To table helms amendment to S. 2511, authorizing funds for the civil rights commission, that would decrease funds by $5,719,000. (motion passed)

On May 22, 1980, the Senate voted 76–14 (S 2511). Result: passed. By party: Democrats 51–3, Republicans 25–11, Independents 1–0. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 14 members voted against their own party.

During the 96th Congress (1979–1980), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 76
No: 14
Did not vote: 10
Date: May 22, 1980

By party

Democrats51 yes · 3 no · 5 didn’t vote
Republicans25 yes · 11 no · 5 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa R-CA voted no
William Lester Armstrong R-CO voted no
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted no
Richard Green Lugar R-IN voted no
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted no
Jesse Helms R-NC voted no
Robert Burren Morgan D-NC voted no
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted no
Gordon John Humphrey R-NH voted no
Harrison Hagan Schmitt R-NM voted no
Pete Vichi Domenici R-NM voted no
James Strom Thurmond R-SC voted no
John Goodwin Tower R-TX voted no
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT voted no

The bill

S. 2511: A bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1957 to authorize appropriations for the United States Commission on Civil Rights for fiscal year 1981.

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 table helms amendment to S. 2511…: Senate Vote, May 22, 1980,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/96-S-661/to-table-helms-amendment-to-s-2511-authorizing-funds (accessed 2026-10-15).