National Family 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
May 9, 2012 National H Amdt 1096 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention with the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (245 - 171)
Dec. 15, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
Dec. 18, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
Dec. 15, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
Sept. 22, 2010 National HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
Dec. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
March 31, 2009 National HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (275 - 149)
March 26, 2009 National HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 19)
March 18, 2009 National HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - House (321 - 105)
Jan. 29, 2009 National HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
Jan. 14, 2009 National HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - House (289 - 139)
March 14, 2008 National S Amdt 4233 Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
Jan. 23, 2008 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152)
Nov. 14, 2007 National HR 1429 Head Start Act of 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36)
Nov. 1, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30)
Oct. 25, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
Oct. 18, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156)
Sept. 27, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29)
Sept. 25, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
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)
Sept. 26, 2006 National S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
July 25, 2006 National S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
July 18, 2006 National H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
Dec. 19, 2005 National S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Nov. 17, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
April 27, 2005 National HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
April 14, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 244 Unintended Pregnancy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
March 10, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
Sept. 23, 2004 National HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3)
Sept. 23, 2004 National HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 65)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
May 20, 2004 National HR 4359 Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (271 - 139)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
March 24, 2004 National HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
March 24, 2004 National HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
April 10, 2003 National S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
Feb. 13, 2003 National HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
May 16, 2002 National HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
Sept. 13, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
July 21, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
March 2, 2000 National S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Feb. 10, 2000 National HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/09 H Amdt 1096 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention with the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (245 - 171)
12/15 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
12/18 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
12/15 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
9/22 HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
12/03 S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
3/31 HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (275 - 149)
3/26 HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 19)
3/18 HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - House (321 - 105)
1/29 HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
1/14 HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - House (289 - 139)
3/14 S Amdt 4233 Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
1/23 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152)
11/14 HR 1429 Head Start Act of 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36)
11/01 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30)
10/25 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
10/18 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156)
9/27 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29)
9/25 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159)
8/02 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
9/26 S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
7/25 S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
7/18 H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
12/19 S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
11/17 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
4/27 HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
4/14 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (302 - 126)
3/17 S Amdt 244 Unintended Pregnancy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
3/10 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
9/23 HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3)
9/23 HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 65)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
5/20 HR 4359 Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (271 - 139)
4/28 HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
3/24 HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
3/24 HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
4/10 S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
2/13 HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
5/16 HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
9/13 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
7/21 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
7/20 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
3/02 S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
2/10 HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)

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