To amend H.J.RES. 306, by reducing the President's discretion in deciding when a state of war between two foreign states existed.

On Oct 25, 1939, the Senate voted 26–61 (HJR 306). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 9–54, Republicans 15–7, Others 3–0, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 16 members voted against their own party.

During the 76th Congress (1939–1940), Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 26
No: 61
Did not vote: 15
Date: Oct 25, 1939

By party

Democrats9 yes · 54 no · 10 didn’t vote
Republicans15 yes · 7 no · 5 didn’t vote
Others3 yes · 0 no
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Sheridan Downey D-CA voted yes
Edwin Carl Johnson D-CO voted yes
David Worth Clark D-ID voted yes
John Holmes Overton D-LA voted yes
David Ignatius Walsh D-MA voted yes
Frederick Hale R-ME voted no
Wallace Humphrey White Jr. R-ME voted no
Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg R-MI voted no
Joel Bennett Clark D-MO voted yes
Robert Rice Reynolds D-NC voted yes
Edward Raymond Burke D-NE voted yes
Henry Styles (Styles) Bridges R-NH voted no
William Warren Barbour R-NJ voted no
Ernest Willard Gibson R-VT voted no
Warren Robinson Austin R-VT voted no
Rush Dew Holt 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 H.J.RES. 306, by reducing the…: Senate Vote, Oct 25, 1939,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/76-S-99/to-amend-h-j-res-306-by-reducing-the (accessed 2026-10-16).