To amend S 1220, AIDS research and education act, to prohibit using federal funds to provide hypodermic needles and syringes.

On Apr 27, 1988, the Senate voted 19–66 (S 1220). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 1–43, Republicans 18–24. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted no. 19 members voted against their own party.

During the 100th Congress (1987–1988), Ronald Reagan was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 19
No: 66
Did not vote: 15
Date: Apr 27, 1988

By party

Republicans18 yes · 24 no · 4 didn’t vote
Democrats1 yes · 43 no · 11 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Richard C. Shelby D-AL voted yes
John Sidney Mccain III R-AZ voted yes
William Lester Armstrong R-CO voted yes
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted yes
Charles Ernest Grassley R-IA voted yes
James Albertus Mcclure R-ID voted yes
Steven Douglas Symms R-ID voted yes
Christopher Samuel (Kit) Bond R-MO voted yes
John Claggett Danforth R-MO voted yes
Jesse Helms R-NC voted yes
Gordon John Humphrey R-NH voted yes
Warren Bruce Rudman R-NH voted yes
Jacob Chic Hecht R-NV voted yes
Donald Lee Nickles R-OK voted yes
James Strom Thurmond R-SC voted yes
William Philip (Phil) Gramm R-TX voted yes
Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn R-UT voted yes
Alan Kooi Simpson R-WY voted yes
Malcolm Wallop R-WY 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 1220, AIDS research and education…: Senate Vote, Apr 27…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/100-S-531/to-amend-s-1220-aids-research-and-education-act (accessed 2026-10-17).