Tom Cotton

• YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passage · H.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · 2026-01-30 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
• YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day.
• YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · 2025-11-10 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it.
• NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · 2025-11-06 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage.
• NoResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · 2025-10-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect.
• YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · H.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · 2025-07-01 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
• NoWar Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · 2025-06-27 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage.
• Didn't voteGENIUS Act — Senate passage · S. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · 2025-06-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress.
• NoResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · 2025-04-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote.
• YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passage · H.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · 2025-03-14 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
• YesConfirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary · PN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · 2025-02-13 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination.
• YesConfirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney General · PN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · 2025-02-04 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines.
• YesConfirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · PN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · 2025-01-24 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination.
• YesLaken Riley Act — Senate passage · S. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · 2025-01-20 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

• actionCurrently chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and sits on the Committee on Armed Services (Subcommittees on Airland, Cybersecurity, Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and Strategic Forces), the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Joint Economic Committee.[2]

• ✓SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[6][7][8]

• ✓SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30). Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30).[9][10]

• ✕OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[7][8]

• ✕OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8]

• ✕OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8]

• Born in Dardanelle, Arkansas in 1977; graduated from Dardanelle High School.[2]
• Earned a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University in 1998 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2002.[2]
• Served in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2009; also worked as a law clerk, lawyer, management consultant, and farmer.[2]
• Served in the U.S. House of Representatives (Arkansas's 4th District) from 2013 to 2015 before his election to the Senate in 2014.[2]

Raised $6.2M · spent $3.8M · $9.9M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