William L. Owens

Former representative for New York's 21st district · Democrat; served until January 3, 2015

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Seats held: Representative for NY-21, 2013–2015 · Representative for NY-23, 2009–2013.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 10 of 15 surveyed votes where the district's estimated majority was clear.

Each survey is shown on its own, never combined. Votes marked related were on a bill close to what was asked, and aren't counted. How the estimates work.

Survey question	Vote	How they voted	What constituents said	Compared
Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution) CES 2014	April 10, 2014 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most oppose (21.3% support, likely 14.4–28.2%)	Related bill, not counted
Raise the debt ceiling CES 2014	February 11, 2014 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (38.6% support, likely 31.1–46.1%)	Against the majority
Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) CES 2014	January 29, 2014 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (69% support, likely 61.8–76.2%)	With the majority
Student Success Act (return control of K-12 school standards to states) CES 2013	July 19, 2013 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (55.2% support, likely 45.3–65.1%)	Too close to call
Ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy (Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act) CES 2013	June 18, 2013 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (63% support, likely 53.1–72.8%)	Against the majority
Repeal the Affordable Care Act CES 2013	May 16, 2013 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (61% support, likely 51–71.1%)	Against the majority
Renew the Violence Against Women Act CES 2013	February 28, 2013 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (88.8% support, likely 80.4–97.2%)	With the majority
Renew the Violence Against Women Act CES 2015	February 28, 2013 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (93.3% support, likely 85.7–100%)	With the majority
Tax Hike Prevention Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for all incomes) CES 2012	August 1, 2012 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (20.5% support, likely 13.5–27.5%)	Against the majority
Repeal the Affordable Care Act CES 2012	July 11, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most oppose (38.3% support, likely 30.5–46%)	With the majority
Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) CES 2012	March 29, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most oppose (15.9% support, likely 9.4–22.4%)	With the majority
Simpson-Bowles budget plan CES 2012	March 28, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (49.4% support, likely 41.7–57.2%)	Too close to call
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement CES 2012	October 12, 2011 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (49.6% support, likely 41.8–57.4%)	Too close to call
End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) CES 2011	December 15, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (63.4% support, likely 53.8–73%)	With the majority
End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) CES 2012	December 15, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (80.1% support, likely 73.2–87%)	With the majority
Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) CES 2010	June 30, 2010 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (76.1% support, likely 68.5–83.7%)	Against the majority
Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) CES 2010	May 27, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (67.9% support, likely 59.9–75.9%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2011	March 21, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (49.4% support, likely 39.6–59.2%)	Too close to call
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	March 21, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (65.4% support, likely 56.6–74.2%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	March 21, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (62.6% support, likely 53.2–72%)	With the majority
Health care reform (House bill, November 2009) CES 2009	November 7, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (60.1% support, likely 49.7–70.5%)	Too close to call

Attendance

In the 113th Congress, William L. Owens missed 19 of 1,204 House votes (1.6%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 77.5% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
H.R. 5699: John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · Passed	December 11, 2014	Yea
H.R. 83: An Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to energy On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment · Passed	December 11, 2014	Yea
H.R. 5806: Supporting America’s Charities Act On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Failed	December 11, 2014	Yea
H.Res. 776: Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 83, to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to energy On Agreeing to the Resolution · Passed	December 11, 2014	Nay
H.R. 1204: To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment · Passed	December 10, 2014	Yea
H.R. 2719: To require the Transportation Security Administration to implement best practices and improve transparency with regard to technology acquisition programs, and for other purposes On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment · Passed	December 10, 2014	Yea
H.R. 4681: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment · Passed	December 10, 2014	Yea
S. 2244: To extend the termination date of the Terrorism Insurance Program established under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, and for other purposes On Passage · Passed	December 10, 2014	Yea
On Approving the Journal On Approving the Journal · Passed	December 10, 2014	Present
S. 1000: Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed	December 10, 2014	Yea
H.Res. 775: Providing for consideration of S. 2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014; and for other purposes On Agreeing to the Resolution · Passed	December 10, 2014	Nay
H.R. 5781: California Emergency Drought Relief Act 2014 On Passage · Passed	December 9, 2014	Nay
H.R. 5781: California Emergency Drought Relief Act 2014 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions · Failed	December 9, 2014	Yea
H.R. 3979: Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act of 2014 On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment · Passed	December 4, 2014	Yea
H.R. 5759: To establish a rule of construction clarifying the limitations on executive authority to provide certain forms of immigration relief On Passage · Passed	December 4, 2014	Nay

Every vote, with filters, on the interactive page.

Figures as of November 10, 2026, from the official vote records and published survey data listed on the Sources page. The interactive page always shows the latest. Found an error? Tell us.