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 21, 2024 | National | HR 1836 | Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 | Bill Passed - House (393 - 24) |
March 21, 2024 | National | S J Res 62 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relating to "Importation of Fresh Beef From Paraguay". | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (70 - 25) |
Feb. 15, 2024 | National | HR 5375 | Strengthening the Quad Act | Bill Passed - House (379 - 39) |
March 2, 2023 | WV | HB 3307 | Establishing the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 10) |
July 15, 2022 | National | HR 8351 | Formula Act | Bill Passed - House (421 - 2) |
June 8, 2021 | National | S 1260 | United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
March 12, 2021 | CO | SB 21-123 | Authorizes Prescription Drug Importation from Other Countries | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
March 2, 2021 | National | PN 78-15 | Nomination of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15) |
Jan. 16, 2020 | National | HR 5430 | United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10) |
Dec. 19, 2019 | National | HR 5430 | United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (385 - 41) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | SB 19-005 | Authorizes the Import of Prescription Drugs from Canada | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | SB 19-005 | Authorizes the Import of Prescription Drugs from Canada | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
March 6, 2019 | MS | HB 761 | Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
April 7, 2018 | KS | HB 2482 | Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32) |
May 11, 2017 | National | PN 42 | Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative | (82 - 14) |
May 11, 2017 | National | PN 42 | Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative | Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15) |
March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 246 | Authorizes Infrastructure Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
March 7, 2016 | UT | SB 246 | Authorizes Infrastructure Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 8 | North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act | Bill Passed - House (249 - 174) |
Oct. 9, 2015 | National | HR 702 | To Adapt to Changing Crude Oil Market Conditions | Bill Passed - House (261 - 159) |
Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 3457 | Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 173) |
Sept. 11, 2015 | National | HR 3460 | To Suspend Until January 21, 2017, the Authority of the President to Waive, Suspend, Reduce, Provide Relief from, or Otherwise Limit the Application of Sanctions Pursuant to an Agreement Related to the Nuclear Program of Iran | Bill Passed - House (247 - 186) |
May 12, 2015 | National | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
Dec. 18, 2014 | NJ | S 1811 | Requires Made in the United States Materials for Public Works | Bill Passed - House (43 - 24) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 75 | Requires All Oil and Refined Fuels Transported Through the Keystone XL Pipeline to be Used Only in The United States | Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 255) |
May 4, 2013 | TX | HB 852 | Prohibits the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - House (87 - 42) |
March 26, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
March 23, 2013 | National | S Amdt 139 | Prohibits the United States From Entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | SB 375 | Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
Nov. 16, 2012 | National | HR 6156 | Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (365 - 43) |
May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2107 | Authorizes Import of FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
May 15, 2012 | National | HR 2072 | Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
May 9, 2012 | National | HR 2072 | Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 93) |
March 20, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1836 | Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank of the United States | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 44) |
Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
Oct. 20, 2011 | National | S Amdt 769 | Authorizes Individuals to Import FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
Oct. 18, 2011 | National | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 33) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 22) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - House (278 - 151) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - House (262 - 167) |
Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - House (300 - 129) |
Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1619 | Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 35) |
Sept. 22, 2011 | National | S Amdt 633 | Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 28) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 625 | Reducing and Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 641 | Requires Extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance to be Contingent Upon Ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Korea and Panama | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
July 21, 2010 | National | HR 4380 | Temporary Tariff Suspensions and Reductions | Bill Passed - House (378 - 43) |
June 16, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | National | S Amdt 279 | Removing the Buy American Clause | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 65) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 2 | Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 1 | Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
Aug. 5, 2008 | CA | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
July 15, 2008 | CA | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12) |
May 22, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13) |
May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15) |
May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
April 10, 2008 | National | H Res 1092 | Postponing the Consideration of the Trade Agreement with Colombia | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 195) |
March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4299 | Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the Legalization of Importing Certain Prescription Drugs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (73 - 23) |
Feb. 4, 2008 | UT | HR 1 | North American Union Withdrawal | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 15) |
Dec. 4, 2007 | National | HR 3688 | United States-Peru Trade Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 18) |
Nov. 14, 2007 | National | HR 3074 | Appropriations for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 147) |
Nov. 8, 2007 | National | HR 3688 | United States-Peru Trade Agreement | Bill Passed - House (285 - 132) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | National | HR 3920 | Trade and Globalization Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 157) |
Sept. 11, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2797 | Limiting Mexican Trucks to Commercial Zones Near the Border Between the U.S. and Mexico | Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 23) |
Aug. 2, 2007 | National | H Amdt 734 | Prescription Drug Imports | Amendment Rejected - House (146 - 283) |
July 27, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
July 11, 2007 | National | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
June 27, 2007 | National | HR 1830 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Bill Passed - House (365 - 59) |
June 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
June 6, 2007 | CA | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
May 31, 2007 | CT | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
May 30, 2007 | CT | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - House (90 - 58) |
May 30, 2007 | CT | SB 1483 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
May 23, 2007 | OH | Sub SB 125 | "Instant Racing Systems" Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
May 22, 2007 | National | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
May 7, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
Jan. 5, 2007 | National | H Res 6 | Pay-As-You-Go Rule | Resolution Passed - House (280 - 152) |
Sept. 19, 2006 | National | HR 5684 | U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 32) |
Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
July 26, 2006 | National | HR 5682 | U.S.and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (359 - 68) |
July 20, 2006 | National | HR 5684 | U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation | Bill Passed - House (221 - 205) |
June 29, 2006 | National | S 3569 | U.S. -Oman Free Trade Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34) |
April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1010 | Requiring Legislative Approval Before Entering International Trade Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
Feb. 8, 2006 | KY | HB 163 | State Request for Federal Drug Importation | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
July 28, 2005 | National | HR 3045 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45) |
July 28, 2005 | National | HR 3045 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - House (217 - 215) |
July 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1351 | Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
July 20, 2005 | National | HR 2601 | State Department FY 2006/2007 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (351 - 78) |
June 30, 2005 | National | S 1307 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45) |
June 15, 2005 | National | H Amdt 270 | Bans Use of Funds to Enforce Cuba Regulations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216) |
June 9, 2005 | National | H J Res 27 | Withdrawing Approval from the WTO Agreement | Joint Resolution Failed - House (86 - 338) |