
- Question: On Passage of the Bill
- Bill: H R 810
- Vote description: H.R.810; Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005
- Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
A simple majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage.
- Result: Passed, 63-37.
- Date/time: July 18, 2006, 4:41 p.m.
- Republican majority opinion: No (Help)
The position of more than 50 percent of voting Republicans. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
- Democrat majority opinion: Yes (Help)
The position of more than 50 percent of voting Democrats. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
Key Vote Analysis
This bill would permit federal funds to be used to support medical research into therapies derived from embryonic stem cells. Funds would be restricted to research on human embryos slated to be destroyed by fertility clinics.
The measure would overturn President Bush's executive order blocking federal funding for research involving any embryonic stem cells developed after Aug. 9, 2001, the date he announced his policy. The president defends his stance on the grounds that the process of extracting stem cells destroys embryos, which are the beginning of human life. The president's position is supported by many groups and lawmakers committed to banning abortion. However, the debate did not divide along traditional "pro-life" and "pro-choice" lines, as many abortion foes voted in favor of the stem-cell research proposal.
Supporters of stem-cell research believe it could provide cures or effective treatments for a host of diseases, including diabetes and Parkinson's. They note that the embryos in question would be destroyed anyway. Opinion polls show that as much as 70 percent of the American public also supports the research. Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a heart-transplant surgeon, said he believes human life begins at conception, but he defended medical advances that might derive from embryos that are "100 percent" certain to be destroyed.
President Bush vetoed the bill, making it the first such action of his presidency. Congress is unlikely to be able to override the promised veto with the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers. Last year the House passed the same embryonic stem cell bill by a vote of 238 to 194, well short of the two-thirds threshold. Sixty-three senators voted for the bill, four short of the two-thirds needed for override.
The Senate debated two other stem cell bills on July 18, 2006. One of the bills encourages research into creating stem cell lines without destroying human embryos. The other would ban the creation of a fetus solely for the purpose of destroying it and harvesting its body parts. Both bills passed the Senate unanimously.
See other key votes in the 109th Congress
Vote totals
Click to list individual members.
| Yes | No |
| 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,
Orrin Hatch,
Patrick Leahy,
Richard Lugar | John Ensign |
| Cancer | Lamar Alexander,
Dianne Feinstein,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Carl Levin,
Barbara Mikulski | Larry Craig,
Lindsey Graham,
George Voinovich |
| Capricorn | Evan Bayh,
Tim Johnson,
Robert Menendez,
Mark Pryor | Mike DeWine,
Johnny Isakson,
Jeff Sessions,
John Thune |
| Gemini | Chris Dodd,
Lisa Murkowski,
Jay Rockefeller,
Gordon Smith | |
| Leo | Barack Obama | Norm Coleman,
Liddy Dole |
| Libra | Jeff Bingaman,
Maria Cantwell,
Blanche Lincoln,
Trent Lott,
Patty Murray,
Bill Nelson | Chuck Hagel,
Jim Talent |
| Pisces | Kent Conrad,
Russ Feingold,
Bill Frist,
Edward Kennedy,
Joseph Lieberman,
Kenneth Salazar,
Olympia Snowe | George Allen,
Kit Bond,
Tom Coburn,
Mitch McConnell |
| Sagittarius | Max Baucus,
Richard Burr,
Thad Cochran,
Susan Collins,
John Kerry,
Mary Landrieu,
Harry Reid,
Chuck Schumer | Wayne Allard |
| Scorpio | Joe Biden,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Hillary Clinton,
Dick Durbin,
Tom Harkin,
Jack Reed,
Ted Stevens | Jim Bunning,
Saxby Chambliss,
James Inhofe,
Mel Martinez |
| Taurus | Byron Dorgan,
James Jeffords,
Debbie Stabenow,
Ron Wyden | Mike Crapo,
Pete Domenici,
Jon Kyl,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Rick Santorum,
Richard Shelby,
David Vitter |
| Virgo | Daniel Akaka,
Bob Bennett,
Daniel Inouye,
John McCain | Sam Brownback,
Jim DeMint,
Chuck Grassley,
John Sununu |
| Yes | No |
| Female | Barbara Boxer,
Maria Cantwell,
Hillary Clinton,
Susan Collins,
Dianne Feinstein,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Barbara Mikulski,
Lisa Murkowski,
Patty Murray,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow | Liddy Dole |
| Male | Daniel Akaka,
Lamar Alexander,
Max Baucus,
Evan Bayh,
Bob Bennett,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Richard Burr,
Robert Byrd,
Tom Carper,
Lincoln Chafee,
Thad Cochran,
Kent Conrad,
Mark Dayton,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Russ Feingold,
Bill Frist,
Judd Gregg,
Tom Harkin,
Orrin Hatch,
Daniel Inouye,
James Jeffords,
Tim Johnson,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Carl Levin,
Joseph Lieberman,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
John McCain,
Robert Menendez,
Bill Nelson,
Barack Obama,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Harry Reid,
Jay Rockefeller,
Kenneth Salazar,
Paul Sarbanes,
Chuck Schumer,
Gordon Smith,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
John Warner,
Ron Wyden | Wayne Allard,
George Allen,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
Norm Coleman,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Grassley,
Chuck Hagel,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Jon Kyl,
Mel Martinez,
Mitch McConnell,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
Craig Thomas,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich |
| Yes | No |
| Midwest | Evan Bayh,
Kent Conrad,
Mark Dayton,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Russ Feingold,
Tom Harkin,
Tim Johnson,
Herb Kohl,
Carl Levin,
Richard Lugar,
Barack Obama,
Debbie Stabenow | Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Norm Coleman,
Mike DeWine,
Chuck Grassley,
Chuck Hagel,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Jim Talent,
John Thune,
George Voinovich |
