The U.S. Congress Votes Database

109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 44

  • Question: On Passage of the Bill
  • Bill: S 256
  • Vote description: S. 256 As Amended; Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005
  • Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
  • Result: Passed, 74-25, with 1 not voting.
  • Date/time: March 10, 2005, 6:12 p.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

This law made it harder for people to erase debt by declaring bankruptcy. A Washington Post report said the law represented the most significant change to bankruptcy law in 25 years. The bill was backed by the White House, the credit card industry, retailers, and financiers. A Washington Post article said the "bill would require many people filing for bankruptcy court protection to repay a portion of their debt under Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code rather than allowing them to erase it almost entirely under the more commonly used Chapter 7. It is estimated that the proposed legislation would force 30,000 to 100,000 additional filers a year into Chapter 13." The bill's supporters said it was needed to rein in debtors who used the previous bankruptcy law to abuse the system.

The bill was opposed by consumer rights groups who said it was too harsh and did not take into account dire situations faced by those who face divorce, disease, job loss, and other crises.

The Washington Post reported that the "banking, credit card, and retail" industries, supporters of the bill, gave more than $56 million to candidates and parties during the 2004 elections, most of it going to Republicans.

The bill was passed by the Senate and House in April 2005 and was signed into law by the president on April 20. Its provisions took effect in October of 2005.

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Vote totals

Click to list individual members.

