Welfare Programs
1958 -- Boost Social Security benefits by 10 percent rather than 7 percent. Rejected 32-53 (D 26-20; R 6-33) Aug. 16. Kennedy FOR.
1956 -- Make Social Security benefits available to women at age 62, instead of age 65. Agreed to 86-7 (D 46-2; R 40-5) July 17. Kennedy FOR.
1950 -- Extension of social security coverage to 10 million additional persons and increasing benefits. Agreed to 374-1 (D 234-0; R 139-1) Aug. 16. Kennedy FOR.
1948 -- Passage over President's veto of bill canceling Treasury regulations which extended social security coverage to 625,000 persons. Passed 298-75 (D 89-69; R 209-4) June 14. Kennedy FOR.
Domestic Aid Programs
1959 -- Depressed Areas bill, authorizing $389.5 million federal loans and grants to aid areas of chronic unemployment. Passed 49-46 (D 45-16; R 4-30) March 23. Kennedy FOR.
1959 -- Increase federal grants for sewage plant construction from $50 million to $80 million. Passed 61-27 (D 48-8; R 13-9) Sept. 9. Kennedy FOR.
1958 -- Cut Community Facilities Act authorization from $1 billion to $500 million. Rejected 33-52 (D 2-42; R 31-10) April 16. Kennedy AGAINST.
Aid to Education
1960 -- S 8 authorizing appropriations for two years of $20 per child of school age -- about $917 million a year. Passed 51-34 (D 42-12; R 9-22) Feb. 4, 1960. Kennedy FOR.
1959 -- Create a 150,000-member Youth Conservation Corps to combat delinquency, aid conservation. Passed 47-45 (D 45-15; R 2-30) Aug. 13. Kennedy FOR.
1959 -- Provide educational loans and grants for 1955-1963 military veterans. Agreed to 49-39 (D 49-10; R 0-29) July 21. Kennedy FOR.
1958 -- Authorize annual grants of $1 billion for two years for public school construction. Rejected 30-61 (D 23-24; R 7-37) Aug. 13. Kennedy FOR
1958 -- National Defense Education Act. Passed 62-26 (D 35-10; R 27-16) Aug. 13. Kennedy FOR.
1953 -- Provide that revenue from U.S. leasing of outer continental shelf be used for educational grants unless needed for a national defense emergency. Agreed to 45-37 (D 34-7; R 11-30) June 24. Kennedy FOR.
1950 -- Kill public library service demonstration act providing $163 million in aid to states for promotion of library services. Rejected 162-176 (D 41-157; R 121-18) March 9. Kennedy FOR.
1950-- Establish a National Science Foundation to promote basic research and scientific education. Agreed to 247-126 (D 191-32; R 56-94) March 1. Kennedy FOR.
Housing
1959 -- Boost urban renewal funds to $450 million a year for four years. Rejected 33-56 (D 32-26; R 1-30) Feb. 5. Kennedy FOR.
1959 -- Passage of first housing bill over veto (two-thirds majority needed). Failed to pass 55-40 (D 53-10; R 2-30) Aug. 13. Kennedy FOR.
1959 -- Passage of second housing bill over veto (two-thirds majority needed). Failed to pass 58-36 (D 52-9; R 6-27) Sept. 4. Kennedy FOR.
1957 -- Authorize construction of additional 200,000 low-cost public housing units per year. Rejected 20-54 (D 17-22; R 3-32) May 29. Kennedy FOR.
1954 -- Put a maximum of 35,000 on annual new starts in low rent public housing. Agreed to 66-16 (D 28-13; R 38-2) June 3. Kennedy AGAINST.
1949 -- Five-year housing program. Passed 227-186 (D 192-55; R 34-131) June 29. Kennedy FOR.
1948 -- Kennedy SIGNED discharge petition to bring companion bill to Taft-Ellender-Wagner housing bill to the floor of the House for a vote.
Public Works -- Atomic Energy
1959 -- Kill the Tennessee Valley Authority self-financing bill. Rejected 17-73 (D 2-56; R 15-17) July 9. Kennedy AGAINST.
1959 -- Cut public works appropriation about $80 million to figure recommended by President. Rejected 17-72 (D 5-52; R 12-20) July 9. Kennedy AGAINST.
1957 -- Authorize federal construction of Hells Canyon dam. Passed 45-38 (D 40-5; R 5-33) June 21. Kennedy FOR.
1955 -- Colorado River Storage program. Passed 58-23 (D 31-15; R 27-8) April 20. Kennedy AGAINST.
1954 -- Authorize federal atomic power program; give preference to public bodies in excess power disposal. Agreed to 45-41 (D 38-6; R 6-35) July 22. Kennedy AGAINST.
1954 -- Authorize development of a St. Lawrence seaway. Passed 51-33 (D 25-18; R 25-15) Jan. 20. Kennedy FOR. 1954 -- Reduce by $3.7 million funds for maintenance and operation of navigation and flood control projects. Rejected 4-81 (D 2-38; R 2-43) May 25. Kennedy FOR.
1952 --Cut TVA funds. Agreed to 199-159 (D 44-142; R 154-17) March 21. Kennedy FOR.
1950 -- River, harbor, flood control program. Agreed to 210-137 (D 141-57; R 68-80) May 3. Kennedy AGAINST.
1948 -- TVA steam plant. Rejected 152-192 (D 134-5; R 16-187) May 11. Kennedy FOR.