Michael Lawler, R-NY

Michael Lawler is a Republican Representative from New York's House District 17.

Quick Links:

• Entry on the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Official Website

Sponsored Legislation:

The list below shows the pieces of legislation (including bills, resolutions, and amendments) that this legislator has sponsored. Not all pieces of legislation have been brought for a roll call vote.

• hr4983-119 - To repeal a prohibition against the use of funds for site acquisition, development, or construction of any facility in Israel, Jerusalem, or the West Bank. (aka Keeping Official Territories Eligible for Land-use Act)
• hr10029-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for elementary and secondary school supply expenses. (aka Supporting Students and Families Act)
• hr7961-119 - To exempt H-1B health care workers from the restriction under the Presidential Proclamation entitled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", and for other purposes. (aka H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act)
• hr8141-119 - To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require resellers of information contained in consumer reports to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of such information before transmitting such information, and for other purposes. (aka Fair Credit Reporting Reseller Accuracy Act)
• hr1007-119 - To provide for the consideration of a definition of antisemitism set forth by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities, and for other purposes. (aka Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025)
• hr1009-119 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 86 Main Street in Haverstraw, New York, as the "Paul Piperato Post Office Building".
• hr7597-119 - To amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to require that the annual report of the Department of Housing and Urban Development include an identification of significant regulatory barriers to affordable housing. (aka Affordable Housing Barriers Transparency Act)
• hr7107-119 - To require the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide a report to the Congress on the non-compliance of the New York City Housing Authority, and for other purposes. (aka Accountability for NYCHA Act of 2026)
• hr8177-119 - To enhance the security, resilience, and protection of critical undersea infrastructure vital to Taiwan's national security, economic stability, and defense, particularly in countering gray zone tactics employed by the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes. (aka Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act)
• hr7367-119 - To establish a demonstration pilot program to test the innovative use of funds and outcomes-oriented benchmarks for initiatives to support low income households in accessing hygiene materials. (aka TANF Hygiene Access Act)
• hr5803-119 - To direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to require certain reporting by power reactor licensees that use decommissioning trust funds, and for other purposes. (aka REACT Act)
• hr1008-119 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 298 Route 292 in Holmes, New York, as the "Sheriff Adrian "Butch" Anderson Post Office Building".
• hr7596-119 - To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study that identifies options to remove barriers and improve housing for persons who are elderly or disabled. (aka Improving Housing Access Act)
• hr7108-119 - To improve public housing agency accountability. (aka Improving Public Housing Agency Accountability Act)
• hr2683-119 - To provide for control of remote access of items under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. (aka Remote Access Security Act)
• hr9680-119 - To require the Secretary State to submit to Congress a strategy to dismantle United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East operations, and for other purposes. (aka Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act)
• hr8551-119 - To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to provide no-cost coverage for annual screening mammography beginning at 30 years of age. (aka Early Access to Screening Act)
• hr5044-119 - To amend the Diplomatic Security Act to require that congressional notifications relating to decisions to re-open high risk, high threat diplomatic posts include an explanation of the national security value of such decision. (aka Safe Embassies Act)
• hr6453-119 - To amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide for a remediation period before the commencement of a civil action. (aka ADA 30 Days to Comply Act)
• hr10053-119 - To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to issue loans to certain public employees, and for other purposes. (aka Public Service Homeownership Assistance Act)
• hr3110-119 - To prohibit the procurement of certain items containing perfluorooctane sulfonate or perfluorooctanoic acid and prioritize the procurement of products not containing PFAS. (aka PFAS–Free Procurement Act of 2025)
• hr4335-119 - To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and for other purposes. (aka Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act)
• hr10096-119 - To establish the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis, and for other purposes. (aka Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act of 2026)
• hr5277-119 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments or allowances that individuals, including veterans service organizations, receive for transportation of veterans to or from facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (aka HEAL Act)
• hr10030-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and adjust for inflation the above-the-line deduction for teachers. (aka Supporting Our Educators Act of 2026)
• hr3979-119 - To require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide information and education tools to farmers on the cost savings, energy savings, water conservation, and carbon emissions reductions that can be realized through the use of energy-efficient pumping systems, and for other purposes. (aka LEAPS Act)
• hr1878-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an income tax credit for fertility treatments. (aka IVF Access and Affordability Act)
• hr5472-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore and expand the expensing of qualified environmental remediation expenditures, and for other purposes. (aka Brownfield Revitalization and Remediation Act)
• hr6203-119 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize and honor the service of individuals who served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II, and for other purposes. (aka United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2025)
• hr6452-119 - To amend title 5, United States code, to require certain officials to provide an annual briefing to certain congressional committees. (aka Executive Transparency Act)
