OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

National Social Key Votes

State

All States National Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana National Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Issue

All Issues Abortion Agriculture and Food Animals and Wildlife Arts, Entertainment, and History Budget, Spending and Taxes Business and Consumers Business, Consumers, and Employees Campaign Finance Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Conservative Constitution Criminal Justice Death Penalty Defense Drugs Economy and Fiscal Education Elections Employment and Affirmative Action Energy Entitlements and the Safety Net Environment Executive Branch Family Federal, State and Local Relations Finance and Banking Fiscally Conservative Fiscally Liberal Food Processing and Sales Foreign Affairs Foreign Aid Gambling and Gaming Government Budget and Spending Government Operations Guns Health Insurance Health and Health Care High Priority Higher Education Housing and Property Ideology Immigration Impartial/Nonpartisan Indigenous Peoples Industries Infrastructure Issues Judicial Branch K-12 Education Labor Unions Legal Legislative Branch Liberal Low Priority Marijuana Marriage Military Personnel Minors and Children Monetary Policy National Security Natural Resources Oil and Gas Populations Priorities Religion Reproduction Science Science, Technology and Communication Senior Citizens Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Social Socially Conservative Socially Liberal Stem Cell Research Taxes Technology and Communication Trade Transportation Unemployed and Low-Income Veterans Women

Year

All Years 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1986 1901

Chamber

All House Senate

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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.

Page 5 of 5
results per page:
100 75 50 25
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
June 26, 1997 National S Amdt 527 Family Tax Relief Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
March 20, 1997 National S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
March 20, 1997 National S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
Sept. 10, 1996 National S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
July 23, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
May 2, 1996 National S Amdt 3840 Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60)
May 2, 1996 National HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
May 1, 1996 National S Amdt 3752 Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
May 1, 1996 National S Amdt 3780 Asylum Seeker Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
April 30, 1996 National S Amdt 3820 Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
April 25, 1996 National S Amdt 3669 Foreign Student Public Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46)
April 25, 1996 National S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
April 17, 1996 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
March 21, 1996 National S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
Dec. 22, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
Dec. 14, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
Dec. 14, 1995 National HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
Sept. 19, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
Sept. 14, 1995 National S Amdt 2478 Naturalized Citizen Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
June 15, 1995 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18)
June 7, 1995 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 6, 1995 National S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
Sept. 28, 1994 National HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
Sept. 28, 1994 National HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
Aug. 25, 1994 National HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
July 27, 1994 National S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
July 25, 1994 National S Amdt 2396 Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42)
July 20, 1994 National S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
May 12, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
May 12, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
April 13, 1994 National S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
April 13, 1994 National S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
Feb. 8, 1994 National S Amdt 1390 Contraceptives Distribution Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59)
Feb. 8, 1994 National S Amdt 1390 Contraceptives Distribution Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59)
Nov. 20, 1993 National HR 1025 Brady Handgun Bill Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 36)
Nov. 17, 1993 National S Amdt 1152 Prohibiting the Possession of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43)
Nov. 9, 1993 National S Amdt 1151 Improving Fingerprint Systems Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (49 - 51)
Nov. 9, 1993 National HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
Nov. 9, 1993 National HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
Nov. 5, 1993 National S Amdt 1117 Charging Teens as Adults for Crimes Involving a Firearm Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 23)
Sept. 9, 1993 National S Amdt 783 Homosexuals in the Military Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63)
May 11, 1993 National HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)
March 17, 1993 National HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37)
Feb. 18, 1993 National S Amdt 39 Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23)
Feb. 4, 1993 National S Amdt 19 Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37)
April 2, 1992 National S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
April 2, 1992 National S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/26 S Amdt 527 Family Tax Relief Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
3/20 S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
3/20 S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
9/10 S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
8/01 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
7/23 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
5/02 S Amdt 3840 Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60)
5/02 HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3)
5/01 S Amdt 3752 Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
5/01 S Amdt 3780 Asylum Seeker Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
4/30 S Amdt 3820 Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
4/25 S Amdt 3669 Foreign Student Public Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46)
4/25 S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
4/17 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
3/21 S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
12/22 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
12/14 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
12/14 HR 1977 Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40)
9/19 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
9/14 S Amdt 2478 Naturalized Citizen Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
6/15 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18)
6/07 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/06 S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
9/28 HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
9/28 HR 4602 Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
8/25 HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
7/27 S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
7/25 S Amdt 2396 Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42)
7/20 S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
5/12 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
5/12 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
4/13 S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
4/13 S 21 California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
2/08 S Amdt 1390 Contraceptives Distribution Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59)
2/08 S Amdt 1390 Contraceptives Distribution Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 59)
11/20 HR 1025 Brady Handgun Bill Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 36)
11/17 S Amdt 1152 Prohibiting the Possession of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43)
11/09 S Amdt 1151 Improving Fingerprint Systems Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (49 - 51)
11/09 HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
11/09 HR 2520 Interior Department Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 9)
11/05 S Amdt 1117 Charging Teens as Adults for Crimes Involving a Firearm Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 23)
9/09 S Amdt 783 Homosexuals in the Military Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 63)
5/11 HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)
3/17 HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37)
2/18 S Amdt 39 Prohibiting Immigrants with AIDS from entering the United States Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 23)
2/04 S Amdt 19 Homosexual Discrimination in the Military Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (62 - 37)
4/02 S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
4/02 S Amdt 1757 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
Page 5 of 5
arrow_upward