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
Feb. 2, 2021 National PN 78-13 Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Feb. 2, 2021 National PN 78-4 Nomination of Peter Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (86 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2021 National PN 78-3 Nomination of Antony Blinken as Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 22)
Jan. 25, 2021 National PN 78-24 Nomination of Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
Jan. 22, 2021 National PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
Jan. 20, 2021 National PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
Dec. 21, 2020 National HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
Dec. 11, 2020 National HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
Oct. 26, 2020 National PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
Oct. 25, 2020 National PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
Oct. 1, 2020 National S 4653 A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
Sept. 30, 2020 National HR 8337 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
Sept. 10, 2020 National S 178 Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
July 23, 2020 National S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
June 17, 2020 National HR 1957 Great American Outdoors Act Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25)
May 21, 2020 National PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
May 14, 2020 National HR 6172 USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16)
May 7, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
March 25, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
March 23, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
March 22, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
March 18, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
March 11, 2020 National H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 42)
March 5, 2020 National HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
Feb. 25, 2020 National S 311 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 41)
Feb. 25, 2020 National S 3275 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
Feb. 13, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
Feb. 5, 2020 National H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 53)
Feb. 5, 2020 National H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (48 - 52)
Jan. 31, 2020 National S Amdt 1298 Requires the US Chief Justice to rule on motions to subpoena witnesses and documents and issues of privilege Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
Jan. 31, 2020 National S Res 488 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
Jan. 22, 2020 National S Res 483 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 47)
Jan. 16, 2020 National HR 5430 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10)
Dec. 19, 2019 National HR 1865 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 23)
Dec. 19, 2019 National HR 1158 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 11)
Dec. 2, 2019 National PN 1268 Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 15)
Nov. 21, 2019 National HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 20)
Nov. 21, 2019 National PN 1268 Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 18)
Nov. 13, 2019 National PN 410 Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security (54 - 41)
Nov. 12, 2019 National PN 410 Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 40)
Oct. 31, 2019 National HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
Oct. 22, 2019 National PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations (50 - 44)
Oct. 22, 2019 National PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 43)
Oct. 17, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Veto Override Failed - Senate (53 - 36)
Oct. 17, 2019 National S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations" Bill Failed - Senate (41 - 53)
Sept. 26, 2019 National PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor (53 - 44)
Sept. 26, 2019 National HR 4378 Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
Sept. 26, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
Sept. 25, 2019 National PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42)
Aug. 1, 2019 National HR 3877 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/02 PN 78-13 Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
2/02 PN 78-4 Nomination of Peter Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (86 - 13)
1/26 PN 78-3 Nomination of Antony Blinken as Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 22)
1/25 PN 78-24 Nomination of Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
1/22 PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
1/20 PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
12/21 HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
12/11 HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
10/26 PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
10/25 PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
10/01 S 4653 A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
9/30 HR 8337 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
9/10 S 178 Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
7/23 S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
6/17 HR 1957 Great American Outdoors Act Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25)
5/21 PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
5/14 HR 6172 USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16)
5/07 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
3/25 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
3/23 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
3/22 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
3/18 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
3/11 H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 42)
3/05 HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
2/25 S 311 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 41)
2/25 S 3275 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
2/13 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
2/05 H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 53)
2/05 H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (48 - 52)
1/31 S Amdt 1298 Requires the US Chief Justice to rule on motions to subpoena witnesses and documents and issues of privilege Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
1/31 S Res 488 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
1/22 S Res 483 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 47)
1/16 HR 5430 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10)
12/19 HR 1865 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 23)
12/19 HR 1158 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 11)
12/02 PN 1268 Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 15)
11/21 HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 20)
11/21 PN 1268 Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 18)
11/13 PN 410 Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security (54 - 41)
11/12 PN 410 Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 40)
10/31 HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
10/22 PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations (50 - 44)
10/22 PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 43)
10/17 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Veto Override Failed - Senate (53 - 36)
10/17 S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations" Bill Failed - Senate (41 - 53)
9/26 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor (53 - 44)
9/26 HR 4378 Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
9/26 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
9/25 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42)
8/01 HR 3877 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)

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