Yes No Not Voting
Aquarius Conrad Burns, Tom Carper, John Cornyn, Mike Enzi, Judd Gregg, Herb Kohl, Arlen Specter, Craig Thomas, John Warner Mark Dayton, Frank Lautenberg, Paul Sarbanes
Aries Lincoln Chafee, John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar Patrick Leahy
Cancer Lamar Alexander, Larry Craig, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, George Voinovich Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin, Barbara Mikulski
Capricorn Evan Bayh, Mike DeWine, Johnny Isakson, Tim Johnson, Mark Pryor, Jeff Sessions, John Thune Jon Corzine
Gemini Lisa Murkowski, Gordon Smith Chris Dodd, Jay Rockefeller
Leo Norm Coleman, Liddy Dole Barack Obama
Libra Jeff Bingaman, Chuck Hagel, Blanche Lincoln, Trent Lott, Bill Nelson, Jim Talent Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray
Pisces George Allen, Kit Bond, Tom Coburn, Kent Conrad, Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell, Kenneth Salazar, Olympia Snowe Russ Feingold, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman
Sagittarius Wayne Allard, Max Baucus, Richard Burr, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu, Harry Reid John Kerry, Chuck Schumer
Scorpio Joe Biden, Jim Bunning, Robert Byrd, Saxby Chambliss, James Inhofe, Mel Martinez, Ted Stevens Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Jack Reed Hillary Clinton
Taurus Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, James Jeffords, Jon Kyl, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Richard Shelby, Debbie Stabenow, David Vitter Byron Dorgan, Ron Wyden
Virgo Bob Bennett, Sam Brownback, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, Daniel Inouye, John McCain, John Sununu Daniel Akaka
Yes No Not Voting
Female Susan Collins, Liddy Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray Hillary Clinton
Male Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Bob Bennett, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Kent Conrad, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, James Inhofe, Daniel Inouye, Johnny Isakson, James Jeffords, Tim Johnson, Herb Kohl, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Harry Reid, Pat Roberts, Kenneth Salazar, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden
Yes No Not Voting
Midwest Evan Bayh, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman, Kent Conrad, Mike DeWine, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Hagel, Tim Johnson, Herb Kohl, Richard Lugar, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Debbie Stabenow, Jim Talent, John Thune, George Voinovich Mark Dayton, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Tom Harkin, Carl Levin, Barack Obama
Northeast Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, Judd Gregg, James Jeffords, Rick Santorum, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, John Sununu Jon Corzine, Chris Dodd, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Jack Reed, Chuck Schumer Hillary Clinton
South Lamar Alexander, George Allen, Joe Biden, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, Liddy Dole, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Trent Lott, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Bill Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, David Vitter, John Warner Barbara Mikulski, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes
West Wayne Allard, Max Baucus, Bob Bennett, Jeff Bingaman, Conrad Burns, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Orrin Hatch, Daniel Inouye, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden
Yes No Not Voting
None Jon Corzine, Barack Obama
2006 George Allen, Conrad Burns, Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Bill Frist, James Jeffords, Rick Santorum, Jim Talent Mark Dayton, Paul Sarbanes
2008 Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Max Baucus, Joe Biden, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel, James Inhofe, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Mitch McConnell, Mark Pryor, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, John Warner Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Carl Levin, Jack Reed, Jay Rockefeller
2010 Evan Bayh, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Daniel Inouye, Johnny Isakson, Blanche Lincoln, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden
2012 Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Kent Conrad, John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Herb Kohl, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman Hillary Clinton
Yes No Not Voting
Alabama Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby
Alaska Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens
Arizona Jon Kyl, John McCain
Arkansas Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor
California Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein
Colorado Wayne Allard, Kenneth Salazar
Connecticut Chris Dodd, Joseph Lieberman
Delaware Joe Biden, Tom Carper
Florida Mel Martinez, Bill Nelson
Georgia Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson
Hawaii Daniel Inouye Daniel Akaka
Idaho Larry Craig, Mike Crapo
Illinois Dick Durbin, Barack Obama
Indiana Evan Bayh, Richard Lugar
Iowa Chuck Grassley Tom Harkin
Kansas Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts
Kentucky Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell
Louisiana Mary Landrieu, David Vitter
Maine Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe
Maryland Barbara Mikulski, Paul Sarbanes
Massachusetts Edward Kennedy, John Kerry
Michigan Debbie Stabenow Carl Levin
Minnesota Norm Coleman Mark Dayton
Mississippi Thad Cochran, Trent Lott
Missouri Kit Bond, Jim Talent
Montana Max Baucus, Conrad Burns
Nebraska Chuck Hagel, Ben Nelson
Nevada John Ensign, Harry Reid
New Hampshire Judd Gregg, John Sununu
New Jersey Jon Corzine, Frank Lautenberg
New Mexico Jeff Bingaman, Pete Domenici
New York Chuck Schumer Hillary Clinton
North Carolina Richard Burr, Liddy Dole
North Dakota Kent Conrad Byron Dorgan
Ohio Mike DeWine, George Voinovich
Oklahoma Tom Coburn, James Inhofe
Oregon Gordon Smith Ron Wyden
Pennsylvania Rick Santorum, Arlen Specter
Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee Jack Reed
South Carolina Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham
South Dakota Tim Johnson, John Thune
Tennessee Lamar Alexander, Bill Frist
Texas John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison
Utah Bob Bennett, Orrin Hatch
Vermont James Jeffords Patrick Leahy
Virginia George Allen, John Warner
Washington Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray
West Virginia Robert Byrd Jay Rockefeller
Wisconsin Herb Kohl Russ Feingold
Wyoming Mike Enzi, Craig Thomas
Yes No Not Voting
Baby boomer George Allen, Evan Bayh, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Tom Carper, Lincoln Chafee, Tom Coburn, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, Kent Conrad, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, John Ensign, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Mel Martinez, Lisa Murkowski, Mark Pryor, Kenneth Salazar, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow, John Sununu, Jim Talent, John Thune, David Vitter Maria Cantwell, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Russ Feingold, Patty Murray, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden Hillary Clinton
Pre-boomer Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Max Baucus, Bob Bennett, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Robert Byrd, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Daniel Inouye, Johnny Isakson, James Jeffords, Herb Kohl, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Harry Reid, Pat Roberts, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas, George Voinovich, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Barbara Mikulski, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes
Yes No Not Voting
Democratic Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Kent Conrad, Daniel Inouye, Tim Johnson, Herb Kohl, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Debbie Stabenow Daniel Akaka, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden Hillary Clinton
Independent James Jeffords
Republican Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner
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