Calling upon the President to initiate a modest use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stabilize the crude oil market.

On Sep 26, 1990, the Senate voted 43–54 on “On the Motion to Table” (S 110). Result: Motion to Table Failed. By party: Democrats 38–17, Republicans 5–37. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 22 members voted against their own party.

During the 101st Congress (1989–1990), George H. W. Bush was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Result: Motion to Table Failed
Yes: 43
No: 54
Did not vote: 4
Date: Sep 26, 1990

By party

Republicans5 yes · 37 no · 3 didn’t vote
Democrats38 yes · 17 no · 1 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Howell Thomas Heflin D-AL voted no
Richard C. Shelby D-AL voted no
Dale Bumpers D-AR voted no
David Hampton Pryor D-AR voted no
Dennis Webster Deconcini D-AZ voted no
Daniel Robert (Bob) Graham D-FL voted no
Samuel Augustus Nunn D-GA voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
John Bennett Johnston Jr. D-LA voted no
John Berlinger Breaux D-LA voted no
William Sebastian Cohen R-ME voted yes
Kent Conrad D-ND voted no
J. James Exon D-NE voted no
Harry Reid D-NV voted no
Richard H Bryan D-NV voted no
David Lyle Boren D-OK voted no
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted yes
Arlen Specter R-PA voted yes
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted yes
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. D-TX voted no
James Merrill Jeffords R-VT voted yes
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, “Calling upon the President to initiate a…: Senate Vote, Sep 26, 1990,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/101-S-567/calling-upon-the-president-to-initiate-a-modest-use (accessed 2026-10-17).