Maxine Waters

Overview

Maxine Waters is a long-serving Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California. Her voting record across 766 recorded votes shows a consistent pattern of supporting expanded government involvement in healthcare, consumer financial protections, and social programs, while opposing measures she views as reducing federal oversight or cutting spending on domestic priorities. Healthcare is one of her most active legislative areas, with 170 votes cast and a 61.2% rate of voting in favor of healthcare-related measures. She has generally supported legislation aimed at expanding access to coverage and preserving Medicaid protections. On budget matters, her 42% yea rate reflects frequent opposition to Republican-led spending proposals and continuing resolutions, including voting against the fiscal year 2027 budget resolution and related continuing appropriations. On defense and foreign policy, Waters has shown a willingness to support veterans' legislation while also advocating for congressional oversight of military operations abroad, as seen in her votes for War Powers Resolution measures regarding U.S. forces in Lebanon. In the areas of environment and energy, her low 31.4% yea rate suggests she frequently opposes bills in this category, which in the current Congress often involve measures to expand energy production or roll back environmental regulations. Waters is notably active on financial regulation issues, consistent with her long tenure on the House Financial Services Committee. Her voting patterns on banking and finance, combined with her support for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act, point to an emphasis on consumer protection and financial oversight.

Key Positions

• •Consistently supports healthcare access legislation, casting 170 votes in the healthcare category with a 61.2% yea rate, and voted in favor of motions related to the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.
• •Frequently opposes Republican-led budget proposals, voting against both the fiscal year 2027 budget resolution and a continuing appropriations measure in July 2026.
• •Supports congressional oversight of military deployments, voting yea on multiple War Powers Resolution measures to remove U.S. forces from Lebanon.
• •Backs veterans' services, voting yea on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act in July 2026.
• •Supports stronger financial fraud enforcement, voting yea on the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act in September 2026.
• •Opposes most immigration-related legislation brought to the floor, with only a 12.5% yea rate across 8 immigration votes, suggesting opposition to restrictive immigration measures.
• •Frequently votes against environment and energy bills in the current Congress, with a 31.4% yea rate, a pattern consistent with opposing measures that would reduce environmental regulations or expand fossil fuel production.
• •Supports labor-related legislation at a 66.7% rate, indicating alignment with worker protection and labor rights measures.