The 113th Congress adjourned for the final time in mid-December 2014. Here's a look at the bills that got the most action on POPVOX. The numbers represent input from verified constituents that was sent (with personal comments from constituents) to Congress through the POPVOX system.

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Firearms and Gun Control Legislation

Legislation related to gun control and Second Amendment rights dominated the list of the top bills of the 113th Congress. Not surprising, since lawmakers started off the two-year term proposing policies in reaction to the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting tragedy.

On January 16, 2013, President Obama put forward a specific plan "to protect our children and communities by reducing gun violence," which combined executive actions and calls for legislative action that would "help keep guns out of the wrong hands, ban assault and high-capacity magazines, make our schools safer, and increase access to mental health services." Thousands weighed in using POPVOX — and more than 30 of the top 50 bills are related to gun control and Second Amendment rights.

Waiting for Re-introduction

The majority of the bills on this list — and the same can be said for most of the 10,000 bills and resolutions introduced in this Congress — did not pass or even come up for a vote. (See: What Happens to Bills when Congress Adjourns.) Many will be re-introduced in the 114th Congress when it convenes in January 2015. Stay tuned and share your voice with POPVOX!

Top 50 of the 113th Congress

• #50 Firearm Safety and Public Health Research Act (HR 321)

  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). 

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/18/2013.

• #49 Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Act (HR 2910)

  To protect American children and their families from the epidemic of gun violence by banning access to certain weapons, strengthening the Nation's mental health infrastructure, and improving the understanding of gun violence.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 9/13/2013.

• #48 Defund Obamacare Act (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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 4/23/2013.

• #47 Prohibiting Junk Guns (HR 965)

  Would prohibit the possession or transfer of junk guns, also known as Saturday Night Specials.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 4/08/2013.

• #46 Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs (HR 890)

  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). 

  Action in the 113th Congress: Passed in the House on 3/13/2013.

• #45 Support Assault Firearms Elimination (HR 226)

  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for surrendering to authorities certain assault weapons.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/14/2013.

• #44 Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act (S 604) — Re-introduced as S 117 on 1/7/2015. —

  “Reaffirms the United States’ commitment to Israel by recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” according to the bill sponsor.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 3/19/2013. 

• #43 Responsible Body Armor Possession Act (HR 5344)

  According to the bill sponsor, it "allows law enforcement to respond to active shooters more effectively." The bill prohibits the sale, purchase, use, or possession of enhanced military-grade body armor by anyone who is not a member of law enforcement, active duty military, or other authorized users.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 9/26/2014.

• #42 Gun Transparency and Accountability Act (Gun TRAC Act) (HR 431)

  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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #41 Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act (HR 104) — Re-introduced as HR 114 on 1/6/2015. —

  — Bipartisan — “Would require that the United States Embassy in Israel move from its current location in Tel Aviv to Israel’s legal capital, Jerusalem,” according to the bill sponsor.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/25/2013.

• #40 Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act (HR 793)

  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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 4/08/2013.

• #39 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA Reauthorization) (S 47)

  — Bipartisan — 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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Enacted into law after being signed by the President on 3/7/2013.

• #38 Safeguard American Food Exports Act (HR 1049)

  Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale or transport of equines (horses and other members of the equidae family) or their parts (including flesh, meat, and viscera), or the importing or exporting of equines or their parts into or out of the United States, by any person who knows or should have known that such equines are to be slaughtered for human consumption as food.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 4/10/2013.

• #37 National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (HR 2959)

  — Bipartisan — 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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 9/13/2013.

• #36 Fix Gun Checks Act (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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #35 Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (S 356)

  To require an abortion provider who knowingly performs an abortion of a pain-capable unborn child (defined as an unborn child who has reached a probable stage of development of 20 weeks or more after fertilization), to first: (1) inform the woman of the probable age of the child, (2) provide to the woman an Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure (unless she waives receipt), (3) provide information that pain medicine administered to the mother may not prevent pain in the child, but in some cases anesthesia or pain-reducing drugs can be administered directly to the child, (4) give the woman the provider's best medical judgment of the risks and costs of such anesthesia or analgesic, and (5) obtain the woman's signature on the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Decision Form and her explicit request for or refusal of the administration of drugs to the child.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/14/2013.

