Joe Biden's Bipartisan Career History
Joe Biden served in the US Senate from 1973 to 2009. In that time, he sponsored and cosponsored many bills, of which 167 became law. That might not sound like a lot but very few bills are enacted — the majority of legislators sponsor only a handful of bills throughout their entire careers that are signed into law. The bills that he sponsored were considered largely bipartisan and most often cosponsored by Republicans and independents along with other Democrats.
You can see Biden’s full voting record here, but below are a few examples of bills that he sponsored that were passed with bipartisan support.
1983 - During the Reagan Administration, Biden was one of 88 senators who voted for a bipartisan bill to tax up to 50% of Social Security for beneficiaries with income above a certain threshold. The Social Security trust fund was running out of money. Only nine senators voted against this bill.
1994 - Violence Against Women Act “Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) authorize judges to increase sentences for repeat sex offenders to up to twice that otherwise authorized by statute; and (2) require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to implement such amendment by recommending to the Congress amendments, if appropriate, in the sentencing guidelines applicable to criminal sexual abuse.”
2000 - “The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention, Protection, and Reauthorization Act honors the 200th birthday of slavery survivor and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and reauthorizes $430 million in current funds appropriated to ensure an integrated, whole-of-government response to fight human trafficking.”
2005 - Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005
This bill directs the “Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for the protection of vulnerable populations, primarily women and children, who are affected during a humanitarian emergency.”
2007 - Biden sponsored the Second Chance Act. This bill was co-sponsored by Democrats, independents, and Republicans. This bill authorized funding for reentry and educational programs that benefit both adult and juvenile offenders.
2008 - Biden sponsored the PROTECT our Children Act. This bill required the Department of Justice to develop and implement a Child Exploitation Prevention strategy, to increase the funds of law enforcement agencies to give additional funds and resources for investigating and prosecuting child predators, to improve the already existing Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs.
2019 - Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
2020 - “Former Vice President Joe Biden says, if elected, he would turn to a bipartisan commission for recommendations on what changes should be made to the Supreme Court, calling the current system “out of whack.” [American Institute for Economic Research]
