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 16, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| Feb. 10, 2005 | National | HR 418 | Real ID Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 161) |
| Oct. 8, 2004 | National | HR 10 | 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (282 - 134) |
| Oct. 6, 2004 | National | S 2845 | National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2) |
| June 23, 2004 | National | S 2400 | Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| June 23, 2004 | National | HR 4548 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 | Bill Passed - House (360 - 61) |
| June 18, 2004 | National | HR 4567 | Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (400 - 5) |
| Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
| Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
| Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8) |
| July 25, 2003 | National | HR 2859 | Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 60) |
| July 16, 2003 | National | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
| July 8, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
| June 24, 2003 | National | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (425 - 2) |
| May 22, 2003 | National | S 1050 | Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| Nov. 19, 2002 | National | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
| July 26, 2002 | National | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - House (295 - 132) |
| July 10, 2002 | National | HR 4635 | Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act | Bill Passed - House (310 - 113) |
| June 18, 2002 | National | S 2600 | Terrorism Insurance Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
| Nov. 16, 2001 | National | S 1447 | Federalize Aviation Security bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 9) |
| Oct. 25, 2001 | National | HR 3162 | USA Patriot Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| Oct. 24, 2001 | National | HR 3162 | USA Patriot Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (357 - 66) |
| Oct. 12, 2001 | National | HR 2975 | Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (337 - 79) |
| Oct. 15, 1999 | National | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Oct. 14, 1999 | National | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18) |
| Sept. 9, 1999 | National | H Con Res 180 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41) |
| Sept. 9, 1999 | National | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 187) |
| May 20, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| May 18, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - House (269 - 158) |
| March 24, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| Oct. 7, 1998 | National | HR 3694 | Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83) |
| Sept. 17, 1998 | National | HR 4569 | Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations | Bill Passed - House (255 - 161) |
| April 30, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| April 30, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163) |
| March 31, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | S 858 | Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| June 19, 1997 | National | S Amdt 416 | Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| June 13, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| March 14, 1996 | National | HR 2703 | Antiterrorism bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| March 12, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| Dec. 14, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16) |
| June 8, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 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) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| July 19, 1994 | National | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| March 16, 1994 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Feb. 3, 1994 | National | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| Oct. 19, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Sept. 22, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| July 27, 1993 | National | HR 2667 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 1993 | Bill Passed - House (400 - 27) |
| June 29, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| May 19, 1993 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 43) |
| 2/10 | HR 418 | Real ID Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 161) |
| 10/08 | HR 10 | 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (282 - 134) |
| 10/06 | S 2845 | National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 6/23 | S 2400 | Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| 6/23 | HR 4548 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 | Bill Passed - House (360 - 61) |
| 6/18 | HR 4567 | Homeland Security Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (400 - 5) |
| 11/20 | HR 253 | Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 67) |
| 9/24 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
| 9/24 | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (417 - 8) |
| 7/25 | HR 2859 | Emergency Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act,2003 | Bill Passed - House (352 - 60) |
| 7/16 | HR 2122 | Project BioShield Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
| 7/08 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
| 6/24 | HR 2555 | Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Bill Passed - House (425 - 2) |
| 5/22 | S 1050 | Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 11/19 | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
| 7/26 | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - House (295 - 132) |
| 7/10 | HR 4635 | Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act | Bill Passed - House (310 - 113) |
| 6/18 | S 2600 | Terrorism Insurance Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
| 11/16 | S 1447 | Federalize Aviation Security bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 9) |
| 10/25 | HR 3162 | USA Patriot Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 10/24 | HR 3162 | USA Patriot Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (357 - 66) |
| 10/12 | HR 2975 | Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (337 - 79) |
| 10/15 | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 10/14 | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18) |
| 9/09 | H Con Res 180 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41) |
| 9/09 | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 187) |
| 5/20 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 5/18 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - House (269 - 158) |
| 3/24 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| 10/07 | HR 3694 | Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83) |
| 9/17 | HR 4569 | Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations | Bill Passed - House (255 - 161) |
| 4/30 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 4/30 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163) |
| 3/31 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| 11/07 | S 858 | Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36) |
| 11/07 | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 416 | Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56) |
| 8/02 | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| 5/22 | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| 4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| 4/18 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| 4/17 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| 3/28 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| 3/14 | HR 2703 | Antiterrorism bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| 3/12 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| 12/14 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16) |
| 6/08 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 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) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 7/19 | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| 3/16 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 2/03 | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| 10/19 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 9/22 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
| 7/27 | HR 2667 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 1993 | Bill Passed - House (400 - 27) |
| 6/29 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| 5/19 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |