To amend H.R. 8617, the federal employees' political activities act of 1976, to restore to federal civilian and postal service employees their rights to partic

On Mar 10, 1976, the Senate voted 38–54 (HR 8617). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 9–47, Republicans 28–8, Others 0–1, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 17 members voted against their own party.

During the 94th Congress (1975–1976), Gerald Ford was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 38
No: 54
Did not vote: 7
Date: Mar 10, 1976

By party

Democrats9 yes · 47 no · 5 didn’t vote
Republicans28 yes · 8 no · 2 didn’t vote
Others0 yes · 1 no
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Theodore Fulton (Ted) Stevens R-AK voted no
James Browning Allen D-AL voted yes
Dale Bumpers D-AR voted yes
John Little Mcclellan D-AR voted yes
Floyd Kirk Haskell D-CO voted yes
Abraham Alexander Ribicoff D-CT voted yes
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted yes
Russell Billiu Long D-LA voted yes
Edward William Brooke III R-MA voted no
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
Robert Taft Jr. R-OH voted no
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted no
Richard Schultz Schweiker R-PA voted no
Gaylord Anton Nelson D-WI voted yes
William Proxmire D-WI 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 H.R. 8617, the federal employees'…: Senate Vote, Mar 10, 1976,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/94-S-666/to-amend-h-r-8617-the-federal-employees-political (accessed 2026-10-17).