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 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 12)
July 15, 2004 National HR 4818 Omnibus FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (365 - 41)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
July 13, 2004 National HR 4766 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (389 - 31)
July 12, 2004 National HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (327 - 43)
July 8, 2004 National HR 4754 Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 18)
June 25, 2004 National HR 4614 Appropriations Bill FY 2005, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - House (370 - 16)
June 23, 2004 National S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
June 23, 2004 National HR 4548 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 Bill Passed - House (360 - 61)
June 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (403 - 17)
June 18, 2004 National HR 4567 Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (400 - 5)
June 17, 2004 National HR 4568 Interior Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (334 - 86)
June 15, 2004 National HR 4503 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 178)
June 2, 2004 National H J Res 83 Special Elections/Appointments Provisions Bill Joint Resolution Failed - House (63 - 353)
May 21, 2004 National S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
May 20, 2004 National HR 4359 Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (271 - 139)
May 20, 2004 National HR 4200 Defense Department FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (391 - 34)
May 18, 2004 National HR 3722 Undocumented Immigrant Emergency Medical Assistance Bill Failed - House (88 - 331)
May 13, 2004 National HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
May 12, 2004 National HR 4279 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (273 - 152)
May 12, 2004 National HR 4280 Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
May 11, 2004 National S Amdt 3114 Unemployment Benefits Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40)
May 11, 2004 National S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
May 6, 2004 National H Res 627 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - House (365 - 50)
May 5, 2004 National HR 4227 Middle-Class Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (333 - 89)
April 29, 2004 National S 150 Internet Access Tax Bill Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 3)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4219 Highway Trust Fund Programs Extension Bill Bill Passed - House (410 - 0)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
April 22, 2004 National HR 2844 Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (306 - 97)
April 22, 2004 National S 2329 Victims' Rights Bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
April 8, 2004 National HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
April 2, 2004 National HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69)
April 2, 2004 National HR 3550 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - House (357 - 65)
March 25, 2004 National H Con Res 393 Budget Appropriations- Fiscal Year 2005 Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212)
March 25, 2004 National HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
March 24, 2004 National HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
March 18, 2004 National HR 1375 Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (392 - 25)
March 17, 2004 National H Res 557 War in Iraq Anniversary Resolution Resolution Passed - House (327 - 93)
March 12, 2004 National S Con Res 95 Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
March 11, 2004 National HR 3717 FCC Indecency Penalties Bill Bill Passed - House (391 - 22)
March 10, 2004 National HR 339 Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) Bill Passed - House (276 - 139)
March 3, 2004 National HR 1561 US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (379 - 28)
March 2, 2004 National S 1805 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 90)
Feb. 26, 2004 National HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - House (254 - 163)
Feb. 25, 2004 National HR 2751 GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (382 - 43)
Feb. 12, 2004 National S 1072 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2004 National S 1920 Farmer Bankruptcy Bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 99)
Jan. 22, 2004 National HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
Nov. 25, 2003 National HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
Nov. 22, 2003 National HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215)
Nov. 22, 2003 National S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
Nov. 21, 2003 National HR 1904 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140)
Nov. 21, 2003 National S 1156 Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (423 - 2)
Nov. 20, 2003 National HR 2417 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163)
Nov. 20, 2003 National HR 253 Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (352 - 67)
Nov. 18, 2003 National HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Conference Report Adopted - House (246 - 180)
Nov. 18, 2003 National HR 2754 Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36)
Nov. 12, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
Nov. 7, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40)
Nov. 6, 2003 National HR 1829 Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (350 - 65)
Nov. 5, 2003 National HR 2559 Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 5)
Oct. 31, 2003 National HR 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121)
Oct. 30, 2003 National HR 2115 Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207)
Oct. 30, 2003 National HR 2691 Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205)
Oct. 28, 2003 National PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
Oct. 23, 2003 National S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
Oct. 21, 2003 National S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
Oct. 17, 2003 National S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
Oct. 16, 2003 National H Res 198 Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31)
Oct. 2, 2003 National S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142)
Sept. 25, 2003 National HR 3161 Do-Not-Call-Registry bill Bill Passed - House (412 - 8)
Sept. 24, 2003 National HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56)
Sept. 24, 2003 National HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15)
Sept. 24, 2003 National HR 2555 Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8)
Sept. 23, 2003 National HR 1409 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
Sept. 17, 2003 National HR 7 Charitable Contributions bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 13)
Sept. 16, 2003 National S J Res 17 FCC Media Ownership bill Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 40)
Sept. 9, 2003 National HR 2989 Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill Passed - House (381 - 39)
July 31, 2003 National HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
July 31, 2003 National HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
July 31, 2003 National HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
July 25, 2003 National HR 2210 Head Start Bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 216)
July 25, 2003 National HR 2859 Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 Bill Passed - House (352 - 60)
July 25, 2003 National HR 2427 Imports of Prescription Drugs bill Bill Passed - House (243 - 186)
July 25, 2003 National HR 2861 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
July 24, 2003 National HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - House (272 - 155)
July 24, 2003 National HR 2800 Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (370 - 50)
July 24, 2003 National HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 156)
July 23, 2003 National HR 2799 Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (400 - 21)
July 17, 2003 National HR 2691 Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 152)
July 16, 2003 National HR 2122 Project BioShield Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (421 - 2)
