National Government Operations 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
Oct. 5, 2018 National PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
July 19, 2018 National S Res 584 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate against the making available of current and former diplomats, officials, and members of the Armed Forces of the United States for questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
July 18, 2018 National PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit (50 - 49)
July 17, 2018 National PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
July 11, 2018 National PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General (51 - 48)
July 10, 2018 National PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
May 10, 2018 National HR 3053 Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (340 - 72)
May 9, 2018 National HR 2152 Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (221 - 197)
March 23, 2018 National HR 1625 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
March 22, 2018 National HR 1625 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - House (256 - 167)
March 6, 2018 National HR 4607 Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act Bill Passed - House (246 - 143)
Feb. 9, 2018 National HR 1892 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186)
Feb. 9, 2018 National HR 1892 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
Dec. 21, 2017 National HR 4667 Making further supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and calendar year 2017 wildfires, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (251 - 169)
Dec. 7, 2017 National H J Res 123 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - House (235 - 193)
Nov. 30, 2017 National HR 4182 Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act) Bill Passed - House (213 - 204)
Nov. 30, 2017 National HR 4182 Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act) Bill Passed - House (213 - 204)
Oct. 25, 2017 National HR 469 Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (234 - 187)
Oct. 24, 2017 National HR 732 Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
Sept. 14, 2017 National HR 3354 Making Appropriations for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (211 - 198)
July 28, 2017 National HR 3180 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 Bill Passed - House (380 - 35)
July 27, 2017 National HR 3219 Make America Secure Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 192)
June 29, 2017 National HR 3003 No Sanctuary for Criminals Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 195)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
May 2, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
May 1, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
April 27, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
April 26, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
April 7, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
April 6, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
March 1, 2017 National HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
March 1, 2017 National HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
Feb. 17, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 16, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
Feb. 15, 2017 National H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
Feb. 13, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 3, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
Feb. 2, 2017 National H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 2, 2017 National H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 180)
Feb. 1, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Feb. 1, 2017 National H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - House (228 - 194)
Jan. 30, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
Jan. 5, 2017 National HR 26 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
Jan. 5, 2017 National HR 26 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
Jan. 4, 2017 National HR 21 Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 184)
Jan. 4, 2017 National HR 21 Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 184)
Sept. 14, 2016 National HR 5620 VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (310 - 116)
July 7, 2016 National HR 4361 Government Reform and Improvement Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (241 - 181)
June 9, 2016 National HR 5278 Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) Bill Passed - House (297 - 127)
April 14, 2016 National HR 3340 Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 179)
March 17, 2016 National H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
Jan. 21, 2016 National S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 40)
Jan. 19, 2016 National PN 367 Nomination of Wilhelmina Wright to Be U.S. District Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 36)
Jan. 13, 2016 National S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (253 - 166)
Jan. 12, 2016 National S 2232 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
Oct. 27, 2015 National S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
Sept. 10, 2015 National H Res 411 Finding that the President Has Not Complied with Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (245 - 186)
July 28, 2015 National HR 427 Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (243 - 165)
July 28, 2015 National HR 427 Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (243 - 165)
July 23, 2015 National HR 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act Bill Passed - House (241 - 179)
May 20, 2015 National HR 1806 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (217 - 205)
April 23, 2015 National PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Feb. 5, 2015 National HR 527 Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (260 - 163)
Feb. 4, 2015 National HR 50 Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 173)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/05 PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
7/19 S Res 584 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate against the making available of current and former diplomats, officials, and members of the Armed Forces of the United States for questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
7/18 PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit (50 - 49)
7/17 PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
7/11 PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General (51 - 48)
7/10 PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
5/10 HR 3053 Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (340 - 72)
5/09 HR 2152 Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (221 - 197)
3/23 HR 1625 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
3/22 HR 1625 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - House (256 - 167)
3/06 HR 4607 Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act Bill Passed - House (246 - 143)
2/09 HR 1892 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186)
2/09 HR 1892 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
12/21 HR 4667 Making further supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and calendar year 2017 wildfires, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (251 - 169)
12/07 H J Res 123 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 Bill Passed - House (235 - 193)
11/30 HR 4182 Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act) Bill Passed - House (213 - 204)
11/30 HR 4182 Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (EQUALS Act) Bill Passed - House (213 - 204)
10/25 HR 469 Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (234 - 187)
10/24 HR 732 Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
9/14 HR 3354 Making Appropriations for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (211 - 198)
7/28 HR 3180 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 Bill Passed - House (380 - 35)
7/27 HR 3219 Make America Secure Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 192)
6/29 HR 3003 No Sanctuary for Criminals Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 195)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
5/02 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
5/01 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
4/27 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
4/26 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
4/07 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
4/06 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
3/01 HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
3/01 HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
2/17 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/16 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
2/15 H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
2/13 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
2/10 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/10 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
2/08 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/08 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
2/07 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
2/07 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
2/03 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
2/02 H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
2/02 H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 180)
2/01 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
2/01 H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - House (228 - 194)
1/30 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
1/05 HR 26 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
1/05 HR 26 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
1/04 HR 21 Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 184)
1/04 HR 21 Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (238 - 184)
9/14 HR 5620 VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (310 - 116)
7/07 HR 4361 Government Reform and Improvement Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (241 - 181)
6/09 HR 5278 Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) Bill Passed - House (297 - 127)
4/14 HR 3340 Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 179)
3/17 H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
1/21 S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 40)
1/19 PN 367 Nomination of Wilhelmina Wright to Be U.S. District Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 36)
1/13 S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (253 - 166)
1/12 S 2232 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
10/27 S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
9/10 H Res 411 Finding that the President Has Not Complied with Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (245 - 186)
7/28 HR 427 Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (243 - 165)
7/28 HR 427 Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (243 - 165)
7/23 HR 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act Bill Passed - House (241 - 179)
5/20 HR 1806 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (217 - 205)
4/23 PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
2/05 HR 527 Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (260 - 163)
2/04 HR 50 Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 173)

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