Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 17, 2025 National H Con Res 61 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with presidentially designated terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere Joint Resolution Failed - House (210 - 216)
Nov. 6, 2025 National S J Res 90 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
Nov. 6, 2025 MA S 2676 Expands Authorizations for Military-Connected Students Regarding School Transferal Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Nov. 5, 2025 OH HB 434 Exempts Individuals With Foreign Drivers Licenses Working With the Military From Certain Drivers Education Requirements, and Makes Various Other Programmatic Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 3)
Oct. 16, 2025 National HR 4016 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44)
Oct. 8, 2025 MI HB 4962 Establishes the Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
Oct. 8, 2025 National S J Res 83 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress. Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Oct. 7, 2025 PA HB 414 Establishes Protections for Service Members Against Child Custody Changes Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
Oct. 1, 2025 National PN 26-10 Nomination of Hung Cao to be Under Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 45)
Oct. 1, 2025 National PN 26-10 Nomination of Hung Cao to be Under Secretary of the Navy Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
Oct. 1, 2025 MI HB 4962 Establishes the Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund Bill Passed - House (93 - 16)
Aug. 4, 2025 VA HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Veto Override Failed - House (50 - 46)
Aug. 1, 2025 National HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 9)
July 30, 2025 National S J Res 34 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (24 - 73)
July 30, 2025 National S J Res 41 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel. Motion Rejected - Senate (27 - 70)
July 23, 2025 National HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (90 - 8)
July 23, 2025 National HR 4275 Coast Guard Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (399 - 12)
July 22, 2025 National HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (91 - 7)
July 22, 2025 National HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (50 - 48)
July 18, 2025 National HR 4016 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (221 - 209)
June 30, 2025 PA HB 799 Amends Regulations for Veterans' Benefits and Services Workplace Posting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (181 - 22)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 4376 Amends and Restructures the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - House (72 - 0)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 4376 Amends and Restructures the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
June 26, 2025 PA HB 865 Specifies Guidelines for Military Family Educational Program Grant Eligibility for Pennsylvania National Guard Members Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
June 26, 2025 PA HB 799 Amends Regulations for Veterans' Benefits and Services Workplace Posting Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
June 25, 2025 National HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
June 17, 2025 NC HB 91 Amends and Redefines "Armed Forces" Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
June 12, 2025 RI S 75 Establishes Local VIN Check Authority and Waives Fees for Veterans and Military Members Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 1)
May 29, 2025 OK HB 2769 Amends Leadership Requirements and Duties for Positions Within the Oklahoma National Guard Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
May 29, 2025 OK HB 2769 Amends Leadership Requirements and Duties for Positions Within the Oklahoma National Guard Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 6)
May 5, 2025 National HR 530 ACES Act Bill Passed - House (376 - 5)
April 15, 2025 NC HB 373 Authorizes the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to Discount Tuition for Students with Military or Employer Tuition Assistance Bill Passed - House (112 - 1)
April 11, 2025 National PN 27 Nomination of Lt. Gen. John D. Caine to be Major General in the Regular Air Force Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 26)
April 11, 2025 National PN 27 Nomination of Lt. Gen. John D. Caine to be Major General in the Regular Air Force Cloture Invoked - Senate (59 - 25)
April 10, 2025 WA HB 1321 Prohibits Any Federal Armed Forces from Entering the State Without Governor Authority Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 3, 2025 IL SB 220 Extends the Military Leave Act to Authorize Paid Leave for Funeral Honors Details Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 0)
March 10, 2025 WA HB 1321 Prohibits Any Federal Armed Forces from Entering the State Without Governor Authority Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
Feb. 25, 2025 NJ S 3052 Authorizes Final Grades for Individuals Unable to Complete a Course of Higher Education Due to Military Obligation Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Feb. 14, 2025 VA HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Jan. 30, 2025 IA HF 117 Establishes National Guard Scholarship Opportunities Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
Jan. 30, 2025 IA HF 118 Amends the Monetary Limits of the National Guard Service Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/17 H Con Res 61 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with presidentially designated terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere Joint Resolution Failed - House (210 - 216)
11/06 S J Res 90 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
11/06 S 2676 Expands Authorizations for Military-Connected Students Regarding School Transferal Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
11/05 HB 434 Exempts Individuals With Foreign Drivers Licenses Working With the Military From Certain Drivers Education Requirements, and Makes Various Other Programmatic Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 3)
10/16 HR 4016 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44)
10/08 HB 4962 Establishes the Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
10/08 S J Res 83 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress. Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
10/07 HB 414 Establishes Protections for Service Members Against Child Custody Changes Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
10/01 PN 26-10 Nomination of Hung Cao to be Under Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 45)
10/01 PN 26-10 Nomination of Hung Cao to be Under Secretary of the Navy Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
10/01 HB 4962 Establishes the Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund Bill Passed - House (93 - 16)
8/04 HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Veto Override Failed - House (50 - 46)
8/01 HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 9)
7/30 S J Res 34 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (24 - 73)
7/30 S J Res 41 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel. Motion Rejected - Senate (27 - 70)
7/23 HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (90 - 8)
7/23 HR 4275 Coast Guard Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (399 - 12)
7/22 HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (91 - 7)
7/22 HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (50 - 48)
7/18 HR 4016 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (221 - 209)
6/30 HB 799 Amends Regulations for Veterans' Benefits and Services Workplace Posting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (181 - 22)
6/30 S 4376 Amends and Restructures the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - House (72 - 0)
6/30 S 4376 Amends and Restructures the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
6/26 HB 865 Specifies Guidelines for Military Family Educational Program Grant Eligibility for Pennsylvania National Guard Members Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
6/26 HB 799 Amends Regulations for Veterans' Benefits and Services Workplace Posting Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
6/25 HR 3944 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
6/17 HB 91 Amends and Redefines "Armed Forces" Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
6/12 S 75 Establishes Local VIN Check Authority and Waives Fees for Veterans and Military Members Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 1)
5/29 HB 2769 Amends Leadership Requirements and Duties for Positions Within the Oklahoma National Guard Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
5/29 HB 2769 Amends Leadership Requirements and Duties for Positions Within the Oklahoma National Guard Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 6)
5/05 HR 530 ACES Act Bill Passed - House (376 - 5)
4/15 HB 373 Authorizes the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to Discount Tuition for Students with Military or Employer Tuition Assistance Bill Passed - House (112 - 1)
4/11 PN 27 Nomination of Lt. Gen. John D. Caine to be Major General in the Regular Air Force Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 26)
4/11 PN 27 Nomination of Lt. Gen. John D. Caine to be Major General in the Regular Air Force Cloture Invoked - Senate (59 - 25)
4/10 HB 1321 Prohibits Any Federal Armed Forces from Entering the State Without Governor Authority Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/03 SB 220 Extends the Military Leave Act to Authorize Paid Leave for Funeral Honors Details Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 0)
3/10 HB 1321 Prohibits Any Federal Armed Forces from Entering the State Without Governor Authority Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
2/25 S 3052 Authorizes Final Grades for Individuals Unable to Complete a Course of Higher Education Due to Military Obligation Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
2/14 HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
2/04 HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
1/30 HF 117 Establishes National Guard Scholarship Opportunities Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
1/30 HF 118 Amends the Monetary Limits of the National Guard Service Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)

arrow_upward