To amend S 1220, AIDS research and education act, to prohibit using federal funds to provide hypodermic needles and syringes to drug addicts.

On Apr 28, 1988, the Senate voted 37–59 (S 1220). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 9–43, Republicans 28–16. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 25 members voted against their own party.

During the 100th Congress (1987–1988), Ronald Reagan was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 37
No: 59
Did not vote: 5
Date: Apr 28, 1988

By party

Republicans28 yes · 16 no · 2 didn’t vote
Democrats9 yes · 43 no · 3 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Theodore Fulton (Ted) Stevens R-AK voted no
Howell Thomas Heflin D-AL voted yes
Richard C. Shelby D-AL voted yes
Dennis Webster Deconcini D-AZ voted yes
Pete Wilson R-CA voted no
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Wyche Fowler Jr. D-GA voted yes
Richard Green Lugar R-IN voted no
Addison Mitchell (Mitch) Mcconnell R-KY voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted yes
David Ferdinand Durenberger R-MN voted no
Rudolph Eli (Rudy) Boschwitz R-MN voted no
William Thad Cochran R-MS voted no
J. James Exon D-NE voted yes
David Lyle Boren D-OK voted yes
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted no
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted no
Arlen Specter R-PA voted no
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT voted no
Robert Theodore Stafford R-VT voted no
Daniel Jackson Evans R-WA voted no
John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV D-WV voted yes
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend S 1220, AIDS research and education…: Senate Vote, Apr 28…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/100-S-532/to-amend-s-1220-aids-research-and-education-act (accessed 2026-10-17).