To amend H.R. 6531 by barring payment of bonuses for enlistment or reenlistment in the armed forces.

On May 25, 1971, the Senate voted 25–49 (HR 6531). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 23–19, Republicans 4–34, Others 0–1, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 23 members voted against their own party.

During the 92nd Congress (1971–1972), Richard Nixon was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 25
No: 49
Did not vote: 20
Date: May 25, 1971

By party

Democrats23 yes · 19 no · 13 didn’t vote
Republicans4 yes · 34 no · 7 didn’t vote
Others0 yes · 1 no
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

John Little Mcclellan D-AR voted no
Alan Cranston D-CA voted no
John Varick Tunney D-CA voted no
David Henry Gambrell D-GA voted no
Adlai Ewing III Stevenson D-IL voted no
John Sherman Cooper R-KY voted yes
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted no
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted no
Benjamin Everett Jordan D-NC voted no
Harrison Arlington Williams Jr. D-NJ voted no
Joseph Manuel Montoya D-NM voted no
Howard Walter Cannon D-NV voted no
William Bart Saxbe R-OH voted yes
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted yes
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted yes
John Orlando Pastore D-RI voted no
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted no
George Stanley Mcgovern D-SD voted no
Henry Martin (Scoop) Jackson D-WA voted no
Warren Grant Magnuson D-WA 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. 6531 by barring payment of…: Senate Vote, May 25, 1971,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/92-S-63/to-amend-h-r-6531-by-barring-payment-of (accessed 2026-10-17).