Key Votes

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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. 4, 2014 National HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
Nov. 19, 2014 National HR 4012 Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
Nov. 18, 2014 National HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
Aug. 1, 2014 National HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
Aug. 1, 2014 National HR 5230 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (223 - 189)
Aug. 1, 2014 National HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
July 16, 2014 National H Amdt 1079 Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from Providing Bonuses to Employees Amendment Adopted - House (282 - 138)
July 9, 2014 National PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
June 19, 2014 National H Amdt 935 Prohibits a Federal Employee from Requesting Foreign Intelligence Information in Relation to a US Citizen Amendment Adopted - House (293 - 123)
June 19, 2014 National H Amdt 917 Prohibits United States from Providing Weapons in Syria Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 244)
June 10, 2014 National H Amdt 815 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Acquire Traffic Cameras Amendment Adopted - House (255 - 171)
June 10, 2014 National H Amdt 823 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the California High-Speed Rail Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 186)
June 10, 2014 National H Amdt 813 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement a Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 207)
June 10, 2014 National HR 4745 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 Bill Passed - House (229 - 192)
May 30, 2014 National H Amdt 763 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Require Journalists to Disclose Sources Amendment Adopted - House (225 - 183)
May 22, 2014 National H Amdt 679 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement the New START Treaty Amendment Adopted - House (233 - 191)
May 22, 2014 National H Amdt 671 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for Certain Climate Change Reports Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192)
May 22, 2014 National HR 3361 USA FREEDOM Act Bill Passed - House (303 - 121)
May 7, 2014 National H Res 574 Recommends that the House of Representatives Find Lois G. Lerner in Contempt of Congress Resolution Passed - House (231 - 187)
April 4, 2014 National HR 1874 Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (224 - 182)
March 31, 2014 National HR 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
March 25, 2014 National HR 2824 Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Bill Passed - House (229 - 192)
March 13, 2014 National HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 22)
March 13, 2014 National HR 3189 Water Rights Protection Act Bill Passed - House (238 - 174)
March 6, 2014 National S 1752 Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
March 6, 2014 National H Amdt 585 Prohibits the Social Cost of Carbon from Being Included in Agency Determinations Amendment Adopted - House (222 - 188)
March 6, 2014 National H Amdt 587 Exempts Certain Nuclear Facility Construction Projects from Environmental Review Time Frame Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 220)
March 6, 2014 National HR 2641 Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 179)
March 6, 2014 National HR 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
March 6, 2014 National HR 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
March 4, 2014 National HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (306 - 91)
Feb. 27, 2014 National H Amdt 561 Requires Agency Heads to File Negative-Impact Reports Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 162)
Feb. 27, 2014 National HR 3193 Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 182)
Feb. 27, 2014 National HR 2804 Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (236 - 179)
Feb. 27, 2014 National HR 2804 Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (236 - 179)
Feb. 27, 2014 National HR 3193 Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 182)
Feb. 26, 2014 National HR 3865 Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (243 - 176)
Jan. 30, 2014 National S 1926 Delays the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Amends the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32)
Jan. 9, 2014 National HR 2279 Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (225 - 188)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/04 HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
11/19 HR 4012 Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
11/18 HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
8/01 HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
8/01 HR 5230 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (223 - 189)
8/01 HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
7/16 H Amdt 1079 Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from Providing Bonuses to Employees Amendment Adopted - House (282 - 138)
7/09 PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
6/19 H Amdt 935 Prohibits a Federal Employee from Requesting Foreign Intelligence Information in Relation to a US Citizen Amendment Adopted - House (293 - 123)
6/19 H Amdt 917 Prohibits United States from Providing Weapons in Syria Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 244)
6/10 H Amdt 815 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Acquire Traffic Cameras Amendment Adopted - House (255 - 171)
6/10 H Amdt 823 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the California High-Speed Rail Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 186)
6/10 H Amdt 813 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement a Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 207)
6/10 HR 4745 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 Bill Passed - House (229 - 192)
5/30 H Amdt 763 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Require Journalists to Disclose Sources Amendment Adopted - House (225 - 183)
5/22 H Amdt 679 Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement the New START Treaty Amendment Adopted - House (233 - 191)
5/22 H Amdt 671 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for Certain Climate Change Reports Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192)
5/22 HR 3361 USA FREEDOM Act Bill Passed - House (303 - 121)
5/07 H Res 574 Recommends that the House of Representatives Find Lois G. Lerner in Contempt of Congress Resolution Passed - House (231 - 187)
4/04 HR 1874 Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (224 - 182)
3/31 HR 4302 Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
3/25 HR 2824 Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Bill Passed - House (229 - 192)
3/13 HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 22)
3/13 HR 3189 Water Rights Protection Act Bill Passed - House (238 - 174)
3/06 S 1752 Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
3/06 H Amdt 585 Prohibits the Social Cost of Carbon from Being Included in Agency Determinations Amendment Adopted - House (222 - 188)
3/06 H Amdt 587 Exempts Certain Nuclear Facility Construction Projects from Environmental Review Time Frame Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 220)
3/06 HR 2641 Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 179)
3/06 HR 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
3/06 HR 3826 Electricity Security and Affordability Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 183)
3/04 HR 3370 Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (306 - 91)
2/27 H Amdt 561 Requires Agency Heads to File Negative-Impact Reports Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 162)
2/27 HR 3193 Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 182)
2/27 HR 2804 Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (236 - 179)
2/27 HR 2804 Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (236 - 179)
2/27 HR 3193 Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (232 - 182)
2/26 HR 3865 Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (243 - 176)
1/30 S 1926 Delays the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Amends the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32)
1/09 HR 2279 Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (225 - 188)

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