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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 1995 | National | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (228 - 193) |
| July 26, 1995 | National | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Bill Passed - House (272 - 151) |
| July 21, 1995 | National | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 7) |
| July 19, 1995 | National | HR 2020 | Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - House (216 - 211) |
| July 18, 1995 | National | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (244 - 181) |
| July 11, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| June 29, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 46) |
| June 29, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 194) |
| June 29, 1995 | National | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 151) |
| June 21, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| June 8, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| May 25, 1995 | National | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| May 25, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Fiscal 1996 Budget Resolution - Adoption | Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 42) |
| May 18, 1995 | National | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 189) |
| May 18, 1995 | National | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193) |
| May 16, 1995 | National | HR 961 | Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| April 5, 1995 | National | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| March 24, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (234 - 199) |
| March 23, 1995 | National | S Amdt 350 | Pay-As-You-Go Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 48) |
| March 16, 1995 | National | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - House (227 - 200) |
| March 2, 1995 | National | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (65 - 35) |
| Feb. 14, 1995 | National | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
| Jan. 26, 1995 | National | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (300 - 132) |
| Sept. 29, 1994 | National | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11) |
| Sept. 28, 1994 | National | HR 4602 | Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| Sept. 27, 1994 | National | HR 4539 | Treasury, Postal Service Appropriations Bill FY95 | Conference Report Adopted - House (360 - 53) |
| Sept. 27, 1994 | National | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 16) |
| Sept. 27, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 9) |
| Sept. 23, 1994 | National | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 107) |
| Sept. 22, 1994 | National | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (331 - 89) |
| Sept. 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27) |
| Sept. 12, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (313 - 61) |
| Aug. 25, 1994 | National | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Aug. 21, 1994 | National | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195) |
| Aug. 19, 1994 | National | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 10) |
| Aug. 18, 1994 | National | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (322 - 98) |
| Aug. 10, 1994 | National | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (393 - 34) |
| Aug. 10, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12) |
| Aug. 10, 1994 | National | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 13) |
| Aug. 4, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 85) |
| Aug. 4, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 9) |
| July 25, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2396 | Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42) |
| July 21, 1994 | National | H Amdt 771 | Limiting Entitlement Program Expenditures | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| July 21, 1994 | National | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| July 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
| July 20, 1994 | National | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| July 19, 1994 | National | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| July 15, 1994 | National | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| July 13, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 210) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/31 | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (228 - 193) |
| 7/26 | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Bill Passed - House (272 - 151) |
| 7/21 | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 7) |
| 7/19 | HR 2020 | Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service | Bill Passed - House (216 - 211) |
| 7/18 | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (244 - 181) |
| 7/11 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| 6/29 | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 6/29 | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 194) |
| 6/29 | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 151) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 6/08 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 5/25 | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 5/25 | H Con Res 67 | Fiscal 1996 Budget Resolution - Adoption | Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 42) |
| 5/18 | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 189) |
| 5/18 | H Con Res 67 | Budget FY1996 Appropriations Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (238 - 193) |
| 5/16 | HR 961 | Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| 4/05 | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| 3/24 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (234 - 199) |
| 3/23 | S Amdt 350 | Pay-As-You-Go Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 48) |
| 3/16 | HR 1158 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - House (227 - 200) |
| 3/02 | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (65 - 35) |
| 2/14 | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
| 1/26 | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (300 - 132) |
| 9/29 | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 11) |
| 9/28 | HR 4602 | Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| 9/27 | HR 4539 | Treasury, Postal Service Appropriations Bill FY95 | Conference Report Adopted - House (360 - 53) |
| 9/27 | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 16) |
| 9/27 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 9) |
| 9/23 | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 107) |
| 9/22 | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (331 - 89) |
| 9/21 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27) |
| 9/12 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (313 - 61) |
| 8/25 | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 8/21 | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195) |
| 8/19 | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 10) |
| 8/18 | HR 4603 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (322 - 98) |
| 8/10 | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (393 - 34) |
| 8/10 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12) |
| 8/10 | HR 4606 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Labor, HHS, Education | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 13) |
| 8/04 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 85) |
| 8/04 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 9) |
| 7/25 | S Amdt 2396 | Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42) |
| 7/21 | H Amdt 771 | Limiting Entitlement Program Expenditures | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 7/21 | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| 7/21 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
| 7/20 | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| 7/19 | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| 7/15 | HR 4426 | Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| 7/13 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 210) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |