How Kennedy Voted on the Bills That Matter

Their recorded vote on the legislation we identified as most consequential.

• YeaHR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023

  This law repealed two rules called the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. Those rules used to reduce Social Security benefits for people who also received a pension from a job, like government or teaching jobs, that did not pay into Social Security. Removing them allows those retirees to receive their full Social Security benefit along with their pension.

• YeaHJRES 44 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".

  This law cancels an ATF rule that had classified firearms fitted with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles, which would have required owners to register them under federal law. Because Congress used its power to disapprove the rule, the rule no longer applies.

• YeaHJRES 7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.

  This law ended the national emergency that had been declared on March 13, 2020, in response to COVID-19. Congress voted to formally terminate that emergency declaration.

• YeaHJRES 27 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'".

  This law disapproves a federal rule that had redefined which streams, wetlands, and other waters count as 'waters of the United States' under the Clean Water Act. Because Congress disapproved the rule, it does not take effect and the agencies cannot issue a substantially similar rule without new authority from Congress.

• YeaSJRES 11 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards".

  This law cancels an Environmental Protection Agency rule that set pollution control standards for new heavy-duty engines and vehicles, such as large trucks. Because Congress used a special review process, the EPA is also blocked from issuing a substantially similar rule in the future.

• YeaHJRES 45 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans".

  This law canceled a Department of Education rule that would have allowed waivers and modifications of federal student loans. Congress used a special process to reject the rule, so it does not take effect.

• YeaSJRES 23 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat".

  This law canceled a federal rule from the National Marine Fisheries Service that set procedures for listing endangered and threatened species and for designating critical habitat for them. Because Congress used its authority to disapprove the rule, the rule no longer has legal effect and the agency cannot issue a substantially similar rule without new authorization from Congress.

• YeaHJRES 30 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".

  This law cancelled a Department of Labor rule about how retirement plan managers can weigh factors like climate, social, or governance issues when picking investments and voting company shares. Because Congress disapproved the rule, it does not take effect and cannot be reissued in a similar form without new congressional authorization.

Bills Sponsored

Recent Votes

• YeaS 5271: On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedAug 8 · Senate · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected
• YeaOn the NominationAug 8 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionAug 8 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaHR 6500: On Passage of the BillAug 8 · Senate · Bill Passed
• NayOn the Motion to TableAug 8 · Senate · Motion to Table Agreed to
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionAug 7 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationAug 7 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaHR 5334: On Passage of the BillAug 7 · Senate · Bill Passed
• NayOn the AmendmentAug 7 · Senate · Amendment Rejected
• NaySJRES 187: On the Motion to ProceedAug 5 · Senate · Motion to Proceed Rejected
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionAug 5 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationAug 5 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionAug 5 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaHR 6500: On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedAug 3 · Senate · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to
• YeaSRES 817: On the ResolutionJul 30 · Senate · Resolution Agreed to
• NaySJRES 181: On the Motion to DischargeJul 30 · Senate · Motion to Discharge Rejected
• NaySJRES 199: On the Motion to ProceedJul 30 · Senate · Motion to Proceed Rejected
• YeaSRES 817: On the Cloture MotionJul 29 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaHR 5334: On the Motion to ProceedJul 29 · Senate · Motion to Proceed Agreed to
• YeaHR 5334: On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedJul 28 · Senate · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationJul 28 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 27 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationJul 23 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the NominationJul 23 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• NaySJRES 180: On the Motion to DischargeJul 23 · Senate · Motion to Discharge Rejected
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 22 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 22 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationJul 22 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 22 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationJul 22 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the NominationJul 21 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• Not VotingOn the Cloture MotionJul 20 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• NaySJRES 198: On the Motion to ProceedJul 16 · Senate · Motion to Proceed Rejected
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 16 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaOn the NominationJul 15 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the Cloture MotionJul 15 · Senate · Cloture Motion Agreed to
• YeaS 4784: On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedJul 14 · Senate · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected
• YeaOn the NominationJul 14 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• YeaOn the NominationJul 13 · Senate · Nomination Confirmed
• NaySJRES 185: On the Motion to ProceedJun 24 · Senate · Motion to Proceed Rejected