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
Oct. 17, 2001 National HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28)
Oct. 17, 2001 National HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
Oct. 12, 2001 National HR 2975 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (337 - 79)
Oct. 11, 2001 National HR 3061 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 Bill Passed - House (373 - 43)
Oct. 5, 2001 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - House (291 - 120)
Sept. 21, 2001 National HR 2926 Airline Industry Financial Assistance bill Bill Passed - House (356 - 54)
Sept. 21, 2001 National S 1450 Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
Sept. 14, 2001 National H J Res 64 Authorization for Use of Military Force Joint Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1)
Sept. 14, 2001 National S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 2, 2001 National H Amdt 303 Amendment to the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 213)
Aug. 2, 2001 National HR 2563 Bipartisan Patient Protection Act Bill Passed - House (226 - 203)
Aug. 2, 2001 National HR 4 Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
Aug. 1, 2001 National H Amdt 298 Prohibiting Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 223)
Aug. 1, 2001 National H Amdt 288 Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (160 - 269)
July 31, 2001 National H Amdt 285 Human Cloning Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (178 - 249)
July 31, 2001 National HR 2505 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (265 - 162)
July 26, 2001 National HR 1954 Iran and Libya Sanctions Bill Passed - House (409 - 6)
July 25, 2001 National H Amdt 241 Substitute Amendment to Treasury Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2002 Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 186)
July 25, 2001 National HR 2590 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act 2002 Bill Passed - House (334 - 94)
July 20, 2001 National HR 2216 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30)
July 19, 2001 National H Amdt 200 Community Solutions Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261)
July 19, 2001 National HR 7 Community Solutions Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (233 - 198)
July 19, 2001 National H J Res 50 China Trade Relations bill Joint Resolution Failed - House (169 - 259)
July 18, 2001 National HR 2500 Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 Bill Passed - House (408 - 19)
July 17, 2001 National H J Res 36 Flag Burning Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (298 - 125)
June 29, 2001 National S 1052 Patients' Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 36)
May 26, 2001 National HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Conference Report Adopted - House (240 - 154)
May 26, 2001 National HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 33)
May 23, 2001 National HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 38)
May 23, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
May 16, 2001 National HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (230 - 197)
May 10, 2001 National H Con Res 83 Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
May 9, 2001 National H Con Res 83 Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 207)
April 26, 2001 National H Amdt 27 Violence Against Fetuses/Unborn Children Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
April 26, 2001 National HR 503 Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (252 - 172)
April 2, 2001 National S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 26, 2001 National S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
March 21, 2001 National S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
March 20, 2001 National S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
March 7, 2001 National S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (223 - 206)
March 6, 2001 National S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
Feb. 1, 2001 National PN 107 John Ashcroft, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
Jan. 30, 2001 National PN 96 Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24)
Oct. 25, 2000 National HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27)
Oct. 25, 2000 National HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (307 - 101)
Oct. 3, 2000 National S 2045 American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
Sept. 26, 2000 National HR 5175 Small Business Superfund Exemption Bill Failed - House (253 - 161)
Sept. 19, 2000 National HR 4444 U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15)
Sept. 13, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
Sept. 13, 2000 National S Amdt 4132 China Nonproliferation Act Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 32)
Sept. 7, 2000 National HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Veto Override Failed - House (274 - 157)
July 27, 2000 National H Amdt 1041 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Amendment Rejected - House (169 - 256)
July 27, 2000 National HR 4865 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 159)
July 21, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
July 20, 2000 National H Amdt 1017 Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 230)
July 20, 2000 National H Amdt 1029 Cuban Travel Embargo Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 186)
July 20, 2000 National H Amdt 1023 Cuban Economic Embargo Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 241)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4871 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (216 - 202)
July 14, 2000 National HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
July 13, 2000 National H Amdt 983 HIV/AIDS Funding amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 156)
July 13, 2000 National H Amdt 997 Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221)
July 13, 2000 National H Amdt 982 Debt Relief Funding amendment Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 211)
July 13, 2000 National S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
July 13, 2000 National HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (239 - 185)
June 29, 2000 National S Amdt 3690 Off-budget Lockbox Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 37)
June 29, 2000 National S Amdt 3689 Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43)
June 29, 2000 National S Amdt 3694 Health Care Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
June 29, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
June 28, 2000 National S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
June 28, 2000 National HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
June 28, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - House (385 - 39)
June 22, 2000 National H Amdt 882 Prison Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 254)
June 22, 2000 National S Amdt 3598 Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
June 21, 2000 National H Amdt 858 EPA Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 216)
June 21, 2000 National H J Res 90 WTO Withdrawal resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (56 - 363)
June 20, 2000 National S Amdt 3252 Military Abortions Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49)
June 20, 2000 National S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
June 13, 2000 National H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
June 9, 2000 National H Amdt 763 Estate Tax Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222)
June 9, 2000 National HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (279 - 136)
June 8, 2000 National H Amdt 760 OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220)
June 7, 2000 National H Amdt 745 San Rafael Swell Area Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 211)
June 7, 2000 National H Amdt 748 San Rafael Legacy District Motor Vehicle Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 214)
May 24, 2000 National HR 4444 U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (237 - 197)
May 18, 2000 National H Amdt 723 School of the Americas Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (204 - 214)
May 18, 2000 National S Amdt 3154 Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
May 18, 2000 National H Amdt 722 Oversea Military Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221)
May 17, 2000 National H Amdt 714 Continued Deployment of Forces in Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (264 - 153)
May 11, 2000 National H Amdt 694 Local Government Participation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 238)
May 11, 2000 National HR 434 Africa Free Trade bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
May 11, 2000 National HR 701 Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (315 - 102)