• hr8012-119 - To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring a rail carrier to report certain damage if such carrier has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the carrier caused such damage. (aka Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act)
• hr1530-119 - To amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to clarify and supplement the funding sources for United States victims of state-sponsored terrorism to ensure consistent and meaningful distributions from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, and for other purposes. (aka American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act)
• hr4410-119 - To amend the Department of State Authorization Act of 2023 to extend the special hiring authority for passport services. (aka Cutting Passport Backlog Act)
• hr3721-119 - To establish a Task Force on the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization, and for other purposes. (aka Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act)
• hr6095-119 - To extend privileges and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act to the Gulf Cooperation Council. (aka Gulf Diplomacy Act)
• hr7292-119 - To amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to require a biennial report on the progress of the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science of the National Science and Technology Council in implementing the national workforce strategic plan, and for other purposes.
• hr8448-119 - To establish an Office of Energy Affordability within the Department of Energy, and for other purposes. (aka Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026)
• hr4427-119 - To review banking restrictions, strengthen anti-money laundering capacity, and update sanctions with respect to the Government of Syria, and for other purposes. (aka Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025)
• hr5590-119 - To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for communicating threats that target schools. (aka Schools Want Accountability for Threats Act)
• hr1933-119 - To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to James Earl Jones, an American icon, in recognition of a remarkable life in reshaping perceptions, dismantling racial barriers, and advocating for equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in film and theatre. (aka James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act)
• hr9520-119 - To amend the War Hazards Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to require that the Federal Government pay interest on late reimbursements, and for other purposes. (aka War Hazards Compensation Reform Act)
• hr7218-119 - To require artificial intelligence chatbots to implement age verification measures and establish certain protections for minor users, and for other purposes. (aka CHAT Act)
• hr4891-119 - To address the growing complexity of the threat environment at United States diplomatic posts. (aka Secure Our Embassies Act)
• hr1710-119 - To impose sanctions with respect to the system of compensation of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority that supports acts of terrorism. (aka PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2025)
• hr4296-119 - To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to address emissions of certain greenhouse gases and carbon storage through conservation incentive contracts. (aka Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices for Farming Act)
• hr7219-119 - To require the congressional districts established by a State to meet certain requirements, to prohibit States from carrying out more than one congressional redistricting after a decennial census and apportionment, to exclude aliens without lawful status under the immigration laws from number of persons used to determine apportionment of representatives and number of electoral votes, and for other purposes. (aka Fair Apportionment and Independent Redistricting for Maps that Avoid Partisanship Act)
• hr4691-119 - To require the Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to develop and maintain written counterterrorism strategies for countries and regions where there is a significant terrorist threat or ongoing United States counterterrorism engagement. (aka Responsive Counterterrorism Policy Act)
• hr5115-119 - To amend title 9 of the United States Code with respect to arbitration of disputes involving age discrimination. (aka Protecting Older Americans Act of 2025)
• hr4808-119 - To provide that the Secretary of State should delegate to the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security or the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security the pre-approval authority for Diplomatic Security special agents seeking authorization under section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, to carry out the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications. (aka Parity in Diplomatic Security Investigations Act)
• hr2561-119 - To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit States from using ranked choice voting to carry out an election for Federal office, and for other purposes. (aka One Vote One Choice Act)
• hr4297-119 - To require a report on counterintelligence training for high-risk diplomatic posts. (aka Protecting American Diplomats Act)
• hr5148-119 - To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to expand the scope of funding used by the counterterrorism bureau of the Department of State to allow assistance to be made available to counterterrorism-focused military and intelligence units. (aka Coordinated Counterterrorism Act)
• hr9749-119 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct an assessment of food products imported into the United States from foreign facilities, and for other purposes. (aka Protecting America’s Food Supply Act of 2026)
• hr296-119 - To address the plea agreements for certain individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes. (aka Justice for 9/11 Act)
• hr9436-119 - To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective. (aka Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026)
• hr8977-119 - To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it a felony offense for any person who is seeking to be a candidate in an election for Federal office or an employee or agent of such a person to knowingly fraudulently sign any materials or documentation required to be filed as a condition of ballot access for such election, and for other purposes. (aka EFFIE Act)
• hr3352-119 - To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to revise rules relating to general solicitation or general advertising to allow for presentations or other communication made by or on behalf of an issuer at certain events, and for other purposes. (aka HALOS Act of 2025)
• hr5435-119 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for congenital Cytomegalovirus screening of newborns. (aka Stop CMV Act of 2025)
• hr7701-119 - To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to reduce rent in public housing for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. (aka Public Housing Rent Reduction for First Responders Act)
• hr5404-119 - To codify Executive Order 14212, relating to establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission. (aka Make America Healthy Again Act of 2025)
• hr7595-119 - To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study that identifies how many residential dwelling units, and how many dwelling units in public housing, are located within 1 mile of a superfund site. (aka Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act)
• hr1201-119 - To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the number of physicians who may be provided Conrad 30 waivers. (aka Doctors in our Borders Act)
• hr8378-119 - To modify the reasonable requirements that may be imposed on pet owners living in public housing, and for other purposes. (aka Pets Belong with Families Act)
• hr7796-119 - To assist communities affected by stranded nuclear waste, and for other purposes. (aka Economic Recovery for Nuclear-Affected Communities Act)
• hr2446-119 - To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education that authorize antisemitic events on campus from participating in the student loan and grant programs under title IV of such Act. (aka Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act)
• hr4928-119 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for entitlement to a headstone or grave marker under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain members of a Reserve of an Armed Force, and for other purposes. (aka Giving Reservists A Valiant Eternity Act)
• hr7503-119 - To expand the eligibility of properties for the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program for members of the Armed Forces, firefighters, and law enforcement officials, and for other purposes. (aka Housing for Heroes Act of 2026)
• hr7504-119 - To require the Government Accountability Office to study and recommend a definition for workforce housing. (aka Housing for America’s Middle Class Act of 2026)
• hr7700-119 - To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study with respect to public housing inspections and the number of inspectors needed to ensure that all inspections are completed annually. (aka Annual Public Housing Inspections Accountability Act)
• hres1050-119 - Expressing support for the designation of September 19, 2026, as "Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day".
• hres778-119 - Expressing support for the recognition of September 29, 2025, as "International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste".
• hres796-119 - Expressing support for the designation of October 9 through October 16, 2025, as "National Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Awareness Week" and a commitment to raise awareness of dyspraxia/DCD in the United States.
• hres752-119 - Expressing support for the designation of September 19, 2025, as "Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day".
• hres446-119 - Expressing support for the recognition of July 3 through July 10, 2025, as "National Extreme Heat Awareness Week", a national event educating the public on the dangers of extreme heat and the risks of extreme heat events to public safety, infrastructure, agriculture, and much more, and supporting the goals of a National Extreme Heat Awareness Week.
• hres1422-119 - Congratulating the New York Knicks on winning the 2026 National Basketball Association Finals.
• hres942-119 - Expressing support for the recognition of September 2025 as "National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month".
• hres1361-119 - Expressing support for the recognition of July 3 through July 10, 2026, as "National Extreme Heat Awareness Week", a national event educating the public on the dangers of extreme heat and the risks of extreme heat events to public safety, infrastructure, agriculture, and much more, and supporting the goals of a National Extreme Heat Awareness Week.
• hres1044-119 - Expressing support for the designation of the year 2026 as the "National Year of the Volunteer".
• hr2003-119 - To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2 percent. (aka Affordable Loans for Students Act)
• hr3774-119 - To amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to testify on an annual basis before the Congress. (aka HUD Accountability Act of 2025)
• hr7911-119 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to nonprofit organizations to carry out programs and activities intended to promote caregiver wellness, and for other purposes. (aka Dream’s Caregiver Health and Wellness Act)
• hr9285-119 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a Heat Illness AI Surveillance and Response Program, and for other purposes. (aka Heat Emergency Assessment and Tracking using AI Act)
• hr6653-119 - To prohibit the Federal procurement of food that contain certain color additives and prioritize the procurement of products not containing any color additives. (aka Dye Free Procurement Act)
• hr9086-119 - To amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to modify and improve that Act. (aka Foreign Service Modernization Act)
• hr1422-119 - To impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in significant transactions related or incidental to the processing, refining, export, transfer or sale of oil, condensates, or other petroleum or petrochemical products in whole or in part from the Islamic Republic of Iran. (aka Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025)
• hr2637-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a nonrefundable credit for certain organized sport equipment expenses. (aka Home Run for Kids Act)
• hr9028-119 - To amend the securities laws to prohibit brokers, dealers, and investment advisers with certain connections to the People's Republic of China from registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and for other purposes. (aka PRC Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Moratorium Act)
• hr6403-119 - To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments and priorities of local communities. (aka Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025)
• hr5023-119 - To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to attempted murder and the trafficking of fentanyl. (aka Fentanyl Kills Act)
• hr5024-119 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow any recipient of urbanized area formula grant funds to use such funds for operating costs of equipment and facilities used in public transportation, and for other purposes. (aka Transit Funding Flexibility Act)
• hr2264-119 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to automatically pay dependency and indemnity compensation to a survivor of a veteran with a service-connected mental disorder who dies by suicide. (aka Service-Connected Suicide Compensation Act)
