Most cosponsored House and Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 10 October 2015

Woohoo! Back up and running! After several months with jacked up data base queries, broken Java code, crazy children (including a five-year old Lisa Simpson), the start of the Postseason, and a real job, I have finally found the time to get my cosponsor tracking back up and running – only half way through the 114th Congress – c’est la vie.

The last few weeks have been crazy on the Hill: Speaker resigning; Speaker-to-be withdrawing; Speaker-wanna-bes talking big game; Speakers-that-could-be not in the hunt.

It’s like the last two minutes of Bridge on the River Kwai:

Alec Guinness spots the primer cord and rats out the Allied commandos; Lt. Joyce stabs Col. Saito; the Japanese shoot Joyce; The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
William Holden rushes in only to be gunned down; The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
Jack Hawkins fires a mortar; The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
and mortally wounds Guinness who exclaims, “What have I done?” The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
Guinness falls on the detonator; the bridge blows; the train drops into the river. The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
James Donald utters the final words: “Madness! Madness!”

Yeah, it’s a little like that.[1]

The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures 1957
Images from The Bridge on the River Kwai; Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1957

Madness! Madness! Despite the madness there are some aggressive cosponsor getters out there a little less than half way through the 114th (the bill I get paid to work among them). Clearly there are at least a couple things that most members can agree on. In addition to trying to keep a running total I will also try on some new visualizations in the coming days. Here is the list for the House Top 25 as of October 10, 2015 [Click here to jump to the Senate list]:

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 HR 431 Total: 303
115 R 188 D
Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody S… Became Law
2 HR 699 Total: 300
190 R 110 D
Kevin Yoder (R-KS) Email Privacy Act Introduced
3 HR 893 Total: 296
175 R 121 D
Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act Became Law
4 HR 2722 Total: 283
118 R 165 D
Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act Introduced
5 HR 160 Total: 282
241 R 41 D
Erik Paulsen (R-MN) Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 Passed House
6 HR 969 Total: 271
121 R 150 D
Christopher P. Gibson (R-NY) Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015 Introduced
7 HR 721 Total: 243
147 R 96 D
Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015 Introduced
8 HR 1559 Total: 240
82 R 158 D
Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act of 2015 Introduced
9 HR 928 Total: 235
228 R 7 D
Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) To repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the Patient Protect… Introduced
9 HR 1190 Total: 235
215 R 20 D
David P. Roe (R-TN) Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015 Passed House
9 HR 1624 Total: 235
188 R 47 D
Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act Introduced
12 HR 6 Total: 230
109 R 121 D
Fred Upton (R-MI) 21st Century Cures Act Introduced
13 HR 1610 Total: 223
172 R 51 D
Reid J. Ribble (R-WI) Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act of 2015 Introduced
14 HRES 12 Total: 221
48 R 173 D
Sam Graves (R-MO) Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Se… Introduced
15 HRES 367 Total: 220
220 R 0 D
Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in disapproval of the Joint Comp… Introduced
16 HR 592 Total: 218
122 R 96 D
Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act Introduced
17 HR 985 Total: 216
119 R 97 D
Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 Introduced
18 HCONRES 17 Total: 213
167 R 46 D
K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. Introduced
19 HR 1475 Total: 205
128 R 77 D
Sam Johnson (R-TX) Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act of 2015 Introduced
20 HRES 233 Total: 202
93 R 109 D
Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI) Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran should immediately rel… Passed House
20 HR 842 Total: 202
77 R 125 D
Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Huntington’s Disease Parity Act of 2015 Introduced
22 HR 1619 Total: 193
1 R 192 D
Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) Paycheck Fairness Act Introduced
23 HR 861 Total: 192
0 R 192 D
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 Introduced
24 HR 235 Total: 191
132 R 59 D
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act Passed House
25 HR 1031 Total: 190
0 R 190 D
Maxine Waters (D-CA) Promoting U.S. Jobs Through Exports Act of 2015

