![Photo of Sen. Alan “Al” Franken [D-MN]](/data/photos/412378-200px.jpeg)
Analysis
Legislative Metrics
Read our 2016 Report Card for Franken.
Sponsorship Analysis
Our unique analysis of the bills Franken has sponsored and cosponsored provides insight into his position in the Senate.
Each dot in the chart below is a member of the Senate. The dots are positioned horizontally according to our progressive—conservative ideology score and vertically according to our leadership score (leaders toward the top). Franken is shown as a purple triangle. (analysis methodology)
Committee Membership
Alan “Al” Franken sits on the following committees:
-
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families
-
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law
- Member, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
- Member, Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration
- Member, Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts
- Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution
-
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Member, Subcommittee on Energy
- Member, Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
- Member, Subcommittee on Water and Power
- Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Enacted Legislation
Franken was the primary sponsor of 4 bills that were enacted:
- S. 2512 (114th): Adding Zika Virus to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program Act
- S. 993 (114th): Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015
- S. 920 (113th): Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-Intercourse Act of 2013
- S. 1739 (112th): Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2011
We consider a bill enacted if one of the following is true: a) it is enacted itself, b) it has a companion bill in the other chamber (as identified by Congress) which was enacted, or c) if about one third or more of its provisions were incorporated into bills that were enacted (as determined by an automated text analysis, applicable beginning with bills in the 110th Congress).
Bills Sponsored
Issue Areas
Franken sponsors bills primarily in these issue areas:
Health (29%) Education (25%) Armed Forces and National Security (11%) Energy (10%) Labor and Employment (8%) Taxation (7%) Crime and Law Enforcement (4%) Law (4%)
Recent Bills
Some of Franken’s most recently sponsored bills include...
- S. 1370: Mental Health in Schools Act of 2017
- S. 1245: Advancing Career Pathways Innovation Act
- S. 1093: Pediatric Device Development Act
- S. 1000: Protecting America’s Workers Act
- S. 771: Improving Access To Affordable Prescription Drugs Act
- S. 706: Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017
- S. 667: Reserve Component Benefits Parity Act
Voting Record
Key Votes
| Franken’s Vote | Vote Description |
|---|---|
| Yea |
On the Nomination PN48: Linda E. McMahon, of Connecticut, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Feb 14, 2017. Nomination Confirmed 81/19.
|
| Nay |
H.R. 5325: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017
Sep 28, 2016. Bill Passed 72/26.
|
| Yea |
S. 764: Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015
Jul 7, 2016. Motion Agreed to 63/30.
This bill was the vehicle for passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which is the form it was enacted it. Prior to amendments, the bill regarded defunding Planned Parenthood and the National Sea Grant College Program. As enacted, the bill created national ... |
| Yea |
H.R. 22: Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act
Dec 3, 2015. Conference Report Agreed to 83/16.
H.R 22, formerly the Hire More Heroes Act, has become the Senate’s vehicle for passage of the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act or DRIVE Act (S. 1647). The DRIVE Act is a major bipartisan transportation bill that would authorize funding ... |
| Yea |
H.R. 22: Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act
Jul 30, 2015. Bill Passed 65/34.
This vote turned H.R 22, originally the Hire More Heroes Act, into the Senate’s vehicle for passage of the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act or DRIVE Act (S. 1647), a major bipartisan transportation bill, and the Export-Import Bank Reform and ... |
| Yea |
H.J.Res. 124 (113th): Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015
Sep 18, 2014. Joint Resolution Passed 78/22.
|
| Nay |
H.R. 4310 (112th): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
Dec 21, 2012. Conference Report Agreed to 81/14.
|
| Nay |
H.R. 1540 (112th): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
Dec 15, 2011. Conference Report Agreed to 86/13.
|
| Yea |
H.R. 4853 (111th): Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010
Dec 15, 2010. Motion Agreed to 81/19.
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Pub.L. 111–312, H.R. 4853, 124 Stat. 3296, enacted December 17, 2010), also known as the 2010 Tax Relief Act, was passed by the United States Congress on December 16, 2010, and signed into ... |
| Nay |
On the Nomination PN959: Ben S. Bernanke, of New Jersey, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four ...
Jan 28, 2010. Nomination Confirmed 70/30.
|
Missed Votes
From Jul 2009 to Jun 2017, Franken missed 19 of 2,278 roll call votes, which is 0.8%. This is better than the median of 1.4% among the lifetime records of senators currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time.
Primary Sources
The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including:
- Congress-Legislators, a community project collecting election information
- The House and Senate websites, for committee membership and voting records
- GPO Member Guide for the photo
- GPO.gov/FDSys, for sponsored bills