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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| April 29, 2009 | National | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193) |
| April 29, 2009 | National | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43) |
| Sept. 26, 2008 | National | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
| July 31, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
| July 31, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 8) |
| May 22, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4803 | GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 22) |
| May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
| May 1, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
| April 17, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Bill Passed - House (354 - 58) |
| Dec. 18, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| Dec. 17, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201) |
| Nov. 14, 2007 | National | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
| Sept. 7, 2007 | National | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 97) |
| Sept. 7, 2007 | National | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12) |
| July 20, 2007 | National | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18) |
| July 19, 2007 | National | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| July 19, 2007 | National | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| July 11, 2007 | National | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - House (273 - 149) |
| Jan. 17, 2007 | National | HR 5 | College Student Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (356 - 71) |
| July 25, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4689 | Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| March 30, 2006 | National | H Amdt 772 | Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220) |
| March 30, 2006 | National | HR 609 | College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 199) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| Dec. 14, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| Dec. 14, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| Dec. 8, 2005 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 197) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2287 | After School Funding Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| Oct. 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2292 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| Oct. 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2275 | Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51) |
| Oct. 25, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2213 | Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| July 22, 2005 | National | H Amdt 511 | Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206) |
| June 23, 2005 | National | H Amdt 343 | Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting | Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 172 | Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| May 13, 2004 | National | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |
| July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
| July 9, 2003 | National | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
| July 9, 2003 | National | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
| April 30, 2003 | National | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
| Dec. 18, 2001 | National | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| Dec. 13, 2001 | National | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| 4/29 | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193) |
| 4/29 | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43) |
| 9/26 | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
| 7/31 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
| 7/31 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 8) |
| 5/22 | S Amdt 4803 | GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 22) |
| 5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
| 5/01 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
| 4/17 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
| 2/07 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Bill Passed - House (354 - 58) |
| 12/18 | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| 12/17 | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201) |
| 11/14 | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
| 9/07 | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Conference Report Adopted - House (292 - 97) |
| 9/07 | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12) |
| 7/20 | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18) |
| 7/19 | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| 7/19 | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| 7/11 | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - House (273 - 149) |
| 1/17 | HR 5 | College Student Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (356 - 71) |
| 7/25 | S Amdt 4689 | Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 3/30 | H Amdt 772 | Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220) |
| 3/30 | HR 609 | College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 199) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 2/02 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| 12/14 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| 12/14 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| 12/08 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 197) |
| 11/17 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| 11/17 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| 11/03 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 10/27 | S Amdt 2287 | After School Funding Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
| 10/27 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 10/27 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 10/26 | S Amdt 2292 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 10/26 | S Amdt 2275 | Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51) |
| 10/25 | S Amdt 2213 | Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 7/22 | H Amdt 511 | Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 343 | Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting | Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 172 | Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 5/13 | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |
| 7/25 | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
| 7/09 | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
| 7/09 | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
| 4/30 | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
| 12/18 | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| 12/13 | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41) |