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Special Interest Groups

National Special Interest Groups

Project Vote Smart reports on performance evaluations from all special interest groups who provide them, regardless of issue or bias. If you know of a group that provides ratings not included here, please contact us at ratings@votesmart.org.

Descriptions of organizations are derived from the mission statement or description produced by each organization. Project Vote Smart does not evaluate or edit these descriptions.

State

Issue

Abortion Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2004 N/A Democrats for Life of America
2010 2011 NARAL Pro-Choice America
2010 N/A National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
2010 2011 National Right to Life Committee
2010 2012 Planned Parenthood
N/A 2010 Republican National Coalition for Life PAC
N/A 2010 Susan B. Anthony List
N/A 2010 Women's Campaign Forum

Agriculture Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Farm Bureau Federation
1994 N/A Competitive Enterprise Institute
2008 N/A National Association of Wheat Growers
2007 N/A National Council of Agricultural Employers
1992 N/A National Farmers Organization
2010 2010 National Farmers Union
2007 N/A United Fresh Produce Association
2008 N/A Vote Hemp

Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2004 N/A American Humane Association
2004 N/A American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
2004 N/A Animal Protection Institute
2010 N/A Big Cat Rescue
2010 2010 Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund
2004 N/A Doris Day Animal League
N/A 2008 Humane USA PAC
2006 N/A National Animal Interest Alliance Trust
2010 N/A Society for Animal Protective Legislation
2010 2008 Sportsmen and Animal Owner's Voting Alliance
2010 2012 The Humane Society Legislative Fund
2008 N/A The Humane Society of the United States

Arts and Humanities

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Americans for the Arts Action Fund

Budget, Spending and Taxes

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Americans for Fair Taxation
2007 N/A Americans for Tax Reform
2004 N/A American Shareholders Association
2009 N/A Citizens Against Government Waste
2006 N/A Citizens for Tax Justice
1994 N/A Competitive Enterprise Institute
2002 N/A Concord Coalition
2007 2011 FreedomWorks
N/A 2010 Independence Caucus
N/A 2011 National Defense PAC
2008 N/A National Tax Limitation Committee
2010 N/A National Taxpayers Union
2005 N/A Taxpayers for Common Sense
2010 N/A The Cato Institute

Business and Consumers

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A American Forest and Paper Association
2008 N/A Associated Builders & Contractors
2010 N/A Associated General Contractors of America
2006 2008 Business and Professional Women USA
2010 2010 Business-Industry Political Action Committee
2006 N/A Consumer Action
2007 N/A Consumer Alliance for Energy Security
2000 N/A Consumer Federation of America
2002 N/A Emergency Committee for American Trade
N/A 2011 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
2004 N/A Financial Executives International
2005 N/A International Sleep Products Association
2010 N/A International Warehouse Logistics Association
2005 N/A Maryland Business for Responsive Government
2006 N/A National Association of Government Contractors
2010 N/A National Association of Manufacturers
2006 N/A National Electrical Contractors Association
2008 2011 National Federation of Independent Business
2006 N/A National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
2008 N/A National Restaurant Association
2010 N/A National Retail Federation
2010 N/A National Small Business Association
2010 2008 National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
2008 N/A Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association
2006 N/A Public Citizen's Congress Watch
2010 N/A Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
2008 N/A The Alliance for Worker Freedom
2010 N/A The Cato Institute
2010 N/A The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
2004 N/A United States Business and Industry Council
2010 N/A United States Chamber of Commerce

Campaign Finance and Election Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2007 N/A League of Women Voters

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Civil Liberties Union
2010 N/A Arab American Institute
2008 N/A Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN)
1998 N/A Campaign for a Color Blind America
N/A 2010 DC Works For US
2000 2010 Home School Legal Defense Association
2010 2012 Human Rights Campaign
2006 N/A Iranian American Political Action Committee
2009 N/A Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots
2010 N/A Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
2004 N/A League of United Latin American Citizens
2007 N/A National Council of La Raza
1992 N/A National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
1999 N/A National Hispanic Leadership Agenda
N/A 2010 Republican Majority Campaign PAC
2010 N/A The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
2008 N/A The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans

Congressional and Legislative Affairs

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Grassroots Netroots Alliance

Conservative

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Conservative Union
2010 N/A Americans for Prosperity
2010 2010 Campaign for Working Families
N/A 2010 Can Do Conservatives
N/A 2010 Catholic Families for America
2003 N/A Center for Reclaiming America
2004 N/A Christian Action Network
2010 N/A Christian Coalition of America
1992 N/A Christian Voice
N/A 2010 Citizens United Political Victory Fund
N/A 2011 Combat Veterans for Congress
2010 N/A Concerned Women for America
N/A 2010 Conservative Congress
N/A 2010 DC Works For US
2010 2010 Eagle Forum
N/A 2010 GOProud
2008 N/A GOPUSA
N/A 2011 Huck PAC
N/A 2010 Iraq Veterans for Congress
2000 N/A Liberty Lobby
N/A 2010 LibertySlate
N/A 2010 Maggie's List PAC
N/A 2011 National Defense PAC
2010 N/A National Journal
N/A 2010 One Nation PAC
2009 2011 Republican Liberty Caucus
N/A 2010 Right March
2010 2010 The Club for Growth
2008 N/A The John Birch Society
2007 N/A Traditional Values Coalition

Crime Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2006 N/A Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants
2005 N/A National Criminal Justice Association

Drug Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Drug Policy Alliance Network
2008 N/A National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
2006 N/A National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Education

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2009 N/A American Library Association
2007 N/A Association For Supervision and Curriculum Development
2000 2010 Home School Legal Defense Association
2010 N/A National Association for College Admission Counseling
2007 N/A National Association of Elementary School Principals
2010 2010 National Education Association
2004 N/A National Parent Teacher Association
2004 N/A National School Boards Association
2010 N/A Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
1996 N/A United States Student Association

Employment and Affirmative Action

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2006 2008 Business and Professional Women USA
2007 N/A National Employment Lawyers Association
2009 N/A Women Employed

Energy Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Alliance to Stop the War on the Poor
2002 N/A American Coalition for Ethanol
2006 N/A Campaign for America's Future
2007 N/A Consumer Alliance for Energy Security
2010 2008 Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund

Environmental Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2006 N/A American Lands Alliance
2006 N/A American Wilderness Coalition
2006 N/A American Wind Energy Association
2002 N/A California Park & Recreation Society
2004 N/A Citizens for Health
N/A 2010 Clean Water Action
1994 N/A Competitive Enterprise Institute
2009 N/A Environment America
2010 2010 League of Conservation Voters
2007 N/A League of Private Property Voters
2004 N/A National Parks Conservation Association
N/A 2010 Ocean Champions
2006 N/A Partnership for America
2009 2010 Republicans for Environmental Protection
2003 2011 Sierra Club
2010 2008 Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund

Family and Children Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Family Association
2002 N/A American Family Voices
N/A 2010 Catholic Families for America
2007 N/A Children's Defense Fund
2000 2010 Home School Legal Defense Association
2003 N/A National Network for Youth
2008 N/A School Nutrition Association
2008 N/A The Arc
2009 N/A The Children's Health Fund
2009 N/A Vote Kids

Foreign Aid and Policy Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A ACT! for America
2002 N/A American Foreign Service Association
2004 N/A American Muslims for Jerusalem
2010 N/A American Security Council Foundation
2010 N/A Armenian National Committee of America
2004 N/A Center for International Policy
2006 N/A Church World Service
2010 2010 Citizens for Global Solutions
2008 N/A Council for a Livable World
2005 N/A Council on American-Islamic Relations
2009 N/A Friends Committee on National Legislation
N/A 2010 J Street
2009 N/A Latin America Working Group
2009 N/A NewPolicy.org
2008 N/A Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
2010 N/A Peace Action
2010 2011 Peace Action West
2005 N/A PeacePAC
2008 N/A Resolve Uganda
2007 N/A The Genocide Intervention Network
2008 N/A The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans
2010 N/A United States Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
2008 N/A Voices for Creative Nonviolence
2010 N/A Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA)

Gambling and Gaming

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A The Poker Players Alliance

Government Reform

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2009 N/A Citizens Against Government Waste
2001 N/A Common Cause
2006 N/A Freedom Democrats
2006 N/A Freedom Democrats
2008 N/A National Association of Counties
2006 N/A Public Citizen's Congress Watch
2004 N/A Radical Middle
2006 N/A State PIRGs Working Together
2006 N/A United States Public Interest Research Group

Gun Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2009 2010 Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
2003 N/A Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
2010 2010 Gun Owners of America
2010 2010 National Rifle Association
1998 N/A National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action

Health Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A AIDS Action Council
2009 N/A AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Advocacy Association
N/A N/A AIDS United
2007 N/A Alliance For Headache Disorders Advocacy
2006 N/A American Academy of Emergency Medicine
2007 N/A American Academy of Family Physicians
N/A N/A American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
2004 N/A American College of Emergency Physicians
2010 N/A American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
2010 N/A American Hospital Association
2001 N/A American Medical Association
2009 N/A American Nurses Association
2010 N/A American Public Health Association
2010 N/A American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
2009 N/A Association of University Centers on Disabilites
2004 N/A Citizens for Health
2004 N/A Citizens for Health - Whole Person Health Rating
2007 N/A Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
2003 N/A Global AIDS Alliance
2010 N/A National Breast Cancer Coalition
2006 N/A National Rural Health Association
2006 N/A Parkinsons Action Network
2006 N/A Protect Patients Now!
2010 N/A Saint Joseph Health System
1996 N/A Smokefree Action
2009 N/A The Children's Health Fund
2008 N/A The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Housing and Property Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2003 N/A Leading Age
1992 N/A National Housing Institute

