The vote is on the Ortiz (D-TX) amendment to the House bill revising and extending the Endangered Species Act. His amendment would have put a two-year delay on the regulations requiring shrimp trawlers to install Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) when trawling on the high seas. 

Ortiz argued that shrimp trawlers should not have to spend the money to keep endangered sea turtles from drowning in their nets since there were other problems affecting the turtles as well. Conservationists said the TEDs were a cheap ($40 to $400), safe, effective way of halting the illegal killing of the highly-endangered turtles. They also pointed out that 70% of the shrimp fishermen who trawl in shore behind barrier islands and in estuaries had already been granted a two year delay. The remaining operators on the high seas were a bigger threat to the turtles and could well afford the TEDs. 

The amendment was rejected 147-270 on December 17, 1987. NO is the pro-environmental vote.