• #34 Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act (HR 65)

  Raising the age of legal handgun ownership to 21.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #33 Disability Benefit Fairness Act (HR 160)

  According to the bill sponsor, “there are two major aspects of this bill. The first component of the disability claims process that needs immediate attention is the first level of appeal – reconsideration.  This step is redundant – once a claimant files for reconsideration, the file is then sent back to the Disability Determination Services, which is the very same agency that denied the initial claim. Second, the bill eliminates the unfair and unnecessary five-month waiting period.  A claimant cannot begin to receive benefits until the sixth month following the onset of the disabling condition.” 

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/15/2013.

• #32 Protecting Responsible Gun Sellers Act (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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 3/12/2013.

• #31 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (HR 217) — Re-introduced as HR 217 on 1/8/2015. —

  — Bipartisan — “Would stop Title X federal grants from going to abortion providers. Planned Parenthood is both the largest abortion provider in America and the largest recipient of Title X dollars,” according to the bill sponsor.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/04/2013.

• #30 Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act (HR 252)

  States that it is US policy: (1) to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and (2) that the US Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem not later than January 1, 2015.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/25/2013.

• #29 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (HR 61)

  — Bipartisan — 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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/14/2013.

• #28 Cancel the Sequester Act (HR 900)

  A one-sentence bill that would cancel the sequester, or across-the-board federal spending cuts that were implemented in 2013.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 3/06/2013.

• #27 Gun Show Loophole Closing Act (HR 141)

  To require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at gun shows.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #26 Second Amendment Protection Act (HR 575)

  Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should not adopt any treaty that poses a threat to national sovereignty or abridges the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, such as the right to bear arms, and should cease the provision of financial support to any entity that does so.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/06/2013.

• #25 PLEA Act (HR 538)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #24 Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act (HR 34)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #23 Constitutional amendment removing Presidential term limits (HJRes 15)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #22 NRA Members’ Gun Safety Act (HR 21)

  To provide for greater safety in the use of firearms.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #21 Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (S 815)

  — Bipartisan — To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

  Action in the 113th Congress: Passed by the Senate on 11/07/2013. 

• #20 Assault Weapons Ban (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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #19 Sandy Hook Elementary School Violence Reduction Act (S 2)

  To reduce violence and protect the citizens of the United States.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/22/2013.

• #18 Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (HR 142)

  To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #17 Citizens Protection Act (HR 133) — Re-introduced as HR 86 on 1/6/2015. —

  To repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and amendments to that Act.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #16 Marketplace Fairness Act (S 336)

  — Bipartisan — 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).

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/14/2013.

• #15 Ammunition Background Check Act (S 174)

  To appropriately restrict sales of ammunition.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/12/2013.

• #14 Handgun Licensing and Registration Act (HR 117)

  To provide for the mandatory licensing and registration of handguns.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #13 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists (S 34)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/22/2013.

• #12 Minimum Standards for Carrying of Concealed Firearms (S 147)

  To establish minimum standards for States that allow the carrying of concealed firearms.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/24/2013.

• #11 Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (HR 138)

  To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/25/2013.

• #10 Gun Show Background Check Act (S 22)

  Provides that if any part of a firearm transaction takes place at a gun show, each licensed importer, manufacturer, and dealer who transfers one or more firearms to a person who is not licensed shall, within 10 days after the transfer, submit a report of the transfer to the Attorney General.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/22/2013.

• #9 Separation of Powers and Second Amendment Protection Act (S 82)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/28/2013.

• #8 Restore the Constitution Act (HR 410)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #7 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (HR 499)

  — Bipartisan — 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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 2/28/2013.

• #6 Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (S 35)

  To require face to face purchases of ammunition, to require licensing of ammunition dealers, and to require reporting regarding bulk purchases of ammunition.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/22/2013.

• #5 Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (S 33)

  To prohibit: (1) the transfer or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, except for such a device lawfully possessed within the United States on or before the date of this Act's enactment; and (2) the importation or bringing into the United States of such a device.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 1/22/2013.

• #4 Defund Obamacare Act (HR 2682)

  — Bipartisan — To prohibit the funding of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 7/23/2013.

• #3 Assault Weapons Ban (S 150)

  To regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Introduced on 3/14/2013.

• #2 Comprehensive Immigration Reform (S 744)

  — Bipartisan — To provide for comprehensive immigration reform.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Passed by the Senate on 6/27/2013.

• #1 Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act (S 649)

  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.

  Action in the 113th Congress: Considered by the Senate on 4/18/2013, but did not pass.

— Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of a complex legislative system. — 

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