Key Reid votes

Key votes that U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has taken on abortion, gun control and immigration that provide a measure of where he stands on these controversial topics.

ABORTION

Roe v. Wade
Reid opposed a Senate resolution on March 12, 2003, that supported the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortions. The resolution passed 52-46.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2003-48
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=0048

Mexico City policy
Reid voted on Jan. 28, 2009, against restoring the “Mexico City Policy” that had blocked federal funds from going to organizations that promote abortion even if they only use private funds for that purpose. The measure failed 60-37.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2009-19
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=0065

Parental notification
Reid voted on July 25, 2006, in favor of the Child Custody Protection Act that would make it a federal crime for anyone, other than a parent, to accompany a girl across state lines to obtain an abortion. The bill passed 65-34.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2006-216
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00216

Unborn victims of violence
Reid voted on March 25, 2004, to support a bill favored by anti-abortion advocates that expands victims of crimes to include unborn children. He also voted that day in favor of an alternative offered by abortion rights advocates to simply increase penalties for crimes committed against pregnant women.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2004-63
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=0063
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2004-62
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=0062

Partial birth abortion
Reid voted on Oct. 21, 2003, in favor of banning late-term abortions. The bill passed 64-34.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2003-402
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402

GUN CONTROL

District of Columbia gun control
Reid voted on Feb. 26, 2009, in favor of a proposal to “restore Second Amendment rights” to the District of Columbia, where local government officials supported restrictions on gun ownership. The measure was approved 62-36.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2009-72
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=0072

Gun safety devices
Reid voted on Feb. 26, 2004, in favor of a proposal to require handguns be sold with child safety devices. The measure was approved 70-27.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2009-72
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00017

Assault weapons ban
Reid voted on Aug. 25, 1994, in favor of a crime reform bill that included a ban on assault weapons. The bill passed 61-38.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s1994-295
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=103&session=2&vote=00295

Reid voted on March 2, 2004, against an amendment to extend the assault weapons ban for an additional 10 years. The amendment passed 52-47.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2004-24
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00024

“Brady” handgun control
Reid voted on Nov. 20, 1993, in favor of a bill requiring background checks for the purchase of handguns. The bill, which passed, 63-36, was named after former Reagan Press Secretary Jim Brady.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s1993-394
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=103&session=1&vote=00394

Gun show loophole
Reid voted on May 20, 1999, in favor of a measure to require background registration checks for weapons sold at gun shows. The amendment passed 51-50 with Vice President Al Gore breaking the tie.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s1999-134
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00134

IMMIGRATION

Comprehensive immigration reform 2007
Reid voted on June 7, 2007, in favor of a motion to close debate and vote on an immigration reform bill. The motion failed 45-50.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2007-206
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00206

Comprehensive immigration reform 2006
Reid voted on May 25, 2006, in favor of a bill to provide comprehensive immigration reform including beefed-up border security, stricter laws against hiring illegal aliens and create a path toward citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The bill was approved 62-36.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2006-157
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00157

DREAM Act
Reid voted on Oct. 24, 2007, in support of a bill that would provide citizenship to certain college students who are long-term U.S. residents but entered the country illegally as children. The motion to end debate and vote on the bill, which required a 60-vote majority, failed 52-44.
• www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2007-394
• www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00394