The Senate Top 25 as of October 10, 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 SRES 19 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Edward W. Brooke, III, former United States Sen… Passed Senate
1 SRES 38 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Wendell H. Ford, former United States Senator f… Passed Senate
1 SRES 82 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States S… Passed Senate
1 SRES 191 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) A resolution relative to the death of Joseph Robinette Biden, III. Passed Senate
1 SRES 212 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
Tim Scott (R-SC) A resolution condemning the attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in C… Passed Senate
1 SRES 227 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
Bob Corker (R-TN) A resolution condemning the attacks of July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, hono… Passed Senate
1 SRES 231 Total: 99
52 R 45 D
2 I
David Vitter (R-LA) A resolution honoring the memory and legacy of the two Louisiana citizens who lost th… Passed Senate
1 SRES 250 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA) A resolution relative to the death of Richard Schultz Schweiker, former United States… Passed Senate
1 SRES 259 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) A resolution honoring the bravery and heroism of those who selflessly prevented a dea… Passed Senate
10 S 527 Total: 74
33 R 40 D
1 I
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in B… Passed Senate
11 S 301 Total: 73
37 R 35 D
1 I
Deb Fischer (R-NE) Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act Passed Senate
12 S 571 Total: 66
46 R 19 D
1 I
James M. Inhofe (R-OK) Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 Introduced
12 S 615 Total: 66
45 R 20 D
1 I
Bob Corker (R-TN) Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 Introduced
14 SRES 87 Total: 61
26 R 34 D
1 I
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) A resolution to express the sense of the Senate regarding the rise of anti-Semitism i… Passed Senate
15 S 1 Total: 59
52 R 7 D
0 I
John Hoeven (R-ND) Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act Failed to pass over veto
16 S 697 Total: 57
35 R 22 D
0 I
Tom Udall (D-NM) Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act Introduced
17 SJRES 6 Total: 53
52 R 1 D
0 I
Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States re… Introduced
17 S 928 Total: 53
9 R 42 D
2 I
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act Introduced
19 S 167 Total: 52
20 R 30 D
2 I
John McCain (R-AZ) Clay Hunt SAV Act Introduced
19 S 269 Total: 52
44 R 8 D
0 I
Mark Kirk (R-IL) Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015 Introduced
21 SJRES 8 Total: 51
50 R 1 D
0 I
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5… Vetoed by President
21 S 336 Total: 51
50 R 1 D
0 I
Ted Cruz (R-TX) ObamaCare Repeal Act Introduced
23 SRES 76 Total: 50
49 R 1 D
0 I
John Cornyn (R-TX) A resolution welcoming the Prime Minister of Israel to the United States for his addr… Passed Senate
23 S 423 Total: 50
36 R 13 D
1 I
Jerry Moran (R-KS) Privacy Notice Modernization Act of 2015 Introduced
23 S 431 Total: 50
39 R 11 D
0 I
John Thune (R-SD) Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act Introduced
26 SJRES 22 Total: 49
48 R 1 D
0 I
Joni Ernst (R-IA) A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5… Introduced

[1] Shockingly all of the clips on YouTube cut out the repetition of the phrase “Madness!” It’s the definitive non-whistling line of the movie. It’s like clipping Cleopatra and leaving out Roddy McDowell’s Oscar-winning monologue (jump to 5:00 in the linked clip). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bjBIJjglq8

Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 20 March 2015


The top 25 leader board in the House this week remained relatively stable with only one new bill re-joining the list: H.R. 986, Rep. Richard Hudson’s (R-NC) Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, with 113 Republican and 1 Democratic cosponsors. This bill had previously been on the list, dropped off, and H.R. 986 rejoins the list at #25, displacing the previous #25, Rep. Bradley Byrne’s H.R. 596 a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Continue reading Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 20 March 2015

Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 20 March 2015

Two one new bill makes the top 25 this week in the Senate: S. 301, Sen. Fischer’s (R-NE) Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act enters the list at #5 with 66 cosponsors. This knocks Sen. Cornyn’s (R-TX) S. 141, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015 off the list. Continue reading Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 20 March 2015

Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 14 March 2015

This week the House came in to pro forma session on March 10 and again on March 13. Staff for lead sponsors who are quick on the draw can add cosponsors to a bill even though very few, if any, Representatives are in town. On March 10 the House was in pro forma session for 2 minutes and 13 seconds. Eleven bills with 62 original cosponsors were introduced, and a total of 156 cosponsors were added to 44 different bills. On March 13 the House was in pro forma session for 5 minutes and 55 seconds. Thirteen bills with 44 original cosponsors were introduced, and a total of 158 cosponsors were added to 47 different bills.

So, why pro forma? Art. I, sec. 5, cl. 4 of the Constitution requires that, “Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.” The House was on a district work period this week with most Representatives working outside of Washington, while the Senate remained in session. This triggered the Constitutional requirement for a pro forma session of the House on Tuesday the 10th and again on Friday the 13th.

Continue reading Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 14 March 2015

Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 14 March 2015

No new Senate bills joined or dropped out of the top 25 in the past week.

Continue reading Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 14 March 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 SRES 19 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Edward W. Brooke, III, former United States Sen… Passed Senate
1 SRES 38 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Wendell H. Ford, former United States Senator f… Passed Senate
1 SRES 82 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States S… Passed Senate
4 S 527 Total: 74
34 R 39 D
1 I
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in B… Passed Senate
5 S 1 Total: 59
53 R 6 D
0 I
John Hoeven (R-ND) Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act Failed to pass over veto

Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 5 March 2015

There were no changes to the overall composition of the Senate leader board over the past week. In the House leader summary I noted that eight of the top 25 House bills are sponsored by Democrats. In the Senate, six of the top 25 are sponsored by Democrats. Only one of those bills, Sen. Menendez’s (D-NJ) S.Res. 87 (114th Cong.) had any Republican cosponsors.