July 16, 2003 National HR 1950 State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill Bill Passed - House (382 - 42)
July 14, 2003 National HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
July 11, 2003 National HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
July 10, 2003 National HR 2660 Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (215 - 208)
July 9, 2003 National HR 2211 Ready to Teach Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (404 - 17)
July 9, 2003 National HR 438 Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers Bill Passed - House (417 - 7)
July 9, 2003 National HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - House (394 - 26)
July 8, 2003 National HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
June 27, 2003 National S 1 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 12)
7/15 HR 4818 Omnibus FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (365 - 41)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
7/13 HR 4766 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (389 - 31)
7/12 HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (327 - 43)
7/08 HR 4754 Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 18)
6/25 HR 4614 Appropriations Bill FY 2005, Energy and Water Development Bill Passed - House (370 - 16)
6/23 S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
6/23 HR 4548 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 Bill Passed - House (360 - 61)
6/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (403 - 17)
6/18 HR 4567 Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (400 - 5)
6/17 HR 4568 Interior Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (334 - 86)
6/15 HR 4503 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 178)
6/02 H J Res 83 Special Elections/Appointments Provisions Bill Joint Resolution Failed - House (63 - 353)
5/21 S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
5/20 HR 4359 Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (271 - 139)
5/20 HR 4200 Defense Department FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (391 - 34)
5/18 HR 3722 Undocumented Immigrant Emergency Medical Assistance Bill Failed - House (88 - 331)
5/13 HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
5/12 HR 4279 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (273 - 152)
5/12 HR 4280 Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
5/11 S Amdt 3114 Unemployment Benefits Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40)
5/11 S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
5/06 H Res 627 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - House (365 - 50)
5/05 HR 4227 Middle-Class Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (333 - 89)
4/29 S 150 Internet Access Tax Bill Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 3)
4/28 HR 4219 Highway Trust Fund Programs Extension Bill Bill Passed - House (410 - 0)
4/28 HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
4/22 HR 2844 Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (306 - 97)
4/22 S 2329 Victims' Rights Bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
4/08 HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
4/02 HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69)
4/02 HR 3550 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - House (357 - 65)
3/25 H Con Res 393 Budget Appropriations- Fiscal Year 2005 Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212)
3/25 HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
3/24 HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
3/18 HR 1375 Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (392 - 25)
3/17 H Res 557 War in Iraq Anniversary Resolution Resolution Passed - House (327 - 93)
3/12 S Con Res 95 Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
3/11 HR 3717 FCC Indecency Penalties Bill Bill Passed - House (391 - 22)
3/10 HR 339 Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) Bill Passed - House (276 - 139)
3/03 HR 1561 US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (379 - 28)
3/02 S 1805 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 90)
2/26 HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - House (254 - 163)
2/25 HR 2751 GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (382 - 43)
2/12 S 1072 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
1/28 S 1920 Farmer Bankruptcy Bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 99)
1/22 HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
11/25 HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
11/22 HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215)
11/22 S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
11/21 HR 1904 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140)
11/21 S 1156 Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (423 - 2)
11/20 HR 2417 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163)
11/20 HR 253 Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (352 - 67)
11/18 HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Conference Report Adopted - House (246 - 180)
11/18 HR 2754 Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36)
11/12 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
11/07 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40)
11/06 HR 1829 Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (350 - 65)
11/05 HR 2559 Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 5)
10/31 HR 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121)
10/30 HR 2115 Aviation Administration FY2004-2006 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (211 - 207)
10/30 HR 2691 Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205)
10/28 PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
10/23 S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
10/21 S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
10/17 S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
10/16 H Res 198 Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31)
10/02 S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142)
9/25 HR 3161 Do-Not-Call-Registry bill Bill Passed - House (412 - 8)
9/24 HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56)
9/24 HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15)
9/24 HR 2555 Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8)
9/23 HR 1409 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
9/17 HR 7 Charitable Contributions bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 13)
9/16 S J Res 17 FCC Media Ownership bill Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 40)
9/09 HR 2989 Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill Passed - House (381 - 39)
7/31 HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
7/31 HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
7/31 HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
7/25 HR 2210 Head Start Bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 216)
7/25 HR 2859 Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 Bill Passed - House (352 - 60)
7/25 HR 2427 Imports of Prescription Drugs bill Bill Passed - House (243 - 186)
7/25 HR 2861 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
7/24 HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - House (272 - 155)
7/24 HR 2800 Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (370 - 50)
7/24 HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 156)
7/23 HR 2799 Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (400 - 21)
7/17 HR 2691 Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 152)
7/16 HR 2122 Project BioShield Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (421 - 2)
7/16 HR 1950 State Department FY2004-2005 Authorizations bill Bill Passed - House (382 - 42)
7/14 HR 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill Passed - House (347 - 64)
7/11 HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
7/10 HR 2660 Department of Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (215 - 208)
7/09 HR 2211 Ready to Teach Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (404 - 17)
7/09 HR 438 Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers Bill Passed - House (417 - 7)
7/09 HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - House (394 - 26)
7/08 HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
6/27 S 1 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)

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