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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
| July 9, 2003 | National | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
| July 9, 2003 | National | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
| April 30, 2003 | National | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
| Dec. 13, 2001 | National | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41) |
| May 23, 2001 | National | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Bill Passed - House (384 - 45) |
| June 13, 2000 | National | H Amdt 788 | Higher Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267) |
| Oct. 21, 1999 | National | HR 2300 | Academic Achievement for All Act | Bill Passed - House (213 - 208) |
| Oct. 21, 1999 | National | HR 2 | Education Funding for Disadvantaged Students-Passage | Bill Passed - House (358 - 67) |
| July 20, 1999 | National | HR 1995 | Teacher Empowerment Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 185) |
| April 21, 1999 | National | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57) |
| April 21, 1999 | National | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57) |
| March 11, 1999 | National | H Amdt 22 | High Needs District Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 223) |
| March 11, 1999 | National | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 90) |
| March 11, 1999 | National | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 90) |
| March 10, 1999 | National | H Amdt 20 | Student Performance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 228) |
| Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
| June 18, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
| June 18, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
| May 6, 1998 | National | HR 6 | Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 4) |
| April 30, 1998 | National | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
| Feb. 5, 1998 | National | HR 2846 | National Student Testing bill | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2616 | Charter School Expansion Act of 1998 | Bill Passed - House (367 - 57) |
| Nov. 4, 1997 | National | HR 2746 | HELP Scholarships bill | Bill Failed - House (191 - 228) |
| Oct. 23, 1997 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 198) |
| Oct. 23, 1997 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 198) |
| May 16, 1997 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - House (343 - 60) |
| July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1264 | Education and Training Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227) |
| July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1265 | School Improvement Programs Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129) |
| March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
| Nov. 2, 1995 | National | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| March 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 491 | Homosexuality Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 194) |
| March 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 497 | Funding and Programs Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (173 - 245) |
| March 23, 1994 | National | HR 1804 | Goals 2000: Educate America Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (306 - 121) |
| March 22, 1994 | National | H Amdt 488 | Optional Abstinence Emphasis Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (262 - 166) |
| March 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 462 | Tobacco Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (353 - 70) |
| Oct. 13, 1993 | National | HR 1804 | Goals 2000: Educate America Act | Bill Passed - House (307 - 118) |
| Oct. 7, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| Oct. 7, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| Aug. 6, 1993 | National | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152) |
| July 28, 1993 | National | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Bill Passed - House (275 - 152) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 7/25 | HR 2210 | Head Start Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 216) |
| 7/09 | HR 438 | Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers | Bill Passed - House (417 - 7) |
| 7/09 | HR 2211 | Ready to Teach Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (404 - 17) |
| 4/30 | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 171) |
| 12/13 | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41) |
| 5/23 | HR 1 | No Child Left Behind Act | Bill Passed - House (384 - 45) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 788 | Higher Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267) |
| 10/21 | HR 2300 | Academic Achievement for All Act | Bill Passed - House (213 - 208) |
| 10/21 | HR 2 | Education Funding for Disadvantaged Students-Passage | Bill Passed - House (358 - 67) |
| 7/20 | HR 1995 | Teacher Empowerment Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 185) |
| 4/21 | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57) |
| 4/21 | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57) |
| 3/11 | H Amdt 22 | High Needs District Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 223) |
| 3/11 | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 90) |
| 3/11 | HR 800 | Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 90) |
| 3/10 | H Amdt 20 | Student Performance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 228) |
| 8/06 | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
| 6/18 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
| 6/18 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
| 5/06 | HR 6 | Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 4) |
| 4/30 | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
| 2/05 | HR 2846 | National Student Testing bill | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
| 11/07 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (352 - 65) |
| 11/07 | HR 2616 | Charter School Expansion Act of 1998 | Bill Passed - House (367 - 57) |
| 11/04 | HR 2746 | HELP Scholarships bill | Bill Failed - House (191 - 228) |
| 10/23 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 198) |
| 10/23 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 198) |
| 5/16 | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - House (343 - 60) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1264 | Education and Training Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 227) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1265 | School Improvement Programs Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (294 - 129) |
| 3/20 | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
| 11/02 | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| 3/24 | H Amdt 491 | Homosexuality Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 194) |
| 3/24 | H Amdt 497 | Funding and Programs Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (173 - 245) |
| 3/23 | HR 1804 | Goals 2000: Educate America Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (306 - 121) |
| 3/22 | H Amdt 488 | Optional Abstinence Emphasis Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (262 - 166) |
| 3/09 | H Amdt 462 | Tobacco Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (353 - 70) |
| 10/13 | HR 1804 | Goals 2000: Educate America Act | Bill Passed - House (307 - 118) |
| 10/07 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| 10/07 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| 8/06 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152) |
| 7/28 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Bill Passed - House (275 - 152) |
| 6/30 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| 6/30 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |