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. 10, 2008 | National | HR 7321 | Automotive Industry Financing | Bill Passed - House (237 - 170) |
Oct. 3, 2008 | National | HR 6867 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (368 - 28) |
Oct. 3, 2008 | National | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171) |
Sept. 29, 2008 | National | HR 3997 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228) |
Sept. 27, 2008 | National | HR 7081 | United States - India Nuclear Agreement | Bill Passed - House (298 - 117) |
Sept. 26, 2008 | National | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
Sept. 24, 2008 | National | HR 2638 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 58) |
Sept. 24, 2008 | National | S 3001 | Defense Authorizations Bill | Bill Passed - House (392 - 39) |
Sept. 23, 2008 | National | HR 5244 | Credit Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (312 - 112) |
Sept. 18, 2008 | National | HR 6604 | Commodity Markets Speculation Bill | Bill Passed - House (283 - 133) |
Sept. 17, 2008 | National | HR 6842 | Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban | Bill Passed - House (266 - 152) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | National | HR 6899 | Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling and Extending Certain Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (236 - 189) |
July 31, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
July 31, 2008 | National | HR 1338 | Employment Discrimination Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
July 30, 2008 | National | HR 1108 | FDA Regulation of Tobacco | Bill Passed - House (326 - 102) |
July 24, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115) |
July 24, 2008 | National | HR 3999 | National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act | Bill Passed - House (367 - 55) |
July 23, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
July 23, 2008 | National | HR 6532 | Restoring the Highway Trust Fund Balance | Bill Passed - House (387 - 37) |
July 17, 2008 | National | HR 6515 | Oil Exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska | Bill Failed - House (244 - 173) |
July 16, 2008 | National | H Amdt 1114 | Allowing the Use of Certain Terms in Within the Intelligence Community | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 180) |
July 16, 2008 | National | HR 415 | Adding Parts of the Taunton River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System | Bill Passed - House (242 - 175) |
July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41) |
July 15, 2008 | National | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
July 9, 2008 | National | HR 5811 | Electronic Communications Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (286 - 137) |
June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6251 | Oil Production Leases | Bill Failed - House (223 - 195) |
June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6052 | Public Transportation and Alternative Fuel Grants | Bill Passed - House (322 - 98) |
June 25, 2008 | National | HR 6275 | Alternative Minimum Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 189) |
June 25, 2008 | National | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
June 24, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Bill Passed - House (355 - 59) |
June 24, 2008 | National | HR 6346 | Price Gouging Prevention Act | Bill Failed - House (276 - 146) |
June 20, 2008 | National | HR 6304 | Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments | Bill Passed - House (293 - 129) |
June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
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) |
June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
June 12, 2008 | National | HR 5749 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 137) |
June 11, 2008 | National | HR 6003 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (311 - 104) |
June 10, 2008 | National | HR 6028 | Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) | Bill Passed - House (311 - 106) |
May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
May 21, 2008 | National | HR 6049 | Alternative Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - House (263 - 160) |
May 20, 2008 | National | HR 6074 | Prohibiting Foreign States or Associations from Forming a Group to Control Oil | Bill Passed - House (324 - 84) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149) |
May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
May 13, 2008 | National | HR 6022 | Suspending Acquisition of Petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve | Bill Passed - House (385 - 25) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
May 8, 2008 | National | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
May 1, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
April 30, 2008 | National | HR 5522 | Requiring OSHA to Establish Combustible Dust Safety Standards | Bill Passed - House (247 - 165) |
April 29, 2008 | National | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
April 23, 2008 | National | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
April 17, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
April 16, 2008 | National | HR 2634 | Expanding the List of Countries Eligible for Debt Forgiveness | Bill Passed - House (285 - 132) |
April 15, 2008 | National | HR 5719 | Amending Tax Code Provisions and IRS Practices | Bill Passed - House (238 - 179) |
April 15, 2008 | National | HR 5036 | Federal Funding for Voting System Changes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 178) |
April 10, 2008 | National | H Res 1092 | Postponing the Consideration of the Trade Agreement with Colombia | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 195) |
April 2, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
March 14, 2008 | National | HR 3773 | Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197) |
March 13, 2008 | National | H Amdt 972 | Substitute Amendment for the House Budget Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (157 - 263) |
March 13, 2008 | National | H Con Res 312 | Concurrent Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (212 - 207) |
March 11, 2008 | National | HR 2082 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Veto Override Failed - House (225 - 188) |
March 11, 2008 | National | H Res 1031 | Establishment of the Office of Congressional Ethics | Resolution Passed - House (229 - 182) |
March 5, 2008 | National | HR 1424 | Mental Health Coverage Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 148) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | National | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
