Harry Mason Reid

Pass the Affordable Care Act.

Reid as Majority Leader shepherded the ACA through the Senate, securing the 60-vote cloture (Dec 24, 2009, 60-39) and final passage (Dec 24, 2009, 60-39). The bill was signed March 23, 2010.

Eliminate Senate filibuster for executive and judicial nominations below SCOTUS.

Reid invoked the 'nuclear option' on Nov 21, 2013 (52-48 vote), lowering the cloture threshold for executive-branch and non-SCOTUS judicial nominations from 60 to 51.

Block Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage.

Reid successfully blocked Yucca Mountain funding throughout his career, including in the FY2011 budget where appropriations were terminated. The site remained dormant at end-of-term.

Pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Reid passed the Gang of Eight bill through the Senate 68-32 on June 27, 2013. Speaker Boehner refused to bring it to a House floor vote. No comprehensive reform reached the President's desk.

Block confirmation of Merrick Garland to delay Supreme Court vacancy.

As Minority Leader, Reid could not force a vote on Garland; McConnell as Majority Leader refused to hold hearings. The vacancy was filled by Trump's Gorsuch in April 2017. (Reid's stated goal of forcing a vote was not achieved.)

Pass Dodd-Frank financial reform.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111-203) was signed July 21, 2010, passing the Senate 60-39 on July 15, 2010 under Reid's leadership.

Maintain Senate as filibuster-protected institution for SCOTUS.

Reid's 2013 nuclear option specifically exempted Supreme Court nominations. The SCOTUS filibuster remained until McConnell extended the nuclear option to it in April 2017.

Address climate change through legislation.

The Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill that passed the House in 2009 never reached a Senate floor vote under Reid's majority leadership; he formally abandoned it in July 2010. No major climate bill passed the Senate during his subsequent term.