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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| May 1, 1996 | National | S 641 | Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4) |
| April 17, 1996 | National | HR 842 | Truth in Budgeting Act | Bill Passed - House (284 - 143) |
| March 29, 1996 | National | HR 2854 | Agricultural Market Transition Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89) |
| Feb. 29, 1996 | National | H Amdt 936 | Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37) |
| Feb. 29, 1996 | National | HR 2854 | Agricultural Market Transition Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 155) |
| Feb. 28, 1996 | National | H Amdt 935 | Dairy Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164) |
| Feb. 28, 1996 | National | H Amdt 934 | Sugar Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217) |
| Feb. 28, 1996 | National | H Amdt 933 | Peanut Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212) |
| Feb. 1, 1996 | National | S 652 | Telecommunications Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16) |
| Jan. 24, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| Jan. 4, 1996 | National | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
| Jan. 3, 1996 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| Dec. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| Dec. 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| Dec. 6, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| Nov. 17, 1995 | National | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| Nov. 2, 1995 | National | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| Oct. 30, 1995 | National | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| Oct. 12, 1995 | National | HR 1976 | Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture | Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 808 | Repeal National Speed Limit Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (112 - 313) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| Sept. 7, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| Aug. 3, 1995 | National | H Amdt 725 | Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286) |
| July 18, 1995 | National | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (244 - 181) |
| June 21, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| June 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| March 8, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| March 3, 1995 | National | HR 925 | Private Property Protection Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 148) |
| Feb. 28, 1995 | National | HR 1022 | Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (286 - 141) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Sept. 29, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 86) |
| Sept. 23, 1994 | National | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 107) |
| Sept. 12, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (313 - 61) |
| Aug. 17, 1994 | National | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 137) |
| Aug. 10, 1994 | National | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (393 - 34) |
| July 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 755 | Federal Land Appraisals | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 148) |
| July 12, 1994 | National | H Amdt 725 | East Mojave National Preserve Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 183) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - House (344 - 84) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| June 23, 1994 | National | HR 4602 | Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (338 - 85) |
| June 17, 1994 | National | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (278 - 127) |
| June 16, 1994 | National | H Amdt 645 | Interstate Commerce Commission Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 192) |
| June 16, 1994 | National | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (363 - 59) |
| June 14, 1994 | National | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Bill Passed - House (393 - 29) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/15 | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| 5/15 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| 5/01 | S 641 | Ryan White CARE reauthorization Act of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (402 - 4) |
| 4/17 | HR 842 | Truth in Budgeting Act | Bill Passed - House (284 - 143) |
| 3/29 | HR 2854 | Agricultural Market Transition Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 89) |
| 2/29 | H Amdt 936 | Agricultural Conservation Programs Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (372 - 37) |
| 2/29 | HR 2854 | Agricultural Market Transition Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 155) |
| 2/28 | H Amdt 935 | Dairy Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164) |
| 2/28 | H Amdt 934 | Sugar Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 217) |
| 2/28 | H Amdt 933 | Peanut Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 212) |
| 2/01 | S 652 | Telecommunications Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16) |
| 1/24 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| 1/04 | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
| 1/03 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| 12/20 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| 12/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| 12/13 | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181) |
| 12/13 | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| 12/06 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| 11/17 | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| 11/16 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| 11/02 | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| 10/30 | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| 10/12 | HR 1976 | Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture | Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132) |
| 9/20 | H Amdt 808 | Repeal National Speed Limit Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (112 - 313) |
| 9/20 | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
| 9/20 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| 9/07 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| 8/03 | H Amdt 725 | Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286) |
| 7/18 | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (244 - 181) |
| 6/21 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| 6/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| 3/08 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| 3/03 | HR 925 | Private Property Protection Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 148) |
| 2/28 | HR 1022 | Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (286 - 141) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 9/29 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 86) |
| 9/23 | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 107) |
| 9/12 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (313 - 61) |
| 8/17 | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 137) |
| 8/10 | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (393 - 34) |
| 7/14 | H Amdt 755 | Federal Land Appraisals | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 148) |
| 7/12 | H Amdt 725 | East Mojave National Preserve Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 183) |
| 6/29 | HR 4624 | Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development | Bill Passed - House (344 - 84) |
| 6/29 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| 6/23 | HR 4602 | Interior Department FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (338 - 85) |
| 6/17 | HR 4554 | Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (278 - 127) |
| 6/16 | H Amdt 645 | Interstate Commerce Commission Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 192) |
| 6/16 | HR 4556 | Transportation FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (363 - 59) |
| 6/14 | HR 4506 | Appropriations Bill FY95, Energy and Water Development | Bill Passed - House (393 - 29) |