Causes of death
A bill has to clear committee, both chambers, and the President. Each entry in the register is filed under the step where it stopped moving.
Died in committee
The bill was referred to committee and the chair never scheduled a markup. No member of Congress had to vote on it. This is how most bills die, and it leaves no fingerprints.
- Billionaires Income Tax ActS. 3367, 118th Congress
- Billionaire Minimum Income Tax ActH.R. 6498, 118th Congress
- Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2023S. 2892, 118th Congress
- Social Security 2100 ActH.R. 4583, 118th Congress
- Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023S. 1568, 118th Congress
- Child Care for Working Families ActS. 1354, 118th Congress
Never reached the floor
The committee approved it and sent it to the full chamber. Leadership never scheduled a floor vote, and it expired when the Congress ended.
- American Data Privacy and Protection ActH.R. 8152, 117th Congress
Passed one chamber
One chamber passed it. The other chamber’s leadership never brought it to the floor, and it expired when the Congress ended.
- Lower Costs, More Transparency ActH.R. 5378, 118th Congress
- Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale ActH.R. 4639, 118th Congress
- Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) ActH.R. 3617, 117th Congress
- SAFE Banking Act of 2021H.R. 1996, 117th Congress
- Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021H.R. 1603, 117th Congress
- American Dream and Promise Act of 2021H.R. 6, 117th Congress
- Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) ActH.R. 842, 117th Congress
- Raise the Wage ActH.R. 582, 116th Congress
- Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2013H.R. 1944, 113th Congress
Filibustered
It had a majority in the Senate but fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate (cloture), so it never got a final vote.
- Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024H.R. 7024, 118th Congress
Stripped out
The policy rode inside a larger bill and was removed before final passage, often on a procedural vote rather than a vote on the policy itself.
- Affordable Insulin Now ActH.R. 6833, 117th Congress
Vetoed
Both chambers passed it. The President vetoed it and Congress could not reach the two-thirds needed to override.
- Iran War Powers ResolutionS.J.Res. 68, 116th Congress
- Yemen War Powers ResolutionS.J.Res. 7, 116th Congress
Voted down
It reached the floor and lost an up-or-down vote.
No bills in the register under this cause yet.
On life support
Introduced in the current Congress and sitting in committee with no markup scheduled. It becomes a grave when this Congress adjourns unless something moves it first.
- SAFE Bet Act of 2025H.R. 2087, 119th Congress