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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (398 - 19) |
| June 16, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Bill Passed - House (418 - 7) |
| June 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
| June 8, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (408 - 18) |
| May 24, 2005 | National | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Bill Passed - House (416 - 13) |
| May 24, 2005 | National | HR 810 | Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (238 - 194) |
| May 19, 2005 | National | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (329 - 89) |
| May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| May 5, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58) |
| May 5, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | H Amdt 370 | Liability Shield Language Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| April 20, 2005 | National | H Amdt 72 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 231) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 214 | Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 229 | Medicaid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214) |
| March 16, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| March 16, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| June 25, 2004 | National | HR 4614 | Appropriations Bill FY 2005, Energy and Water Development | Bill Passed - House (370 - 16) |
| June 17, 2004 | National | HR 4568 | Interior Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (334 - 86) |
| May 18, 2004 | National | HR 3722 | Undocumented Immigrant Emergency Medical Assistance | Bill Failed - House (88 - 331) |
| May 12, 2004 | National | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| May 12, 2004 | National | HR 4280 | Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
| March 25, 2004 | National | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| March 24, 2004 | National | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| March 10, 2004 | National | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| March 10, 2004 | National | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| Feb. 26, 2004 | National | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - House (254 - 163) |
| Jan. 22, 2004 | National | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| Nov. 25, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Nov. 22, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215) |
| Nov. 21, 2003 | National | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
| Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
| Nov. 18, 2003 | National | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
| Oct. 30, 2003 | National | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
| Oct. 28, 2003 | National | PN 884 | Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (88 - 8) |
| Sept. 23, 2003 | National | HR 1409 | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
| July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2427 | Imports of Prescription Drugs bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 186) |
| July 24, 2003 | National | HR 2800 | Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (370 - 50) |
| July 17, 2003 | National | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 152) |
| July 16, 2003 | National | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
| July 14, 2003 | National | HR 2673 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA | Bill Passed - House (347 - 64) |
| June 27, 2003 | National | S 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
| June 27, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Bill Passed - House (216 - 215) |
| June 19, 2003 | National | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| June 19, 2003 | National | HR 1528 | Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
| June 4, 2003 | National | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
| May 20, 2003 | National | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | (256 - 170) |
| May 1, 2003 | National | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
| May 1, 2003 | National | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
| March 31, 2003 | National | HR 1463 | Vaccine Compensation bill | Bill Failed - House (184 - 206) |
| March 19, 2003 | National | S Amdt 272 | ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48) |
| July 31, 2002 | National | S 812 | Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21) |
| June 28, 2002 | National | HR 4954 | Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 208) |
| May 8, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| May 8, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| May 2, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| May 2, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| April 25, 2002 | National | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| Feb. 13, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Feb. 13, 2002 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Oct. 17, 2001 | National | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28) |
| Oct. 17, 2001 | National | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
| Oct. 5, 2001 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| Oct. 5, 2001 | National | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| Aug. 2, 2001 | National | H Amdt 303 | Amendment to the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act | Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 213) |
| Aug. 2, 2001 | National | HR 2563 | Bipartisan Patient Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (226 - 203) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/20 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (398 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Bill Passed - House (418 - 7) |
| 6/14 | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
| 6/08 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (408 - 18) |
| 5/24 | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Bill Passed - House (416 - 13) |
| 5/24 | HR 810 | Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (238 - 194) |
| 5/19 | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (329 - 89) |
| 5/10 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 5/10 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 5/05 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58) |
| 5/05 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 4/21 | H Amdt 370 | Liability Shield Language Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
| 4/21 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| 4/21 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| 4/20 | H Amdt 72 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 231) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 214 | Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 229 | Medicaid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 3/17 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214) |
| 3/17 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214) |
| 3/16 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| 3/16 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| 6/25 | HR 4614 | Appropriations Bill FY 2005, Energy and Water Development | Bill Passed - House (370 - 16) |
| 6/17 | HR 4568 | Interior Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (334 - 86) |
| 5/18 | HR 3722 | Undocumented Immigrant Emergency Medical Assistance | Bill Failed - House (88 - 331) |
| 5/12 | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| 5/12 | HR 4280 | Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
| 3/25 | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 3/24 | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| 3/10 | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| 3/10 | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| 2/26 | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - House (254 - 163) |
| 1/22 | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| 11/25 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 11/22 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 215) |
| 11/21 | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 140) |
| 11/20 | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
| 11/18 | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
| 10/30 | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 205) |
| 10/28 | PN 884 | Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (88 - 8) |
| 9/23 | HR 1409 | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act '02 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 127) |
| 7/25 | HR 2427 | Imports of Prescription Drugs bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 186) |
| 7/24 | HR 2800 | Foreign Operations Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (370 - 50) |
| 7/17 | HR 2691 | Interior Department Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 152) |
| 7/16 | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
| 7/14 | HR 2673 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA | Bill Passed - House (347 - 64) |
| 6/27 | S 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21) |
| 6/27 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Bill Passed - House (216 - 215) |
| 6/19 | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| 6/19 | HR 1528 | Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
| 6/04 | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
| 5/20 | HR 1904 | Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 | (256 - 170) |
| 5/01 | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
| 5/01 | HR 1298 | AIDS Assistance bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 41) |
| 3/31 | HR 1463 | Vaccine Compensation bill | Bill Failed - House (184 - 206) |
| 3/19 | S Amdt 272 | ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48) |
| 7/31 | S 812 | Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21) |
| 6/28 | HR 4954 | Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 208) |
| 5/08 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 5/08 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 5/02 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| 5/02 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| 4/25 | HR 4 | Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 2/13 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 2/13 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 10/17 | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 28) |
| 10/17 | HR 2217 | Interior Department Appropriations for FY 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3) |
| 10/05 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| 10/05 | HR 2646 | Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 120) |
| 8/02 | H Amdt 303 | Amendment to the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act | Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 213) |
| 8/02 | HR 2563 | Bipartisan Patient Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (226 - 203) |