The U.S. Congress Votes Database

109th Congress / Senate / 2nd session / Vote 157

  • Question: On Passage of the Bill
  • Bill: S 2611
  • Vote description: S. 2611 As Amended; Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006
  • Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
  • Result: Passed, 62-36, with 2 not voting.
  • Date/time: May 25, 2006, 5:39 p.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: No (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: Yes (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

This immigration reform bill would tighten border security, establish an immigrant guest worker program, and offer a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States. President Bush has expressed support for the bill's major provisions. Opponents have said the bill rewards immigrants who entered the United States illegally and leaves the country vulnerable to security threats at the border. Supporters argue the measure recognizes economic and social reality of immigrant populations in the United States and provides hope of legal immigration status and a path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants who come to the U.S. to work.


The Washington Post reported that the Senate bill "sets the stage for a summer clash with House conservatives, who passed a starkly different immigration measure in December." The House bill toughened penalties for entering the country illegally and tightened border security, but provided no new guest worker or "path to citizenship" programs.


The Senate bill calls for a 370-mile fence along the Mexican border, 6,000 National Guard troops to support border agents, aerial surveillance, road construction to aid border patrols, and other border security measures. It would also establish a guest-worker program and a three-tiered system for dealing with the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the country:


Tier 1:


Illegal immigrants who have been in the country five years or longer would be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, provided they pay back taxes, learn English and have no serious criminal records.


Tier 2:


Illegal immigrants who have been in the United States two to five years would eventually have to return to a point of entry in Mexico or Canada and apply for a green card, which could allow their immediate return.


Tier 3:


The roughly 2 million immigrants who have been in the United States illegally for less than two years would be ordered home.


Senate and House negotiators will meet in what is expected to be a contentious conference committee this summer to attempt to hammer out a compromise bill.

See other key votes in the 109th Congress

Vote totals

Click to list individual members.

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