The U.S. Congress Votes Database

109th Congress / Senate / 2nd session / Vote 29

  • Question: On the Conference Report
  • Bill: H R 3199
  • Vote description: H.R. 3199 Conference Report; USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
  • Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
  • Result: Agreed to, 89-10, with 1 not voting.
  • Date/time: March 2, 2006, 3:01 p.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: Yes (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

With this vote the Senate reauthorized the 2001 USA Patriot Act. The original bill, passed the wake of the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks, gave federal law enforcement authorities broad new powers to pursue those suspected of terrorist or espionage activities. A Washington Post report said the original bill made it "easier for federal agents to secretly tap phones, obtain library and bank records, and search suspected terrorists' homes." Proponents of the bill, including the Bush administration, argued the bill gave law enforcement the necessary tools to prevent and disrupt potential terrorist attacks. Opponents asserted that the parts of the law gave law enforcement officials too much authority to infringe upon the privacy of regular citizens.

Most of the measures in the 2001 bill were only authorized for four years, which required Congress to take up the matter again in 2005-2006. Original action on the bill was blocked in the Senate 2005 by four Republicans and a majority of Democrats who demanded that safeguards be put in place to protect against abuses of the law. Those safeguards included ending the use of "National Security Letters," which did not require a judge's approval, in order to obtain some forms of electronic information. Senators also added a provision that would allow the recipients of a "215 subpoenas," which are issued by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court, to challenge "gag" orders that prevented them from disclosing the fact that they had received a subpoena. In the end the Senate and the House voted overwhelmingly to renew nearly all of the original Patriot Act's provisions and the president signed the reauthorization bill into law on March 9, 2006.

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Vote totals

Click to list individual members.

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