May 10, 2000 National H Amdt 687 Social Security and Medicare Solvency Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 208)
May 10, 2000 National H Amdt 685 Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315)
May 10, 2000 National HR 3709 Regarding Internet Taxation Bill Passed - House (352 - 75)
May 4, 2000 National HR 434 Africa Free Trade bill Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 110)
April 13, 2000 National H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 208)
April 13, 2000 National H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
April 7, 2000 National H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
April 6, 2000 National S Amdt 2955 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/17 HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28)
10/17 HR 2217 Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
10/12 HR 2975 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (337 - 79)
10/11 HR 3061 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act, 2002 Bill Passed - House (373 - 43)
10/05 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - House (291 - 120)
9/21 HR 2926 Airline Industry Financial Assistance bill Bill Passed - House (356 - 54)
9/21 S 1450 Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
9/14 H J Res 64 Authorization for Use of Military Force Joint Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1)
9/14 S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
8/02 H Amdt 303 Amendment to the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 213)
8/02 HR 2563 Bipartisan Patient Protection Act Bill Passed - House (226 - 203)
8/02 HR 4 Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
8/01 H Amdt 298 Prohibiting Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 223)
8/01 H Amdt 288 Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (160 - 269)
7/31 H Amdt 285 Human Cloning Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (178 - 249)
7/31 HR 2505 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (265 - 162)
7/26 HR 1954 Iran and Libya Sanctions Bill Passed - House (409 - 6)
7/25 H Amdt 241 Substitute Amendment to Treasury Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2002 Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 186)
7/25 HR 2590 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act 2002 Bill Passed - House (334 - 94)
7/20 HR 2216 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30)
7/19 H Amdt 200 Community Solutions Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261)
7/19 HR 7 Community Solutions Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (233 - 198)
7/19 H J Res 50 China Trade Relations bill Joint Resolution Failed - House (169 - 259)
7/18 HR 2500 Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations, FY 2002 Bill Passed - House (408 - 19)
7/17 H J Res 36 Flag Burning Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (298 - 125)
6/29 S 1052 Patients' Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 36)
5/26 HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Conference Report Adopted - House (240 - 154)
5/26 HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 33)
5/23 HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 38)
5/23 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
5/16 HR 1836 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (230 - 197)
5/10 H Con Res 83 Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
5/09 H Con Res 83 Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 207)
4/26 H Amdt 27 Violence Against Fetuses/Unborn Children Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
4/26 HR 503 Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (252 - 172)
4/02 S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/26 S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
3/21 S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
3/20 S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
3/07 S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (223 - 206)
3/06 S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
2/01 PN 107 John Ashcroft, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
1/30 PN 96 Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24)
10/25 HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 27)
10/25 HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (307 - 101)
10/03 S 2045 American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
9/26 HR 5175 Small Business Superfund Exemption Bill Failed - House (253 - 161)
9/19 HR 4444 U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15)
9/13 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
9/13 S Amdt 4132 China Nonproliferation Act Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 32)
9/07 HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Veto Override Failed - House (274 - 157)
7/27 H Amdt 1041 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Amendment Rejected - House (169 - 256)
7/27 HR 4865 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 159)
7/21 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
7/20 H Amdt 1017 Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 230)
7/20 H Amdt 1029 Cuban Travel Embargo Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 186)
7/20 H Amdt 1023 Cuban Economic Embargo Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 241)
7/20 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
7/20 HR 4871 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 Bill Passed - House (216 - 202)
7/14 HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
7/13 H Amdt 983 HIV/AIDS Funding amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 156)
7/13 H Amdt 997 Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221)
7/13 H Amdt 982 Debt Relief Funding amendment Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 211)
7/13 S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
7/13 HR 4811 Foreign Operations FY 2001 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (239 - 185)
6/29 S Amdt 3690 Off-budget Lockbox Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 37)
6/29 S Amdt 3689 Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43)
6/29 S Amdt 3694 Health Care Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
6/29 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
6/28 S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
6/28 HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
6/28 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - House (385 - 39)
6/22 H Amdt 882 Prison Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 254)
6/22 S Amdt 3598 Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
6/21 H Amdt 858 EPA Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 216)
6/21 H J Res 90 WTO Withdrawal resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (56 - 363)
6/20 S Amdt 3252 Military Abortions Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49)
6/20 S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
6/13 H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
6/09 H Amdt 763 Estate Tax Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222)
6/09 HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (279 - 136)
6/08 H Amdt 760 OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220)
6/07 H Amdt 745 San Rafael Swell Area Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 211)
6/07 H Amdt 748 San Rafael Legacy District Motor Vehicle Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 214)
5/24 HR 4444 U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (237 - 197)
5/18 H Amdt 723 School of the Americas Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (204 - 214)
5/18 S Amdt 3154 Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
5/18 H Amdt 722 Oversea Military Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221)
5/17 H Amdt 714 Continued Deployment of Forces in Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (264 - 153)
5/11 H Amdt 694 Local Government Participation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 238)
5/11 HR 434 Africa Free Trade bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
5/11 HR 701 Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (315 - 102)
5/10 H Amdt 687 Social Security and Medicare Solvency Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 208)
5/10 H Amdt 685 Land Conservation-Land Acquisition Funding Amendment Rejected - House (109 - 315)
5/10 HR 3709 Regarding Internet Taxation Bill Passed - House (352 - 75)
5/04 HR 434 Africa Free Trade bill Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 110)
4/13 H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 208)
4/13 H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
4/07 H Con Res 290 Congressional Budget resolution FY 2001 Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
4/06 S Amdt 2955 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49)

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