Immigration

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Immigration Lawyers Association
2010 N/A Americans for Better Immigration
2005 N/A Americans for Immigration Control
N/A 2010 Americans for Legal Immigration
2008 N/A English First
2010 N/A Federation for American Immigration Reform
2006 N/A Iranian American Political Action Committee
2010 N/A National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute
2011 N/A NumbersUSA-2012 Presidential Hopefuls
N/A 2010 Team America
2008 N/A The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans
2006 N/A United States Border Control
2010 N/A United States English

Labor

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2002 N/A American Benefits Council
2010 N/A American Federation of Government Employees
2010 N/A American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
2010 N/A American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
2004 N/A American Postal Workers Union
2006 N/A American Road and Transportation Builders Association
2007 N/A Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Int
2010 2011 Communications Workers of America
2010 N/A Federally Employed Women
2000 N/A International Association of Fire Fighters
2010 N/A International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
2010 N/A International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
2006 N/A International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
2010 2009 International Brotherhood of Teamsters
2010 N/A International Foodservice Distributors Association
2010 N/A National Association for the Self-Employed
2006 N/A National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
1990 N/A National Federation of Federal Employees
2010 2010 Service Employees International Union
N/A 2011 Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ
2008 N/A The Alliance for Worker Freedom
2006 N/A Transportation Communications Union
2009 N/A United Auto Workers
2008 N/A United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers
2008 N/A United Food & Commercial Workers
2008 N/A Utility Workers Union of America
2009 N/A Women Employed
2004 N/A Workplace Fairness

Legal Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2002 N/A American Bar Association
2006 N/A Citizens for Tax Justice

Liberal

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2009 N/A Americans for Democratic Action
N/A 2010 Democracy For America
N/A 2012 Emily's List
2009 N/A Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots
N/A 2012 MoveOn.org Political Action
2005 N/A National Committee for an Effective Congress
2010 N/A National Journal
2002 N/A People for the American Way
2008 2010 Progressive Democrats of America

Military Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2009 N/A Fleet Reserve Association
2009 N/A Military Officers Association of America
2003 N/A Non Commissioned Officers Association
N/A 2010 Vets for Freedom PAC
2006 2010 Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and-WILL

National Security Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2010 N/A American Security Council Foundation
2008 N/A Center for Security Policy
2010 N/A Keep America Safe
N/A 2011 National Defense PAC
N/A 2010 Vets for Freedom PAC

Science and Medical Research

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2003 N/A American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
2003 N/A American Society of Anesthesiologists
2006 N/A Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
2006 N/A Parkinsons Action Network

Senior and Social Security Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
1998 2011 60 Plus Association
2009 2011 Alliance for Retired Americans
N/A N/A American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
2003 N/A Leading Age
2006 N/A National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
2002 2012 National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
2000 N/A National Council of Senior Citizens
2004 N/A Retire Safe
2008 N/A The American Geriatrics Society

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
N/A 2011 Gay & Lesbian Political Victory Fund
2010 2012 Human Rights Campaign
1992 N/A National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Social Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2002 N/A Californians for Population Stabilization
2008 N/A Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
2010 2011 Family Research Council
2005 N/A Hope for Peace and Justice
2010 N/A Liberty Central
2005 N/A Mennonite Central Committee
2010 2010 National Association of Social Workers
2010 N/A National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute
2001 N/A National Youth Advocacy Coalition
2010 N/A NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
2008 N/A Population Action International
2009 N/A Population Connection
2010 N/A Secular Coalition for America
2005 N/A The Population Institute

Technology and Communication

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2007 N/A AeA
2008 N/A CNET News
1994 N/A Competitive Enterprise Institute
2007 N/A Computer & Communications Industry Association
2008 N/A Information Technology Industry Council

Trade Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2007 N/A Associated Equipment Distributors
1994 N/A Competitive Enterprise Institute
2010 N/A International Foodservice Distributors Association
2008 N/A The Alliance for Worker Freedom
2010 N/A The Cato Institute
2010 N/A USA Engage

Transportation Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2006 N/A American Road and Transportation Builders Association

Veterans Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2003 N/A American Veterans
2010 N/A Disabled American Veterans
2010 N/A Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
2003 N/A The American Legion
2006 N/A The Retired Enlisted Association
N/A 2010 Veterans and Military Families for Progress
2004 N/A Vietnam Veterans of America

Welfare and Poverty

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2008 N/A Alliance to Stop the War on the Poor
2008 N/A Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN)
2004 N/A Bread for the World
2008 N/A RESULTS
2010 N/A Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Women's Issues

Last Rating Last Endorsement SIG Name
2006 2008 Business and Professional Women USA
2010 N/A Federally Employed Women
N/A 2011 Feminist Majority Political Action Committee
N/A 2010 Maggie's List PAC
2008 2012 National Organization for Women
1990 2010 National Women's Political Caucus
2006 N/A United States Women's Chamber of Commerce
2009 N/A Women Employed
N/A 2010 Women's Campaign Forum

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