To amend H.R. 8309 by authorizing $8 million for the establishment of an international sea-level canal study commission to follow up the 1970 study of the atlan

On May 3, 1978, the Senate voted 43–49. Result: failed. By party: Democrats 38–17, Republicans 5–31, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 22 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: 43
No: 49
Did not vote: 12
Date: May 3, 1978

By party

Democrats38 yes · 17 no · 10 didn’t vote
Republicans5 yes · 31 no · 2 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Dale Bumpers D-AR voted no
Kaneaster Hodges Jr. D-AR voted no
Barry Morris Goldwater R-AZ voted yes
Joseph Robinette (Joe) Biden Jr. D-DE voted no
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr. D-FL voted no
Richard Bernard Stone D-FL voted no
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted no
Samuel Augustus Nunn D-GA voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
Edward William Brooke III R-MA voted yes
Robert Burren Morgan D-NC voted no
Quentin Northrup Burdick D-ND voted no
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
Howard Morton Metzenbaum D-OH voted no
John Herschel Glenn Jr. D-OH voted no
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted yes
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted yes
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. D-TX voted no
Patrick Joseph Leahy D-VT voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted no

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.R. 8309 by authorizing $8 million…: Senate Vote, May 3…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-784/to-amend-h-r-8309-by-authorizing-8-million (accessed 2026-10-16).