To amend S. 7 by deleting the requirement for written consent of the owners of surface lands that will be affected by government mining operations.

On May 20, 1977, the Senate voted 44–32 (S 7). Result: passed. By party: Democrats 35–10, Republicans 10–23, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 20 members voted against their own party.

During the 95th Congress (1977–1978), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 44
No: 32
Did not vote: 25
Date: May 20, 1977

By party

Democrats35 yes · 10 no · 20 didn’t vote
Republicans10 yes · 23 no · 5 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Gary Warren Hart D-CO voted no
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted yes
Spark Masayuki Matsunaga D-HI voted no
Frank Forrester Church D-ID voted no
James Blackwood Pearson R-KS voted yes
Walter Darlington Huddleston D-KY voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted yes
Robert Paul Griffin R-MI voted yes
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted no
John Melcher D-MT voted no
Lee Warren Metcalf D-MT voted no
Carl Thomas Curtis R-NE voted yes
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted no
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted yes
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
John Herschel Glenn Jr. D-OH voted no
Dewey Follett Bartlett R-OK voted yes
Henry Louis Bellmon R-OK voted yes
Henry John Heinz III R-PA 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. 7 by deleting the requirement…: Senate Vote, May 20, 1977,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-156/to-amend-s-7-by-deleting-the-requirement-for (accessed 2026-10-17).