Byrd’s 12,134 Votes Sets U.S. Senate Record
- Share via
WASHINGTON — Sen. Robert C. Byrd was honored Friday for casting more votes than anyone in Senate history.
Byrd’s vote on an amendment to a $3.4-billion supplemental spending bill was No. 12,134.
The West Virginia Democrat cast his first vote on Jan. 7, 1959, on a procedural matter.
“Senator Byrd has maintained a voting attendance record of 98.4% during his Senate service,” said Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell of Maine in a tribute on the Senate floor.
The previous record was held by former Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who cast 12,133 votes during his 31 years in the Senate.
Among those praising Byrd was Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), who at 87 is the oldest member of the Senate.
“He has made a remarkable record in the Senate,” Thurmond said. “He is one of the ablest parliamentarians who has ever served . . . throughout the history of the Senate.”
Byrd, 72, responded to the tribute by saying: “Records are made to be broken, and this record will be broken in time.”
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
