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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 31, 2007 | National | HR 3920 | Trade and Globalization Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 157) |
| Sept. 7, 2007 | National | HR 1908 | Patent Reform Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 175) |
| July 31, 2007 | National | HR 2831 | Equal Pay Bill | Bill Passed - House (225 - 199) |
| May 10, 2007 | National | HR 2206 | Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 205) |
| Jan. 10, 2007 | National | HR 2 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (315 - 116) |
| July 29, 2006 | National | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 180) |
| July 28, 2006 | National | HR 4 | Pension Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (279 - 131) |
| June 8, 2006 | National | HR 5252 | COPE Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (321 - 101) |
| March 30, 2006 | National | H Amdt 772 | Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220) |
| July 26, 2005 | National | H Amdt 514 | Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230) |
| Oct. 7, 2004 | National | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| Sept. 9, 2004 | National | HR 5006 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 13) |
| July 8, 2004 | National | HR 4754 | Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (397 - 18) |
| May 12, 2004 | National | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| April 2, 2004 | National | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69) |
| March 10, 2004 | National | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| March 3, 2004 | National | HR 1561 | US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 | Bill Passed - House (379 - 28) |
| Feb. 25, 2004 | National | HR 2751 | GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (382 - 43) |
| June 19, 2003 | National | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| Jan. 8, 2003 | National | S 23 | Unemployment Benefits bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 4) |
| July 19, 2001 | National | H Amdt 200 | Community Solutions Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261) |
| Sept. 26, 2000 | National | HR 5175 | Small Business Superfund Exemption | Bill Failed - House (253 - 161) |
| June 9, 2000 | National | H Amdt 763 | Estate Tax Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222) |
| June 8, 2000 | National | H Amdt 760 | OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | H Amdt 594 | Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise | Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | HR 3846 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 143) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| March 9, 2000 | National | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| Feb. 16, 2000 | National | HR 2366 | Small Business Liability Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (221 - 193) |
| May 5, 1999 | National | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (313 - 108) |
| Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| April 1, 1998 | National | H Amdt 548 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225) |
| March 26, 1998 | National | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| March 19, 1997 | National | HR 1 | Compensatory Time Bill | Bill Passed - House (222 - 210) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
| July 30, 1996 | National | HR 2391 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1273 | Drug Price Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1084 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | HR 1227 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (281 - 144) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| May 9, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| March 29, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Bill Passed - House (267 - 151) |
| March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 947 | Lobby Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209) |
| Sept. 27, 1995 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| April 5, 1995 | National | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| Nov. 9, 1993 | National | HR 1036 | Prevailing Wage Pre-emptions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| June 15, 1993 | National | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| May 19, 1993 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/31 | HR 3920 | Trade and Globalization Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 157) |
| 9/07 | HR 1908 | Patent Reform Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 175) |
| 7/31 | HR 2831 | Equal Pay Bill | Bill Passed - House (225 - 199) |
| 5/10 | HR 2206 | Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 205) |
| 1/10 | HR 2 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (315 - 116) |
| 7/29 | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 180) |
| 7/28 | HR 4 | Pension Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (279 - 131) |
| 6/08 | HR 5252 | COPE Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (321 - 101) |
| 3/30 | H Amdt 772 | Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (200 - 220) |
| 7/26 | H Amdt 514 | Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230) |
| 10/07 | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141) |
| 9/09 | HR 5006 | Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 13) |
| 7/08 | HR 4754 | Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (397 - 18) |
| 5/12 | HR 4279 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (273 - 152) |
| 4/02 | HR 3108 | Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69) |
| 3/10 | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
| 3/03 | HR 1561 | US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 | Bill Passed - House (379 - 28) |
| 2/25 | HR 2751 | GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (382 - 43) |
| 6/19 | HR 660 | Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 162) |
| 1/08 | S 23 | Unemployment Benefits bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 4) |
| 7/19 | H Amdt 200 | Community Solutions Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261) |
| 9/26 | HR 5175 | Small Business Superfund Exemption | Bill Failed - House (253 - 161) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 763 | Estate Tax Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222) |
| 6/08 | H Amdt 760 | OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220) |
| 3/09 | H Amdt 594 | Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise | Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179) |
| 3/09 | HR 3846 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 143) |
| 3/09 | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| 3/09 | HR 3081 | Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - House (257 - 169) |
| 2/16 | HR 2366 | Small Business Liability Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (221 - 193) |
| 5/05 | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (313 - 108) |
| 9/24 | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| 9/24 | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| 4/01 | H Amdt 548 | Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225) |
| 3/26 | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
| 11/07 | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| 3/19 | HR 1 | Compensatory Time Bill | Bill Passed - House (222 - 210) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| 8/01 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2) |
| 7/30 | HR 2391 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1273 | Drug Price Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1084 | Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| 5/23 | HR 1227 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (281 - 144) |
| 5/22 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| 5/22 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| 5/09 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| 3/29 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| 3/28 | HR 3103 | Health Insurance Portability bill | Bill Passed - House (267 - 151) |
| 3/07 | H Amdt 947 | Lobby Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209) |
| 9/27 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| 4/05 | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| 11/09 | HR 1036 | Prevailing Wage Pre-emptions | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| 6/15 | HR 5 | Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 190) |
| 5/19 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |