline Reform Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 185) |
| April 4, 2014 | National | HR 1874 | Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (224 - 182) |
| April 3, 2014 | National | HR 2575 | Save American Workers Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (248 - 179) |
| March 31, 2014 | National | HR 4302 | Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| March 26, 2014 | National | HR 1459 | Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act | Bill Passed - House (222 - 201) |
| March 25, 2014 | National | HR 2824 | Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America | Bill Passed - House (229 - 192) |
| March 14, 2014 | National | HR 4015 | SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (238 - 181) |
| March 13, 2014 | National | HR 3370 | Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 22) |
| March 13, 2014 | National | HR 3189 | Water Rights Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (238 - 174) |
| March 13, 2014 | National | HR 3973 | Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 171) |
| March 12, 2014 | National | HR 4138 | Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 181) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | S 1752 | Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | H Amdt 587 | Exempts Certain Nuclear Facility Construction Projects from Environmental Review Time Frame Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 220) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | H Amdt 585 | Prohibits the Social Cost of Carbon from Being Included in Agency Determinations | Amendment Adopted - House (222 - 188) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | HR 2641 | Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 179) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | HR 3826 | Electricity Security and Affordability Act | Bill Passed - House (229 - 183) |
| March 5, 2014 | National | HR 4118 | Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals (SIMPLE) Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (250 - 160) |
| March 4, 2014 | National | HR 3370 | Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 91) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | National | H Amdt 561 | Requires Agency Heads to File Negative-Impact Reports | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 162) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | National | HR 3193 | Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 182) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | National | HR 2804 | Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (236 - 179) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | National | HR 3865 | Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 176) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | National | HR 1123 | Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act | Bill Passed - House (295 - 114) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | National | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (55 - 43) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | National | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 31) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | National | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 201) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | National | S 1926 | Delays the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Amends the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 166) |
| Jan. 28, 2014 | National | HR 7 | No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act | Bill Passed - House (227 - 188) |
| Jan. 16, 2014 | National | HR 3547 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |
| Jan. 16, 2014 | National | HR 3362 | Exchange Information Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - House (259 - 154) |
| Jan. 15, 2014 | National | HR 3547 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 67) |
| Jan. 14, 2014 | National | S 1845 | Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | National | HR 3811 | Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 122) |
| Jan. 9, 2014 | National | HR 2279 | Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 188) |
| Dec. 18, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (332 - 94) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | National | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 521 | Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 524 | Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue | Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | HR 3309 | Innovation Act | Bill Passed - House (325 - 91) |
| Dec. 4, 2013 | National | HR 1105 | Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 159) |
| Nov. 21, 2013 | National | S 1197 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
| Nov. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 515 | Prohibits the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act from Taking Effect During the Sequester | Amendment Rejected - House (175 - 243) |
| Nov. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 513 | Removes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Permit Issuance Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 233) |
| Nov. 21, 2013 | National | H Amdt 512 | Requires Natural Gas Pipeline Applications to Include Certain Information | Amendment Rejected - House (183 - 233) |
| Nov. 21, 2013 | National | HR 1900 | Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (252 - 165) |
| 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 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 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 507 | Specifies the Authority of the Secretary of Interior on the Regulation of Methane Emissions | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 230) |
| 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. 19, 2013 | National | S Amdt 2255 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Nov. 19, 2013 | National | S Amdt 2175 | Authorizes the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to the United States | Amendment Rejected - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Nov. 15, 2013 | National | HR 3350 | Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 157) |
| Nov. 14, 2013 | National | HR 2655 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| Nov. 13, 2013 | National | HR 982 | Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 199) |