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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 18, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 25) |
| Dec. 18, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| Dec. 14, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |
| Dec. 14, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |
| Dec. 13, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3810 | Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47) |
| Dec. 13, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3695 | Limit on Farm Subsidies | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Dec. 13, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3711 | Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies | Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58) |
| Nov. 16, 2007 | National | S 2340 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (45 - 53) |
| Nov. 16, 2007 | National | HR 4156 | Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense and Timeline for Withdrawal from Iraq | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | National | S 294 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 22) |
| Oct. 25, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3453 | Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 66) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | National | HR 1585 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| Sept. 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3017 | Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Sept. 21, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2898 | Iraq Troop Reduction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 47) |
| Sept. 10, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2792 | Bridge Repair Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 33) |
| Aug. 3, 2007 | National | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28) |
| July 26, 2007 | National | HR 1 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (85 - 8) |
| July 26, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| July 18, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1704 | Alternative Energy Subsidies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| June 14, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1538 | Clean Energy Achievement Criteria | Amendment Tabled - Senate (56 - 39) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| May 7, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| April 26, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| March 29, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| March 27, 2007 | National | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 23, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| March 23, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| March 15, 2007 | National | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
| Dec. 6, 2006 | National | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
| Sept. 7, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4909 | Media in the Middle East Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44) |
| Sept. 6, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4882 | Cluster Munitions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4442 | Troop Redeployment Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | S 2766 | Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
| June 15, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| June 15, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| May 11, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| May 4, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
| May 4, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
| May 3, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
| May 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3617 | Sugarcane Growers Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3128 | ANWR Revenues Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 14, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3013 | Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2737 | Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Nov. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2524 | Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 14) |
| Nov. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2518 | Iraq Progress Reports Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
| Nov. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2519 | Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58) |
| Nov. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2523 | Judicial Review of Detainees Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| Nov. 15, 2005 | National | S 1042 | Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0) |
| Nov. 10, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2476 | Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/18 | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 25) |
| 12/18 | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| 12/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |
| 12/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |
| 12/13 | S Amdt 3810 | Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47) |
| 12/13 | S Amdt 3695 | Limit on Farm Subsidies | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 12/13 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8) |
| 12/11 | S Amdt 3711 | Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies | Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58) |
| 11/16 | S 2340 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (45 - 53) |
| 11/16 | HR 4156 | Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense and Timeline for Withdrawal from Iraq | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 10/30 | S 294 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 22) |
| 10/25 | S Amdt 3453 | Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 66) |
| 10/01 | HR 1585 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 9/26 | S Amdt 3017 | Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 2898 | Iraq Troop Reduction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 47) |
| 9/10 | S Amdt 2792 | Bridge Repair Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 33) |
| 8/03 | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28) |
| 7/26 | HR 1 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (85 - 8) |
| 7/26 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| 7/18 | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 1704 | Alternative Energy Subsidies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36) |
| 6/21 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| 6/21 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| 6/14 | S Amdt 1538 | Clean Energy Achievement Criteria | Amendment Tabled - Senate (56 - 39) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| 4/26 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| 3/29 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 3/27 | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 3/15 | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/13 | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| 12/07 | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
| 12/06 | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| 9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
| 9/07 | S Amdt 4909 | Media in the Middle East Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44) |
| 9/06 | S Amdt 4882 | Cluster Munitions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 6/22 | S Amdt 4442 | Troop Redeployment Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86) |
| 6/22 | S 2766 | Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
| 6/15 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 6/15 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
| 5/11 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 5/04 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
| 5/04 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
| 5/03 | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 5/02 | S Amdt 3617 | Sugarcane Growers Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| 3/16 | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/16 | S Amdt 3128 | ANWR Revenues Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/16 | S Con Res 83 | 2007 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 3013 | Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2737 | Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| 2/02 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| 12/21 | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 11/17 | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 11/15 | S Amdt 2524 | Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 14) |
| 11/15 | S Amdt 2518 | Iraq Progress Reports Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
| 11/15 | S Amdt 2519 | Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58) |
| 11/15 | S Amdt 2523 | Judicial Review of Detainees Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| 11/15 | S 1042 | Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0) |
| 11/10 | S Amdt 2476 | Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |