The following list comes from queries of the AI-based Perplexity search engine requesting the "most significant" legislative accomplishments of various presidential administrations. The partisan vote tallies come from Perplexity.In the partisan vote tallies below, "Democrats" includes independents who caucused with the Democrats.
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (2008) - (Bush) Passed toward the end of the George W. Bush administration, as the Great Recession was building momentum. In the House, Democrats voted 172 in favor and 63 against, and Republicans voted 91 in favor and 108 against. In the Senate, Democrats voted 40 in favor and 10 against; Republicans voted 35 in favor and 15 against.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - (Obama) Additional economic stimulus to mitigate the effects of the Great Recession. In the House, 246 Democrats voted in favor, and 7 against. All Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all 58 Democrats voted in favor, 3 Republicans voted in favor, and 38 Republicans voted against. The bill received a total of 3 Republicans votes in the entire Congress.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (2009) - (Obama) Strengthened laws against pay discrimination based on gender. In the House, 247 Democrats voted in favor, and 5 against; 3 Republicans voted in favor, and 172 against. In the Senate, all but 5 Democrats supported the bill (Edward Kennedy was absent for health reasons), and all but 5 Republicans opposed it. The bill received 8 Republican votes in the entire Congress.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr.
Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009) - (Obama) Expanded federal hate crime
protections to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or
perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. In the House, 231 Democrats voted in favor, and 18 Republicans did. In the Senate, 63 Democrats voted in favor, and 5 Republicans did.
The Affordable Care Act (2010) - (Obama) Expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. In the House, 219 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, and 34 voted against it. In the Senate, all 60 Democrats voted in favor, and 39 Republicans voted against it. (One Republican did not vote). The bill passed without a single Republican vote.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010) - (Obama) Implemented regulations to prevent future financial crises and, notably, established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In the House, 234 Democrats voted in favor, whereas just 3 Republicans did. In the Senate, 57 voted in favor, whereas just 3 Republicans did. One Democrat voted against. The bill received just 6 Republican votes in the entire Congress.
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 - (Obama) Ended the ban on openly LGBTQ individuals serving in the military. In the House, 235 Democrats voted in favor, and 15 against. Because the bill's passed 250-175, we can infer that 15 House Republicans voted in favor, and 160 Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all but one Democrat voted in favor, and 8 Republicans voted in favor.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) - (Trump) The most sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax system in over 30 years. The benefits were disproportionately favorable to corporations and high-income earners. In the House, 227 Republicans voted in favor, and 12 voted against. No Democrats voted for the bill. In the Senate, 51 Republicans voted in favor, and 1 against. No Democrats voted for the bill in the Senate or in the entire Congress.
Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (2018) - (Trump) Rolled back key provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act by reducing reporting requirements for institutions with fewer than 500 loans annually. House Republicans voted 225 for, 1 against, and 8 didn't vote. Democrats voted 33 for, 158 against, and 2 didn't vote. In the Senate, all Republicans and 17 Democrats voted in favor; 32 Democrats voted against.
Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (2017) - (Trump) Bipartisan legislation imposed sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (2017) - (Trump) Aimed at combating elder abuse, this law enhanced DOJ requirements for investigating elder abuse crimes, improved victim assistance, and bolstered data collection. Passed unanimously in both houses of Congress.
Women, Peace, and Security Act (2017) - (Trump) Focused on increasing women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution globally. The bill was approved in the House on a voice vote. According to Perplexity, the bill appears to have been approved by the Senate by unanimous consent.
Non-legislative Trump Administration policy changes (provided unsolicited by Perplexity along with legislative achievments) - Major regulatory rollbacks including environmental
rules like the Waters of the United States Rule and fuel economy
standards under the SAFE Vehicles Rule. Significantly weakened the Affordable Care Act after an attempt to repeal it failed. Implemented travel bans from Muslim countries and ended protections for certain immigrant groups under programs like Temporary Protected Status. Family separation under "Zero Tolerance" policy. Renegotiated NAFTA. Established a commission on election
integrity, which disbanded in January 2018 after 9 months of operation without finding any evidence to support claims of widespread voter fraud. Rescinded Obama-era housing regulations under AFFH, and
modernized NEPA to expedite infrastructure projects.
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - (Biden) A $1.9 trillion stimulus package to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including direct payments to Americans, extended unemployment benefits, and funding for vaccine distribution. In the House, all but two Democrats voted in favor. All Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all Democrats voted in favor, and all Republicans voted against, with one Republican absent. The bill did not get a single Republican vote in the entire Congress.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) - (Biden) A major investment in
America's infrastructure, allocating nearly $600 billion ($1.2 trillion total authorized funding) for
improvements to roads, bridges, public transit, rail, ports, airports,
water systems, and high-speed internet access. All but 6 Democrats voted for the law in the House. Only 13 Republicans did. In the Senate, all 50 Democrats voted in favor. 19 Republicans voted in favor, and 30 against.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 - (Biden) The largest ever investment
in clean energy and climate action, which also aimed to reduce
healthcare costs and make the tax code fairer. In the House, all Democrats voted in favor, and all Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all 50 Democrats voted in favor, while all 50 Republicans voted against, with the Vice President breaking the tie. The bill did not get a single Republican vote in the entire Congress.
CHIPS and Science Act (2022) - (Biden) Legislation to bolster the semiconductor and manufacturing industry in the United States. All but one Democrat voted for the bill in the House. Just 24 Republicans voted in favor. In the Senate, all Democrats but one voted in favor, and 17 Republicans voted in favor.
Respect for Marriage Act (2022) - (Biden) Codified same-sex and interracial marriage in the United States. In the House, all Democrats and 39 Republicans voted in favor. 169 Republicans voted against. In the Senate, All 49 Democrats and 12 Republicans voted in favor. 36 Republicans voted against.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022) - (Biden) The first major federal gun control law in nearly three decades. In the House, 220 Democrats voted in favor. Only 14 Republicans voted in favor, with 193 against. In the Senate, 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted in favor, with 35 Republicans voting against.
Honoring our PACT Act (2022) - (Biden) Expanded health care for US veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. In the House, all Democrats and 34 Republicans voted in favor; 174 Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all Democrats and 34 Republicans voted in favor; 11 Republicans voted against.
Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act (2022) - (Biden) Aimed at clarifying the electoral vote counting process. In the House, all Democrats and 9 Republicans voted in favor; 201 Republicans voted against. In the Senate, all Democrats and 18 Republicans voted in favor, with 29 Republicans voting against.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 - (Biden) Addressed the debt-ceiling crisis by restraining federal spending and implementing various fiscal reforms. In the House, 165 Democrats voted in favor, and 46 Democrats voted against. 149 Republicans voted in favor, and 71 voted against. In the Senate, 47 Democrats voted in favor, and 5 voted against. 17 Republicans voted in favor, and 31 against.
Social Security Fairness Act (2024) - (Biden) Addressed inequities in Social Security benefits for certain government employees. In the House, 191 Democrats voted in favor, with 4 opposed. 136 Republicans voted in favor, with 71 opposed. In the Senate, 49 Democrats voted in favor, and none against. 27 Republicans voted in favor, and 20 against.
