In 1949, U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey called for the abolition of the filibuster in order to advance civil rights bills; as Senate Majority Whip, he advanced civil rights bills; as a Senator in 1975, he voted to lower the threshold to break a filibuster from 67 votes to 60.
After almost a decade of ignoring or stigmatizing the victims of HIV/AIDS, Congress agrees to pass the Ryan White CARE Act, which funds the life-saving drug AZT for low-income or uninsured patients. Four senators including Sen. Jesse Helms vote against the act.
In 1882, Congress passed the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act, which prohibited polygamy and 'unlawful cohabitation'. The Act set off a series of court cases which culminated in the disincorporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The House of Representatives voted 421-1 to authorize the use of military force against the perpetrators of the September 11th attacks
The Senate passed the Equal Rights Amendment 91-9, but an insufficient number of state legislatures subsequently ratified it.