Byrd’s 12,134 Votes Sets U.S. Senate Record
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.”
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