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. 21, 2020 National HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
Dec. 21, 2020 National HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53)
Dec. 21, 2020 National HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (327 - 85)
Dec. 11, 2020 National HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
Dec. 8, 2020 National HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - House (335 - 78)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1154 Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes Bill Passed - House (371 - 18)
Oct. 1, 2020 National HR 925 The Heroes Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207)
Sept. 24, 2020 National HR 4447 Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (220 - 185)
Sept. 16, 2020 National HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
Sept. 15, 2020 National HR 2639 Strength in Diversity Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (248 - 167)
July 31, 2020 National HR 7617 Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021 Bill Passed - House (217 - 197)
July 29, 2020 National HR 7327 Child Care for Economic Recovery Act Bill Passed - House (250 - 161)
July 29, 2020 National HR 7027 Child Care Is Essential Act Bill Passed - House (249 - 163)
July 23, 2020 National S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
July 22, 2020 National HR 7573 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (305 - 113)
July 21, 2020 National HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - House (295 - 125)
July 1, 2020 National HR 2 Moving Forward Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 188)
June 29, 2020 National HR 7301 Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (232 - 180)
June 26, 2020 National H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Veto Override Failed - House (238 - 173)
May 15, 2020 National HR 6800 Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act Bill Passed - House (208 - 199)
May 7, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
April 23, 2020 National HR 266 Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5)
April 23, 2020 National H Res 938 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform Bill Passed - House (212 - 182)
March 27, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House
March 25, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
March 23, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
March 22, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
March 18, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
March 14, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - House (363 - 40)
March 11, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (227 - 186)
March 11, 2020 National H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 42)
March 5, 2020 National HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
March 5, 2020 National HR 1140 Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 171)
March 4, 2020 National HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 2)
Feb. 28, 2020 National HR 2339 Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act Bill Passed - House (213 - 195)
Feb. 13, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
Feb. 11, 2020 National HR 1980 Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act Bill Passed - House (374 - 37)
Feb. 6, 2020 National H Res 826 Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration's harmful actions towards Medicaid Bill Passed - House (223 - 190)
Jan. 30, 2020 National HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (236 - 166)
Jan. 30, 2020 National HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 175)
Jan. 29, 2020 National S 3201 Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act Bill Passed - House (320 - 88)
Jan. 29, 2020 National HR 3621 Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (221 - 189)
Jan. 16, 2020 National H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - House (231 - 180)
Jan. 9, 2020 National H Con Res 83 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/21 HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
12/21 HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53)
12/21 HR 133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (327 - 85)
12/11 HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
12/08 HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - House (335 - 78)
10/02 H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
10/02 H Res 1154 Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes Bill Passed - House (371 - 18)
10/01 HR 925 The Heroes Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207)
9/24 HR 4447 Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (220 - 185)
9/16 HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
9/15 HR 2639 Strength in Diversity Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (248 - 167)
7/31 HR 7617 Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021 Bill Passed - House (217 - 197)
7/29 HR 7327 Child Care for Economic Recovery Act Bill Passed - House (250 - 161)
7/29 HR 7027 Child Care Is Essential Act Bill Passed - House (249 - 163)
7/23 S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
7/22 HR 7573 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (305 - 113)
7/21 HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - House (295 - 125)
7/01 HR 2 Moving Forward Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 188)
6/29 HR 7301 Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (232 - 180)
6/26 H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Veto Override Failed - House (238 - 173)
5/15 HR 6800 Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act Bill Passed - House (208 - 199)
5/07 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
4/23 HR 266 Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5)
4/23 H Res 938 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform Bill Passed - House (212 - 182)
3/27 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House
3/25 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
3/23 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
3/22 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
3/18 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
3/14 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - House (363 - 40)
3/11 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (227 - 186)
3/11 H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 42)
3/05 HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
3/05 HR 1140 Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 171)
3/04 HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 2)
2/28 HR 2339 Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act Bill Passed - House (213 - 195)
2/13 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
2/11 HR 1980 Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act Bill Passed - House (374 - 37)
2/06 H Res 826 Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration's harmful actions towards Medicaid Bill Passed - House (223 - 190)
1/30 HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (236 - 166)
1/30 HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 175)
1/29 S 3201 Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act Bill Passed - House (320 - 88)
1/29 HR 3621 Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (221 - 189)
1/16 H J Res 76 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" Bill Passed - House (231 - 180)
1/09 H Con Res 83 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)

arrow_upward