Members of Congress introduced more than 6,600 bills and resolutions in 2013. The Second Amendment and gun control legislation dominated the top bills list, the majority of which were introduced in the beginning of the year. Not surprisingly, the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," was also a top priority among POPVOX users, and also the House has voted to repeal some or all of it nearly 50 times.
The Countdown of the Top 50 Bills
Together, POPVOX users from every state and Congressional district sent more than 900,000 messages to their lawmakers in Washington. These are the top 50 bills and proposals that POPVOX users weighed in on with Congress in 2013, ranked by the aggregate number of combined support and opposition.
- HR 321
#50 Firearm Safety and Public Health Research Act
Would allow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct crucial scientific research into firearm safety, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
146 Support | 3,076 Oppose
- HR 1369
#49 Firearm Risk Protection Act
Would require gun buyers to have liability insurance coverage before being allowed to purchase a weapon and imposes a fine of $10,000 if an owner is found not to have the required coverage; service members and law enforcement officers are exempt from this insurance requirement, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
99 Support | 3,157 Oppose
- HR 965
#48 Banning Saturday Night Specials
Would prohibit the possession or transfer of junk guns, also known as Saturday Night Specials.
152 Support | 3,133 Oppose
- HR 900
A one-sentence bill that would cancel the sequester, or across-the-board federal spending cuts that were implemented in 2013.
2,406 Support | 899 Oppose
- HR 890
#46 Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act
Extends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through December 2013 and overturns President Obama’s efforts to waive welfare work requirements, according to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). This bill passed in the House on March 13, 2013, and is awaiting consideration by the Senate.
3,208 Support | 120 Oppose
- HR 1005
To deauthorize appropriation of funds, and to rescind unobligated appropriations, to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
2,905 Support | 478 Oppose
- HR 1094
#44 Safeguard American Food Exports Act
To prohibit the sale or transport of equines and equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption.
2,727 Support | 707 Oppose
- HR 61
#43 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act
Would stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from providing federal family planning assistance under Title X to abortion businesses until they certify they won't provide and refer for abortions, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
934 Support | 2,513 Oppose
- HR 431
#42 Gun Transparency and Accountability (Gun TRAC) Act
Would once again allow ATF to use information on guns traced to crimes; it would remove the requirement that background checks be destroyed within 24 hours; and it would eliminate the ban on federally required inventory audits of gun dealerships, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA).
102 Support | 3,348 Oppose
- HR 793
#41 Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act
Would establish a grant program within the Department of Justice in which grants would be eligible to state, tribal, and local units of government and law enforcement agencies to carry out anti-violence campaigns, gun safety campaigns, and firearms buyback programs, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA).
98 Support | 3,370 Oppose
- HR 2959
#40 National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State. This bill was passed by the House in the 112th Congress, but hasn't been voted on in this Congress.
3,106 Support | 385 Oppose
- HR 236
#39 Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act
Would increase the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to: Inspect federal firearms licensees (FFLs) for compliance with recordkeeping requirements by increasing the allowable inspections per year from one to three; Increase the penalties for knowingly misrepresenting any facts about a firearms sale; and Authorize the Attorney General to suspend a dealer's license and assess civil penalties for firearms violations, including failure to have secure gun storage or safety devices, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI).
184 Support | 3,319 Oppose
- Guns
#38 Toomey-Schumer-Manchin Amendment
A bipartisan group of senators — Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) — introduced a compromise proposal to expand background checks. The proposal would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It also extends the existing background check system to gun shows and online sales. The Senate rejected the proposal in a 54 to 46 vote on April 17, 2013 — six votes short of the 60 needed.
197 Support | 3,343 Oppose
- S 47
#37 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
To reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and includes measures on campus safety, tools to reduce domestic violence homicides, and protections for at-risk groups such as immigrants, tribal victims and members of the LGBT community, according to bill sponsors, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID). This bill was enacted into law after being signed by the President on March 7, 2013.
573 Support | 3,008 Oppose
- S 374
To ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale. Reported by Committee on Mar 12, 2013, and is awaiting consideration by the full Senate.
218 Support | 3,532 Oppose
- HR 45
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This bill passed in the House on May 16, 2013 by a 229-195 vote, and is awaiting consideration by the Senate.
2,970 Support | 899 Oppose
- HR 238
#34 Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act
Would prohibit gun dealers whose licenses are revoked to convert their inventory to personal collections, to be sold without conducting background checks on purchasers, under current law, according to bill sponsor, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI).
178 Support | 3,714 Oppose
- HR 35
#33 Safe Schools Act
Would repeal federal laws mandating “gun free zones” around schools, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX).
