A resolution to express the sense of the Senate concerning the value of family planning for American women.

A simple resolution is the business of a single chamber. The Senate can adopt it on its own, and it is never sent to the other chamber or to the President.

The record's latest action, on May 22, 2006: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4896)

1. A vote of the Senate

A simple resolution concerns one chamber only, such as its own rules or an expression of its opinion. The other chamber and the President play no part, and it does not carry the force of law.

No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.

A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.

HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY) introduced it on May 22, 2006, and 17 members have since signed on as cosponsors.

They come from both major parties: 15 Democrats, 1 Republican, 1 independent.

Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.

It was introduced on May 22, 2006, 7416 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 7416 days ago, on May 22, 2006.

Measures do not carry over. Anything the 109th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2007 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.

That deadline applies to this measure too, even though it was never headed for the President's desk.