To amend H.R. 13125, the bill making appropriations for the department of agriculture and related agencies for fiscal year 1979. The melcher amendment appropri

On Aug 9, 1978, the Senate voted 68–23. Result: passed. By party: Democrats 45–12, Republicans 24–10, Independents 0–1. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 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: 68
No: 23
Did not vote: 12
Date: Aug 9, 1978

By party

Democrats45 yes · 12 no · 8 didn’t vote
Republicans24 yes · 10 no · 4 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa R-CA voted no
Abraham Alexander Ribicoff D-CT voted no
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr. D-FL voted no
Richard Green Lugar R-IN voted no
James Blackwood Pearson R-KS voted no
Walter Darlington Huddleston D-KY voted no
Edward Moore (Ted) Kennedy D-MA voted no
Edmund Sixtus Muskie D-ME voted no
Robert Paul Griffin R-MI voted no
John Claggett Danforth R-MO voted no
Thomas Francis Eagleton D-MO voted no
Jesse Helms R-NC voted no
John Herschel Glenn Jr. D-OH voted no
Henry Louis Bellmon R-OK voted no
Claiborne de Borda Pell D-RI voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
James Ralph Sasser D-TN voted no
Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn R-UT voted no
William Lloyd Scott R-VA voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no
Jennings Randolph D-WV 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. 13125, the bill making…: Senate Vote, Aug 9, 1978,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-941/to-amend-h-r-13125-the-bill-making-appropriations (accessed 2026-10-17).