Feb. 14, 2008 | National | H Res 982 | Contempt Charges | Resolution Passed - House (223 - 32) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Bill Passed - House (354 - 58) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
Jan. 23, 2008 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
Jan. 16, 2008 | National | HR 4986 | Defense Authorizations Bill | Bill Passed - House (369 - 46) |
Jan. 16, 2008 | National | HR 2768 | S-MINER Act | Bill Passed - House (214 - 199) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/10 | HR 7321 | Automotive Industry Financing | Bill Passed - House (237 - 170) |
10/03 | HR 6867 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (368 - 28) |
10/03 | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171) |
9/29 | HR 3997 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228) |
9/27 | HR 7081 | United States - India Nuclear Agreement | Bill Passed - House (298 - 117) |
9/26 | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
9/24 | HR 2638 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 58) |
9/24 | S 3001 | Defense Authorizations Bill | Bill Passed - House (392 - 39) |
9/23 | HR 5244 | Credit Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (312 - 112) |
9/18 | HR 6604 | Commodity Markets Speculation Bill | Bill Passed - House (283 - 133) |
9/17 | HR 6842 | Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban | Bill Passed - House (266 - 152) |
9/16 | HR 6899 | Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling and Extending Certain Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (236 - 189) |
7/31 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
7/31 | HR 1338 | Employment Discrimination Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
7/30 | HR 1108 | FDA Regulation of Tobacco | Bill Passed - House (326 - 102) |
7/24 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115) |
7/24 | HR 3999 | National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act | Bill Passed - House (367 - 55) |
7/23 | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
7/23 | HR 6532 | Restoring the Highway Trust Fund Balance | Bill Passed - House (387 - 37) |
7/17 | HR 6515 | Oil Exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska | Bill Failed - House (244 - 173) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1114 | Allowing the Use of Certain Terms in Within the Intelligence Community | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 180) |
7/16 | HR 415 | Adding Parts of the Taunton River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System | Bill Passed - House (242 - 175) |
7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41) |
7/15 | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
7/09 | HR 5811 | Electronic Communications Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (286 - 137) |
6/26 | HR 6251 | Oil Production Leases | Bill Failed - House (223 - 195) |
6/26 | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
6/26 | HR 6052 | Public Transportation and Alternative Fuel Grants | Bill Passed - House (322 - 98) |
6/25 | HR 6275 | Alternative Minimum Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 189) |
6/25 | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
6/24 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Bill Passed - House (355 - 59) |
6/24 | HR 6346 | Price Gouging Prevention Act | Bill Failed - House (276 - 146) |
6/20 | HR 6304 | Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments | Bill Passed - House (293 - 129) |
6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12) |
6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
6/12 | HR 5749 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 137) |
6/11 | HR 6003 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (311 - 104) |
6/10 | HR 6028 | Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) | Bill Passed - House (311 - 106) |
5/21 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
5/21 | HR 6049 | Alternative Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - House (263 - 160) |
5/20 | HR 6074 | Prohibiting Foreign States or Associations from Forming a Group to Control Oil | Bill Passed - House (324 - 84) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149) |
5/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
5/13 | HR 6022 | Suspending Acquisition of Petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve | Bill Passed - House (385 - 25) |
5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
5/08 | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
5/08 | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
5/01 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
4/30 | HR 5522 | Requiring OSHA to Establish Combustible Dust Safety Standards | Bill Passed - House (247 - 165) |
4/29 | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
4/23 | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
4/17 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
4/16 | HR 2634 | Expanding the List of Countries Eligible for Debt Forgiveness | Bill Passed - House (285 - 132) |
4/15 | HR 5719 | Amending Tax Code Provisions and IRS Practices | Bill Passed - House (238 - 179) |
4/15 | HR 5036 | Federal Funding for Voting System Changes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 178) |
4/10 | H Res 1092 | Postponing the Consideration of the Trade Agreement with Colombia | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 195) |
4/02 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
3/14 | HR 3773 | Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197) |
3/13 | H Amdt 972 | Substitute Amendment for the House Budget Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (157 - 263) |
3/13 | H Con Res 312 | Concurrent Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (212 - 207) |
3/11 | HR 2082 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Veto Override Failed - House (225 - 188) |
3/11 | H Res 1031 | Establishment of the Office of Congressional Ethics | Resolution Passed - House (229 - 182) |
3/05 | HR 1424 | Mental Health Coverage Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 148) |
2/27 | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
2/14 | H Res 982 | Contempt Charges | Resolution Passed - House (223 - 32) |
2/07 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
2/07 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Bill Passed - House (354 - 58) |
1/29 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
1/23 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
1/16 | HR 4986 | Defense Authorizations Bill | Bill Passed - House (369 - 46) |
1/16 | HR 2768 | S-MINER Act | Bill Passed - House (214 - 199) |