The other five Democratic authored bills have zero Republican cosponsors between them (all five are cosponsored by both Independent Senators). Of course, this is replicated on the other side of the aisle with nine Republican authored bills in the top 25 also lacking any Democratic cosponsors (neither Independent cosponsored either). This is not surprising at this early stage of the Congress, and the top 25 is unlikely to maintain these partisan splits as the Congress progresses.

Continue reading Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 5 March 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 SRES 19 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Edward W. Brooke, III, former United States Sen… Passed Senate
1 SRES 38 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Wendell H. Ford, former United States Senator f… Passed Senate
1 SRES 82 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States S… Passed Senate
4 S 527 Total: 74
34 R 39 D
1 I
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in B… Passed Senate
5 S 1 Total: 59
53 R 6 D
0 I
John Hoeven (R-ND) Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act Failed to pass over veto

Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 5 March 2015

Three new contenders joined the House cosponsorship leader board this week: HR 1190, HR 1260 and HR 1286. These bills displaced HR 317 (previously #23), HR 986 (prev. #24), and HRes 117 (prev. #25) from the top 25.

Interestingly, three of the top five are sponsored by Democrats: HR 431 (#1), HR 861 (#4), and HR 1031 (#5). Five additional Democratic bills, for a total of 8 Democratic sponsored bills are in the top 25. At the end of the 113th Congress only four Democratic sponsored bills remained in the top 5. The most cosponsored of those bills was Rep. Sewell’s (D-AL) HR 360 (113th Cong.; #14T). As noted, Rep. Sewell’s HR 1031 (114th Cong.) is currently at #5.

Continue reading Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 5 March 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 HR 431 Total: 303
115 R 188 D
0 I
Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody S… To President
2 HR 160 Total: 275
240 R 35 D
0 I
Erik Paulsen (R-MN) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical device… Introduced
3 HR 699 Total: 248
157 R 91 D
0 I
Kevin Yoder (R-KS) To amend title 18, United States Code, to update the privacy protections for electron… Introduced
4 HR 1190 Total: 206
188 R 18 D
0 I
David P. Roe (R-TN) To repeal the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act providing … Introduced
5 HR 861 Total: 192
0 R 192 D
0 I
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 Introduced

Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 1 March 2015

Continue reading Most cosponsored House bills in 114th Congress as of 1 March 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 HR 431 Total: 303
115 R 188 D
0 I
Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody S… Passed House
2 HR 160 Total: 275
240 R 35 D
0 I
Erik Paulsen (R-MN) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical device… Introduced
3 HR 699 Total: 246
156 R 90 D
0 I
Kevin Yoder (R-KS) To amend title 18, United States Code, to update the privacy protections for electron… Introduced
4 HR 861 Total: 192
0 R 192 D
0 I
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 Introduced
5 HR 1031 Total: 185
0 R 185 D
0 I
Maxine Waters (D-CA) To reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and for other purposes. Introduced

Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 1 March 2015

Continue reading Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 1 March 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 SRES 19 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Edward W. Brooke, III, former United States Sen… Passed Senate
1 SRES 38 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Wendell H. Ford, former United States Senator f… Passed Senate
1 SRES 82 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States S… Passed Senate
4 S 527 Total: 74
34 R 39 D
1 I
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in B… Passed Senate
5 S 1 Total: 59
53 R 6 D
0 I
John Hoeven (R-ND) Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act Vetoed by President

Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 13 Feb 2015

Note added 2015_03_01: While updating the Senate cosponsorship leader board through the end of February, it became apparent to me that an error on congress.gov was replicated in my data for S.J.Res. 8, . . . providing for congressional disapproval . . . of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures. It appears that congress.gov entered each original cosponsor twice, and each subsequent cosponsor once. This made it appear as though the bill had 95 cosponsors, all of the Republican, which clearly cannot be, and I should have caught that. The error was flagged to LOC by web comment form on 2015_03_01. It is corrected for purposes of http://218and51.com on the cosponsor leader board posted on March 1, but is not corrected below. — Adam

Continue reading Most cosponsored Senate bills in 114th Congress as of 13 Feb 2015

Rank Bill Cosponsors Author Title Status
1 SRES 19 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Edward W. Brooke, III, former United States Sen… Passed Senate
1 SRES 38 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution relative to the death of Wendell H. Ford, former United States Senator f… Passed Senate
1 SRES 82 Total: 99
53 R 44 D
2 I
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) A resolution commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States S… Passed Senate
4 SJRES 8 Total: 94
94 R 0 D
0 I
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5… Introduced