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
Dec. 3, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2915 Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2908 Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2910 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2914 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 5, 2015 National HR 2685 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44)
Nov. 3, 2015 National S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
Oct. 29, 2015 National HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
Oct. 27, 2015 National S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
Oct. 22, 2015 National S Amdt 2564 Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65)
Oct. 20, 2015 National S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Oct. 7, 2015 National HR 1735 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27)
Oct. 1, 2015 National HR 2029 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44)
Sept. 30, 2015 National HR 719 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
Sept. 24, 2015 National S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 22, 2015 National HR 36 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
July 30, 2015 National HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
June 2, 2015 National HR 2048 Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32)
May 12, 2015 National HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
May 5, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
April 23, 2015 National PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 27, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
March 26, 2015 National S Amdt 798 Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
March 4, 2015 National S 1 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Veto Override Failed - Senate (62 - 37)
Jan. 29, 2015 National S 1 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
Nov. 18, 2014 National S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
Nov. 18, 2014 National S 2280 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Failed - Senate (59 - 41)
Sept. 18, 2014 National H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
Sept. 11, 2014 National S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
July 31, 2014 National HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (81 - 13)
July 30, 2014 National S 2569 Bring Jobs Home Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
July 29, 2014 National HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014  Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3583 Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3584 Transportation Empowerment Act Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69)
July 16, 2014 National S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
July 9, 2014 National PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
June 11, 2014 National S 2432 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38)
April 30, 2014 National S 2223 Minimum Wage Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
April 9, 2014 National S 2199 Paycheck Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
March 31, 2014 National HR 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
March 13, 2014 National HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 22)
March 6, 2014 National S 1752 Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
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. 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. 16, 2014 National HR 3547 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/03 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
12/03 S Amdt 2915 Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
12/03 S Amdt 2908 Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
12/03 S Amdt 2910 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
12/03 S Amdt 2914 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
11/17 S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/17 S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/05 HR 2685 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44)
11/03 S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
10/29 HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
10/27 S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
10/22 S Amdt 2564 Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65)
10/20 S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
10/07 HR 1735 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27)
10/01 HR 2029 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44)
9/30 HR 719 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
9/24 S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
9/22 HR 36 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
7/30 HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
6/02 HR 2048 Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32)
5/12 HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
5/05 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
4/23 PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/27 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
3/26 S Amdt 798 Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
3/04 S 1 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Veto Override Failed - Senate (62 - 37)
1/29 S 1 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
11/18 S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
11/18 S 2280 A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Failed - Senate (59 - 41)
9/18 H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
9/11 S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
7/31 HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (81 - 13)
7/30 S 2569 Bring Jobs Home Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
7/29 HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014  Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18)
7/29 S Amdt 3583 Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31)
7/29 S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
7/29 S Amdt 3584 Transportation Empowerment Act Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69)
7/16 S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
7/09 PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
6/11 S 2432 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38)
4/30 S 2223 Minimum Wage Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
4/09 S 2199 Paycheck Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
3/31 HR 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
3/13 HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 22)
3/06 S 1752 Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
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)
2/04 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)
1/16 HR 3547 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26)

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