Votes, bills and records by issue · 119th Congress
Armed Forces and National Security
Jeff Merkley
Democratic, Oregon
On Armed Forces and National Security, the 29 measures they backed sit 67% past the typical Democrat, on the far side from the typical Republican.
From votes
Too few votes for a position from votes: 18 votes cast, and a position needs 20.
From bills backed
29 measures · 2 sponsored · 27 cosponsored
Sits 67% past the typical Democrat, on the far side from the typical Republican.
Exact figures
Positions are coordinates on the map's main axis. Only the distance from the typical Democrat and typical Republican means anything.
From bills backed
- Senator at −0.40
- Democratic caucus median −0.22, from 41 senators
- Republican caucus median 0.05, from 26 senators
Each mark is a senator. The vertical line is the typical senator in that caucus.
A position shows which senators someone votes or legislates alongside, not whether they are for or against a policy. Issues come from each bill's topic, so an issue can include amendments on other topics. Left and right on the strips have no meaning of their own. Bills often have backers from both parties, so a position from bills is read against the medians for bills, not against the position from votes. See how these summaries are written.
- Contested vote:
- a roll call where the losing side got at least 10% of the votes cast.
- Party break:
- a contested vote against the majority of their own party.
- Cosponsor:
- a senator who signs on to support a measure, a bill or resolution, that another senator introduced. Bills backed means sponsored or cosponsored.
- Typical senator:
- the middle senator of a group, with half on each side. "17% of the way" means 17% of the distance from the typical senator in one party to the typical senator in the other.
Votes on this issue
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other…
Show the full description
purposes.
Voted Nay
A bill to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, and for other purposes.
Voted Nay
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Voted Yea
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
Voted Nay
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
Voted Nay
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
Voted Nay
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other…
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purposes.
Voted Nay
To limit the use of Federal law enforcement officers for crowd control, and for other purposes.
Voted Yea
To reduce the bloated Pentagon budget by 10 percent and instead expand veteran dental care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Voted Yea
To limit the provision of support by the Armed Forces to civilian law enforcement activities.
Voted Yea
To amend title 32, United States Code, to clarify certain limitations on full-time National Guard duty performed in a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia.
Voted Yea
To prohibit the use of funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for presidential airlift.
Voted Yea
To require a review of the methodologies used to determine the amounts of locality-based comparability payments and to require the President's Pay Agent to conduct a pilot program establishing alternative models for determining the amounts of those payments.
Voted Nay
To require Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
Voted Yea
To prohibit earnings on balances maintained at a Federal Reserve bank by or on behalf of a depository institution.
Voted Yea
To direct the Attorney General to make publicly available documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Voted Nay
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other…
Show the full description
purposes.
Voted Nay
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other…
Show the full description
purposes.
Voted Nay
Legislation on this issue
These are records, not a score, and sponsoring a measure does not mean it moved. Simple and concurrent resolutions cannot become law, and a proposal enacted through a companion House bill or inside a larger bill is not counted as becoming law here.
Sponsored
A resolution recognizing September 20, 2026, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day".
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S4803-4804)
A resolution recognizing September 20, 2025, as "National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day".
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S6738)
Cosponsored
Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2026
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act of 2026
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Audit the Pentagon Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
A resolution acknowledging and apologizing for the mistreatment of, and discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served the United States in the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service and committing to the pursuit of equal rights, protections, and respect for all LGBT servicemembers and Federal civil servants.
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text: CR S2766-2768)
Show the other 22 cosponsored measures
Reactors at Risk Act of 2026
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
Latest action, : Held at the desk.
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025
Latest action, : Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
TAP Promotion Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
A concurrent resolution celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps.
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Latest action, : Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 50. Record Vote Number: 72.
Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Armed Forces Pay Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
DoD COW Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
ICBM Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Insurrection Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Fit to Serve Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Remove the Stain Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
DRIVE Act of 2025
Latest action, : Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
Major Richard Star Act
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Love Lives On Act of 2025
Latest action, : Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Putting Veterans First Act of 2025
Latest action, : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
A resolution condemning the mass terminations of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs carried out with no justification or analysis of the impact on veterans and their families.
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S1500)
A resolution honoring the service of women in combat roles in the Armed Forces.
Latest action, : Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text: CR S232)
Amendments filed on this issue's bills
These are records, not a score. Many amendments are procedural or filed in bulk, and most are never taken up on the floor. Adopted means the Senate agreed to the amendment, which can still be left out of the final text.
An amendment is listed under the policy area of the bill it amends. An amendment can differ from its bill's topic.
Amendments through Sept. 30, 2026.
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Show the other 23 amendments
Amends S. 4784
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
To limit the use of Federal law enforcement officers for crowd control, and for other purposes.
Latest action, : Amendment SA 3927, under the order of 10/9/2025, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 50. Record Vote Number: 569.
Amendment Rejected, Yea 47, Nay 50
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted
Amends S. 2296
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The official record gives no purpose for this amendment.
Latest action, : Senate amendment submitted