| 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 | Lamar Alexander,
Joe Biden,
Richard Burr,
Robert Byrd,
Tom Carper,
Thad Cochran,
Bill Frist,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Trent Lott,
Barbara Mikulski,
Bill Nelson,
Mark Pryor,
Jay Rockefeller,
Paul Sarbanes,
John Warner | George Allen,
Jim Bunning,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
John Cornyn,
Jim DeMint,
Liddy Dole,
Lindsey Graham,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Mel Martinez,
Mitch McConnell,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
David Vitter |
| West | Daniel Akaka,
Max Baucus,
Bob Bennett,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Maria Cantwell,
Dianne Feinstein,
Orrin Hatch,
Daniel Inouye,
John McCain,
Lisa Murkowski,
Patty Murray,
Harry Reid,
Kenneth Salazar,
Gordon Smith,
Ted Stevens,
Ron Wyden | Wayne Allard,
Conrad Burns,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Jon Kyl,
Craig Thomas |
| Yes | No |
| None | Barack Obama | |
| 2006 | Lincoln Chafee,
Mark Dayton,
Bill Frist,
James Jeffords,
Paul Sarbanes | George Allen,
Conrad Burns,
Mike DeWine,
Rick Santorum,
Jim Talent |
| 2008 | Lamar Alexander,
Max Baucus,
Joe Biden,
Thad Cochran,
Susan Collins,
Dick Durbin,
Tom Harkin,
Tim Johnson,
John Kerry,
Mary Landrieu,
Frank Lautenberg,
Carl Levin,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Jay Rockefeller,
Gordon Smith,
Ted Stevens,
John Warner | Wayne Allard,
Saxby Chambliss,
Norm Coleman,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
Mike Enzi,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Hagel,
James Inhofe,
Mitch McConnell,
Pat Roberts,
Jeff Sessions,
John Sununu |
| 2010 | Evan Bayh,
Bob Bennett,
Barbara Boxer,
Richard Burr,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Russ Feingold,
Judd Gregg,
Daniel Inouye,
Patrick Leahy,
Blanche Lincoln,
John McCain,
Barbara Mikulski,
Lisa Murkowski,
Patty Murray,
Harry Reid,
Kenneth Salazar,
Chuck Schumer,
Arlen Specter,
Ron Wyden | Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Tom Coburn,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Chuck Grassley,
Johnny Isakson,
Mel Martinez,
Richard Shelby,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich |
| 2012 | Daniel Akaka,
Jeff Bingaman,
Robert Byrd,
Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Hillary Clinton,
Kent Conrad,
Dianne Feinstein,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Edward Kennedy,
Herb Kohl,
Joseph Lieberman,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
Robert Menendez,
Bill Nelson,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow | John Ensign,
Jon Kyl,
Ben Nelson,
Craig Thomas |
| Yes | No |
| 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 | Kenneth Salazar | Wayne Allard |
| Connecticut | Chris Dodd,
Joseph Lieberman | |
| Delaware | Joe Biden,
Tom Carper | |
| Florida | Bill Nelson | Mel Martinez |
| 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 | | 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 | Carl Levin,
Debbie Stabenow | |
| Minnesota | Mark Dayton | Norm Coleman |
| 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 | | Jim DeMint,
Lindsey Graham |
| South Dakota | Tim Johnson | John Thune |
| Tennessee | Lamar Alexander,
Bill Frist | |
| Texas | Kay Bailey Hutchison | John Cornyn |
| 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 |
| Baby boomer | Evan Bayh,
Richard Burr,
Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Lincoln Chafee,
Hillary Clinton,
Susan Collins,
Kent Conrad,
Mark Dayton,
Russ Feingold,
Bill Frist,
Judd Gregg,
Tim Johnson,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Robert Menendez,
Lisa Murkowski,
Patty Murray,
Barack Obama,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Kenneth Salazar,
Chuck Schumer,
Gordon Smith,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow,
Ron Wyden | George Allen,
Sam Brownback,
Tom Coburn,
Norm Coleman,
John Cornyn,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
John Ensign,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Hagel,
Mel Martinez,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
John Thune,
David Vitter |
| Pre-boomer | Daniel Akaka,
Lamar Alexander,
Max Baucus,
Bob Bennett,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Thad Cochran,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Dianne Feinstein,
Tom Harkin,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Daniel Inouye,
James Jeffords,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Carl Levin,
Joseph Lieberman,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
John McCain,
Barbara Mikulski,
Bill Nelson,
Harry Reid,
Jay Rockefeller,
Paul Sarbanes,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
John Warner | Wayne Allard,
Kit Bond,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Saxby Chambliss,
Larry Craig,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
Mike Enzi,
Chuck Grassley,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Jon Kyl,
Mitch McConnell,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Richard Shelby,
Craig Thomas,
George Voinovich |
| Yes | No |
| Democratic | Daniel Akaka,
Max Baucus,
Evan Bayh,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Hillary Clinton,
Kent Conrad,
Mark Dayton,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
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,
Jay Rockefeller,
Kenneth Salazar,
Paul Sarbanes,
Chuck Schumer,
Debbie Stabenow,
Ron Wyden | Ben Nelson |
| Independent | James Jeffords | |
| Republican | Lamar Alexander,
Bob Bennett,
Richard Burr,
Lincoln Chafee,
Thad Cochran,
Susan Collins,
Bill Frist,
Judd Gregg,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
John McCain,
Lisa Murkowski,
Gordon Smith,
Olympia Snowe,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
John Warner | Wayne Allard,
George Allen,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
Norm Coleman,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Grassley,
Chuck Hagel,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Jon Kyl,
Mel Martinez,
Mitch McConnell,
Pat Roberts,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
Craig Thomas,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich |
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