3,970 Support | 185 Oppose
- HR 538
#32 PLEA Act
To protect the Nation’s law enforcement officers by banning the Five-seveN Pistol and 5.7 x 28mm SS190, SS192, SS195LF, SS196, and SS197 cartridges, testing handguns and ammunition for capability to penetrate body armor, and prohibiting the manufacture, importation, sale, or purchase of such handguns or ammunition by civilians.
143 Support | 4,051 Oppose
- HR 575
#31 Second Amendment Protection Act
Would prohibit funding to the United Nations unless the President can certify that a United Nations treaty does not infringe on individual rights protected by the Constitution, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX).
4,083 Support | 145 Oppose
- HR 437
Would ban the future sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of 157 specific kinds of semi-automatic guns and impose the same restrictions on ammunition magazines that contain more than 10 rounds. Excludes 2,258 legitimate hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns by specific make and model, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).
160 Support | 4,227 Oppose
- S 815
#29 Employment Non-Discrimination Act
To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill passed in the Senate on November 7, 2013 by a 64 to 32 vote, and is awaiting consideration by the House.
233 Support | 4,178 Oppose
- HR 227
To establish a gun buyback grant program.
134 Support | 4,292 Oppose
- S 2
#27 Sandy Hook Elementary School Violence Reduction Act
To reduce violence and protect the citizens of the United States.
169 Support | 4,357 Oppose
- HR 25
#26 Fair Tax Act
Would repeal all Federal corporate and individual income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes, the death tax, and gift taxes – and replace them with a revenue-neutral personal consumption tax, according to bill sponsor, Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA).
4,219 Support | 333 Oppose
- HR 226
#25 Support Assault Firearms Elimination and Reduction for our Streets Act
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for surrendering to authorities certain assault weapons.
143 Support | 4,488 Oppose
- S 174
#24 Ammunition Background Check Act
To appropriately restrict sales of ammunition.
187 Support | 4,769 Oppose
- S 336
Would give states the option to require the collection of sales and use taxes already owed under State law by out-of-state businesses, rather than rely on consumers to remit those taxes to the States—the method of tax collection to which they are now restricted, according to bill sponsor, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY).
205 Support | 4,861 Oppose
- HR 137
To ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale.
522 Support | 4,595 Oppose
- S 147
#21 Common Sense Concealed Firearms Permit Act
To establish minimum standards for States that allow the carrying of concealed firearms.
215 Support | 5,017 Oppose
- S 34
#20 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act
To increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to known or suspected dangerous terrorists.
390 Support | 4,842 Oppose
- S 22
#19 Gun Show Background Check Act
To establish background check procedures for gun shows.
442 Support | 5,049 Oppose
- S 82
#18 Separation of Powers Restoration & Second Amendment Protection Act
To provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes.
5,728 Support | 243 Oppose
- HR 410
#17 Restore the Constitution Act
To provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes.
5,914 Support | 263 Oppose
- HR 499
#16 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act
To decriminalize marijuana at the Federal level, to leave to the States a power to regulate marijuana that is similar to the power they have to regulate alcohol.
5,824 Support | 420 Oppose
- S 35
#15 Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act
To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.
308 Support | 6,558 Oppose
- S 33
#14 Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
324 Support | 6,863 Oppose
- HR 65
#13 Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act
Raising the age of legal handgun ownership to 21.
514 Support | 7,193 Oppose
- HR 21
#12 NRA Members Gun Safety Act
To provide for greater safety in the use of firearms.
536 Support | 7,770 Oppose
- HR 34
#11 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act
To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms.
362 Support | 8,402 Oppose
- HR 141
#10 Gun Show Loophole Closing Act
To require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at gun shows.
1,406 Support | 7,591 Oppose
- HR 2682
To prohibit the funding of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
9,365 Support | 307 Oppose
- S 150
To regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited.
633 Support | 9,409 Oppose
- HR 142
#7 Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act
To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.
617 Support | 9,508 Oppose
- HR 117
#6 Handgun Licensing and Registration Act
To provide for the mandatory licensing and registration of handguns.
553 Support | 9,619 Oppose
- HR 133
To repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and amendments to that Act.
9,671 Support | 651 Oppose
- HR 138
#4 Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
756 Support | 10,828 Oppose
- S 744
#3 Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act
To provide for comprehensive immigration reform. This bill passed in the Senate on June 27, 2013 and is awaiting consideration by the House.
1,385 Support | 10,212 Oppose
- HJRes 15
#2 Repealing the 22nd Amendment
Proposing an amendment to the US Constitution to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.
151 Support | 12,984 Oppose
- S 649
#1 Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act
To ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale.
304 Support | 14,110 Oppose
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
