Matt Van Epps

Representative, Tennessee

Matt Van Epps Gets an A

Score: 93 out of 100, the weighted average of 5 principles. On 25 of 26 votes and bills, Van Epps was on the liberty side.

Van Epps was on the ballot on November 3, 2026, against Darden Copeland (D).

See the race, side by side

Is A the right grade for Van Epps?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss

A
Tyranny8 of 8 with liberty
C
Free nations5 of 6 with liberty
–
Free speechNo record yet
A
Free markets2 of 2 with liberty
A
Equal rights4 of 4 with liberty
–
ConscienceNo record yet
–
Defense1 of 1, too few to count
A
Borders5 of 5 with liberty

Who pays for Van Epps’s campaign

$2,646,915 raised since January 2025.

70%from people$1,855,956
26%from PACs and other committees$690,800
3%transfers and other income$89,854

The committee money, by who is behind it

Leadership and cause PACs$383,900
Company PACs$120,000
Trade groups$72,500
Member groups$69,718

Added up from what the committees themselves reported giving. They report later than the campaign does, so this can come to more than the committee line above.

Committees that gave the most

American Israel Public Affairs Committee Political Action Committee$18,494
Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans PAC$15,000
Senate Eagle PAC$15,000
Tennessee Bankers Association Federal Political Action Committee$15,000
Tractor Supply Company Political Action Committee$15,000

From the campaign’s own reports to the Federal Election Commission, through October 14, 2026. People who gave are counted, never named. The full filing at FEC.gov. Discuss this money

Every vote behind this grade

26 votes and bills on the record.

H.R. 5334 · September 16, 2026Tyranny

Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (H.R. 5334)

Imposes sweeping sanctions on Russia's officials, banks and energy trade, allows steep import duties on countries that keep buying Russian oil and gas, and extends the Iran Sanctions Act through 2031. The sanctions were added by the Senate to a small tax bill for early childhood teachers.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments. It puts heavy economic pressure on Putin and extends sanctions on the regime in Iran.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 93 · September 15, 2026TyrannyKey vote, counts double

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 93)

Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, except forces needed to defend the United States or an ally from imminent attack, unless Congress authorizes force.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Res. 1490 · September 1, 2026Free markets

Condemning and denouncing socialism in all its forms (H.Res. 1490)

A resolution that condemns socialism, names the Democratic Socialists of America and calls socialist policies incompatible with the Constitution.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A yes vote matches the measure's stand against socialism.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 89 · July 23, 2026Tyranny

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 89)

Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities with the Islamic Republic.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 8800 · July 21, 2026Free nations

Crane amendment to the 2027 defense bill: no funds for Ukraine security assistance

Amendment to the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would have barred money for Ukraine security assistance, except for guarding the US embassy.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Amendment. A vote for it is a vote to abandon Ukraine.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 8595 · July 15, 2026Free nationsKey vote, counts double

Massie amendment to H.R. 8595: end US military aid to Israel

Amendment to the 2027 State Department spending bill that would have barred any of its money from going to Israel and cut 3.3 billion dollars in military financing.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Amendment. A vote for it is a vote to end US military aid to Israel.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 108 · June 30, 2026Free nations

Lebanon war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 108)

Directs the President to remove US armed forces from any hostilities in Lebanon within seven days, while allowing work with the Lebanese army and protection of embassies.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for it is a vote to pull US support from Israel's fight against Hezbollah, the regime's proxy.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
S. 2 · June 9, 2026BordersKey vote, counts double

Secure America Act (S. 2)

A party-line budget bill giving about 70 billion dollars through 2029 to Border Patrol, ICE and border technology. Signed into law in June 2026.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. The largest immigration enforcement funding vote of 2026.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 84 · June 4, 2026Free nations

Lebanon war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 84)

Directs the President to remove US armed forces from Lebanon within seven days. It was brought as a way to end US backing for Israel's military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for it is a vote to pull US support from Israel's fight against Hezbollah, the regime's proxy.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 2913 · June 4, 2026Free nationsKey vote, counts double

Ukraine Support Act (H.R. 2913)

Authorizes new security assistance and weapons loans for Ukraine, revives lend-lease authority, backs reconstruction, and writes new sanctions on Russia into law.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
Against liberty

House vote · On Passage. It is the main 2026 vote on standing with Ukraine against Putin.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 86 · June 3, 2026TyrannyKey vote, counts double

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 86)

Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, except forces needed to defend the United States or an ally from imminent attack, unless Congress authorizes force.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 2616 · May 20, 2026Equal rights

PROTECT Kids Act (Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, H.R. 2616)

Requires schools that get federal money to have a parent's consent before changing a child's gender marker, pronouns or name, or the sex-based facilities the child uses.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. A yes vote backed parents' rights and opposed schools acting on gender identity without them.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 75 · May 14, 2026Tyranny

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 75)

Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 40 · April 16, 2026Tyranny

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 40)

Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities with the Islamic Republic.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 1689 · April 16, 2026Borders

Requiring temporary protected status for Haiti (H.R. 1689)

Would force DHS to give Haitians in the US temporary protected status through January 2029. It reached the floor by discharge petition.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. Voting no opposes extending a blanket stay for several hundred thousand people whose status the administration had ended.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 1958 · March 18, 2026Borders

Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026

Would make non-citizens convicted of defrauding the government or unlawfully taking public benefits deportable and barred from entry.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. Deportation of criminal aliens.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Res. 1099 · March 5, 2026Tyranny

Reaffirming Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism (H.Res. 1099)

Declares it US policy that Iran remains the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, citing its backing for Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis and the American deaths it is responsible for.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree. It puts the House on record against the regime in the first days of the 2026 war.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.Con.Res. 38 · March 5, 2026TyrannyKey vote, counts double

War powers resolution on the Islamic Republic (H.Con.Res. 38)

Directs the President to end the use of US forces in hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran unless Congress declares war or authorizes force.

Liberty position
Nay
Van Epps
Voted Nay
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Agreeing to the Resolution. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 1531 · February 9, 2026Free nations

PROTECT Taiwan Act (H.R. 1531)

Tells US financial regulators to work to shut China's representatives out of international banking bodies if China threatens Taiwan's security.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended. It raises the cost to China of threatening Taiwan.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 7147 · January 22, 2026Borders

Homeland Security appropriations for fiscal 2026 (H.R. 7147)

The full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE and Border Patrol. Most Democrats voted no over ICE tactics.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. The fight over this bill was about funding immigration enforcement.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 2988 · January 15, 2026Free markets

Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act (H.R. 2988)

Requires managers of employer retirement plans to choose investments on financial return only, limiting the use of environmental, social and governance factors.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. A yes vote opposed ESG investing with workers' retirement savings.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 498 · December 18, 2025Equal rights

Do No Harm in Medicaid Act (H.R. 498)

Bars federal Medicaid money from paying for gender transition procedures for people under 18.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. A yes vote opposed taxpayer funding of gender transition procedures for minors.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 3492 · December 17, 2025Equal rights

Protect Children's Innocence Act (H.R. 3492)

Makes it a federal crime, with up to 10 years in prison, to perform gender transition surgery on a minor or give a minor puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones for that purpose.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. A yes vote opposed gender transition procedures for minors.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 4371 · December 16, 2025Borders

Kayla Hamilton Act

Would tighten vetting of unaccompanied migrant children and of the adults who take custody of them, including criminal and gang checks, and limit sponsors to citizens and legal residents.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. Tighter screening of people entering through the border.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
S. 1071 · December 10, 2025DefenseKey vote, counts double

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, final version (S. 1071)

The final agreed version of the yearly bill that sets the size, pay and weapons programs of the US military for 2026.

Liberty position
Yea
Van Epps
Voted Yea
Result
With liberty

House vote · On Passage. It is the final vote on funding and equipping the US military for the year.

The bill on Congress.gov The official roll call Discuss this vote
H.R. 925 · February 4, 2025Equal rights

Dismantle DEI Act of 2025

Ends diversity, equity and inclusion offices, training and funding across the federal government and its contractors.

Liberty position
Sign on
Van Epps
Cosponsored
Result
With liberty

Bill sponsorship. It is the broadest bill against DEI mandates and has had no floor vote.

The bill on Congress.gov Discuss this bill

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