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
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 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
March 6, 2014 National HR 2641 Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 179)
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 524 Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266)
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 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 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 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 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
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. 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. 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. 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)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/12 HR 4138 Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (233 - 181)
3/06 S 1752 Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
3/06 H Amdt 587 Exempts Certain Nuclear Facility Construction Projects from Environmental Review Time Frame Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 220)
3/06 H Amdt 585 Prohibits the Social Cost of Carbon from Being Included in Agency Determinations Amendment Adopted - House (222 - 188)
3/06 HR 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
3/06 HR 2641 Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 179)
3/05 HR 4118 Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals (SIMPLE) Fairness Act Bill Passed - House (250 - 160)
3/04 HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (306 - 91)
2/27 H Amdt 561 Requires Agency Heads to File Negative-Impact Reports Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 162)
2/27 HR 3193 Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 182)
2/27 HR 2804 Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (236 - 179)
2/26 HR 3865 Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (243 - 176)
2/25 HR 1123 Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act Bill Passed - House (295 - 114)
2/12 S 540 Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (55 - 43)
2/12 S 540 Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 31)
2/11 S 540 Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 201)
2/04 HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32)
1/30 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)
1/29 HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 166)
1/28 HR 7 No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 188)
1/16 HR 3547 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
1/16 HR 3362 Exchange Information Disclosure Act Bill Passed - House (259 - 154)
1/15 HR 3547 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 67)
1/14 S 1845 Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
1/13 HR 3811 Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (291 - 122)
1/09 HR 2279 Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (225 - 188)
12/18 H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
12/12 H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (332 - 94)
12/11 HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
12/05 H Amdt 524 Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266)
12/05 H Amdt 521 Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213)
12/05 HR 3309 Innovation Act Bill Passed - House (325 - 91)
12/04 HR 1105 Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (254 - 159)
11/21 S 1197 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44)
11/21 H Amdt 515 Prohibits the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act from Taking Effect During the Sequester Amendment Rejected - House (175 - 243)
11/21 H Amdt 513 Removes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Permit Issuance Requirement Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 233)
11/21 H Amdt 512 Requires Natural Gas Pipeline Applications to Include Certain Information Amendment Rejected - House (183 - 233)
11/21 HR 1900 Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act Bill Passed - House (252 - 165)
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 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
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 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)
11/19 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)
11/19 S Amdt 2255 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
11/15 HR 3350 Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (261 - 157)
11/14 HR 2655 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (228 - 195)
11/13 HR 982 Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (221 - 199)

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