• hr9472-119 - To prohibit Community Development Block Grant funding and Federal mortgage support in municipalities that allow squatting. (aka The Protecting Homeowners from Squatters Act)
• hr4997-119 - To amend the Omnibus Diplomatic Security an Antiterrorism Act of 1986 to require additional specific, mandatory, counterintelligence training for certain Diplomatic Security special agents assigned to high threat posts, and for other purposes. (aka Modernize Diplomatic Security Training Act)
• hr3980-119 - To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants for expanding, modernizing, or streamlining emergency department operations. (aka Streamline Emergency Care Act)
• hr5245-119 - To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State.
• hr9152-119 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to modernize digital identity proofing and authentication systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (aka Veterans Electronic Trust and Records Authentication Act)
• hr9356-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a tax credit for expenses paid or incurred by private cemeteries to attach veteran medallions to headstones. (aka Veteran Headstone Honor Act)
• hr2726-119 - To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the scope of the penalty for crimes against children. (aka Paula Bohovesky and Joan D’Alessandro Act)
• hr6718-119 - To amend the definition of professional degree in the Higher Education Act of 1965. (aka Professional Student Degree Act)
• hr9750-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a cap on income taxes on certain pensions. (aka Public Service Retirement Tax Relief Act of 2026)
• hr7291-119 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to establish a board to review certain designations that a substance used in food is generally recognized as safe, with respect to the intended use of such substance, and for other purposes. (aka GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act)
• hr7654-119 - To authorize the consolidation of reports required to be submitted by the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy of the Department of State, and for other purposes. (aka Advance Global Health Act)
• hr2943-119 - To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on insurance coverage of dyspraxia/developmental coordination disorder. (aka Gabriel Rosenberg Dyspraxia/DCD Coverage Act)
• hr3639-119 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and medical services to veterans and dependents who were stationed at military installations at which the veterans and dependents were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to provide for a presumption of service connection for certain veterans who were stationed at military installations at which the veterans were exposed to such substances, and for other purposes. (aka VET PFAS Act)
• hr867-119 - To amend the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to apply the provisions of that Act to international governmental organizations. (aka IGO Anti-Boycott Act)
• hr9584-119 - To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to reallocate unobligated funding for tenant-based assistance to public housing agencies which are in need of more funding for tenant-based assistance. (aka The Housing Voucher Funding Reallocation Act)
• hr7622-119 - To support human rights and internet freedom in Iran and hold the Iranian regime accountable for the repression of the Iranian people. (aka Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026)
• hr7018-119 - To limit funding for United States participation in the United Nations if Israel is illegally expelled. (aka Stand with Israel Act of 2026)
• hr10165-119 - To permanently reform quorum requirements for the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to ensure continuity of operations. (aka EXIM Bank Continuity in Competitiveness Act)
• hr5913-119 - To allow the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to increase the aggregate amount of investments that a national banking association and a State member bank may make to promote the public welfare, and for other purposes. (aka Community Investment and Prosperity Act)
• hr5322-119 - To amend title 5, United States Code, to designate September 11 Day of Remembrance as a legal public holiday. (aka September 11 Day of Remembrance Act)
• hr4856-119 - To improve the safety of, affordability of, and access to housing. (aka Revitalizing America’s Housing Act)
• hr5519-119 - To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther, in recognition of his bravery, heroism, and sacrifice in the face of one of the gravest tragedies in American history. (aka Welles Remy Crowther Congressional Gold Medal Act)
• hr9318-119 - To establish the National Security Commission on Quantum Computing. (aka National Security Commission Quantum Computing Act of 2026)
• hr9585-119 - To amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to include quantum information science and technology in the areas covered by the Program on China and Transformational Exports. (aka Advancing American Quantum Leadership Act of 2026)
• hr232-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the limitation on the amount individuals can deduct for certain State and local taxes. (aka SALT Fairness and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act)
• hr2562-119 - To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in a District of Columbia election, and for other purposes. (aka District of Columbia One Vote One Choice Act)
• hr4692-119 - To direct the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study on the potential impacts of public grocery stores, and for other purposes. (aka MAMDANI Act)
• hr7641-119 - To provide for a pilot program to require congressional notification of additional information for certain foreign assistance programs. (aka Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act)
• hr9987-119 - To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance, and for other purposes. (aka Recycling Infrastructure and Data Accountability Act)
• hr1128-119 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the rate of the excise tax based on investment income of private colleges and universities and to broaden the definition of applicable educational institution by lowering the threshold with respect to aggregate fair market value per student, and for other purposes. (aka Endowment Accountability Act)
• hr8852-119 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to design and implement a program to study the health effects of nuclear radiation on women, and for other purposes. (aka Radiation Health Research Act)

Vote Summary

The chart below shows all the votes cast by this legislator. The bars are color-coded by party. Red bars indicate votes cast in support of Republican-sponsored legislation or against Democrat-sponsored legislation; blue bars indicate the opposite.

See the about page for the methodology we use to determine what is and is not a party-line vote.