Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996
Public Law 104-37 · H.R. 1976 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 21, 1995 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Skeen (R-NM-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 288 yea, 132 nay288–132
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Agricultural Programs
Title II: Conservation Programs
Title III: Rural Economic and Community Development Programs
Title IV: Domestic Food Programs
Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs
Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration
Title VII: General Provisions
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the following Department of Agriculture programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) executive operations (Chief Economist, National Appeals Division, Office of Budget and Program Analysis); (3) Chief Financial Officer; (4) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; (5) agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments; (6) advisory committees; (7) hazardous waste management; (8) departmental administration; (9) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; (10) Office of Communications; (11) Office of the Inspector General; (12) Office of the General Counsel; (13) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (14) Economic Research Service; (15) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (16) Agricultural Research Service; (17) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; (18) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (19) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (20) Agricultural Marketing Service; (21) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (22) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (23) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (24) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (25) Consolidated Farm Service Agency; (26) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (27) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.
Prohibits the use of specified funds for tobacco export promotion or research.
Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service; and (3) Consolidated Farm Service Agency.
Title III: Rural Economic and Community Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development; (2) Rural Housing and Community Development Service (including discretionary funding for rural housing loans for properties in the Pine View Subdivision, Gibsonville, North Carolina); (3) Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service; and (4) Rural Utilities Service.
Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Consumer Service, including the Food Stamp Program.
Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the Foreign Agricultural Service.
Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services; (2) Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation; and (3) Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sets forth administrative provisions with respect to Farm Credit Administration health benefits enrollment.
Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act, including: (1) Buy-American provisions; (2) honey payments or loan forfeitures; (3) salary payments in connection with a market program on behalf of the U.S. Mink Export Development Council or any mink industry trade association; (4) wetlands and conservation reserve program acreage; (5) certain Food Safety and Inspection Service compliance guidelines; (6) an exemption for certain Small Business Innovation Development grants from specified overhead caps; (7) operation of the Board of Tea Experts; and (8) restrictions on water use or increased cost to private owners of supply facilities on National Forest lands.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 104th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 288 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
288 yea132 nay12 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(117)
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50- Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-11
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
- Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18- Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12- Rep. Lynn RiversD-MI-13
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
- Rep. Michael WardD-KY-3
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
- Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND- Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
- Rep. William LutherD-MN-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD- Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
- Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Blanche LincolnD-AR-1- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5- Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. William BrewsterD-OK-3
- Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Republicans who voted yea(171)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Jim BunnR-OR-5
- Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
- Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25- Rep. William MartiniR-NJ-8
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Jon FoxR-PA-13
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-5
- Rep. Gary FranksR-CT-5
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
- Rep. Michael FlanaganR-IL-5
- Rep. Dan FrisaR-NY-4
- Rep. James LongleyR-ME-1
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18- Rep. Frank RiggsR-CA-1
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Fred HeinemanR-NC-4
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
- Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-3
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-5- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
- Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
Rep. Nathan DealD-GA-9- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
- Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
- Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
- Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-8
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2- Rep. Sonny BonoR-CA-44
- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23- Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
- Rep. Martin HokeR-OH-10
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Frank CremeansR-OH-6
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6- Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Tim HutchinsonR-AR-3
- Rep. Rick WhiteR-WA-1
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3- Rep. Jay DickeyR-AR-4
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5- Rep. Enid Greene WaldholtzR-UT-2
- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. John LinderR-GA-4- Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. Jay KimR-CA-41
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8- Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-22
- Rep. Randy TateR-WA-9
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28- Rep. Dick ChryslerR-MI-8
- Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
- Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-27
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
- Rep. Andrea SeastrandR-CA-22
- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. David FunderburkR-NC-2
- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
- Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Jon ChristensenR-NE-2
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
- Rep. William BakerR-CA-10
- Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3- Rep. Mark NeumannR-WI-1
- Rep. Wes CooleyR-OR-2
Rep. Thomas CoburnR-OK-2
Rep. Steve StockmanR-TX-9
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 692 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Appropriations Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported original measureSubcommittee: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Appropriations Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 111 actions.
- Oct 21, 1995Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-37.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 18, 1995PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 12, 1995Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 288 - 132 (Roll no. 708).House roll call 708
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 288 - 132 (Roll no. 708).House roll call 708
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to recommit with instructions to conference committee Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 158 - 264 (Roll no. 707).House roll call 707
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Obey moved to recommit with instructions to the conference committee.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Skeen brought up conference report H. Rept. 104-268 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 235.
- FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 235 passed House.
- Sep 29, 1995FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 235 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1976 with 1 hour of general debate. Upon adoption of this resolution, all points of order against the confernece report and against its consideration shall …
- Sep 28, 1995Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 104-268 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 104-268 filed.
- Sep 27, 1995Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Sep 20, 1995Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Skeen, Myers, Walsh, Dickey, Kingston, Riggs, Nethercutt, Livingston, Durbin, Kaptur, Thornton, Lowey, and Obey.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Durbin moved that the House instruct conferees.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Skeen asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments asks for a conference, appoints conferees Cochran; Specter; Bond; Gorton; McConnell; Burns; Hatfield; Bumpers; Harkin; Kerrey; Johnston; Kohl; Byrd.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to instruct conferees on the part of the House to agree to the Senate amendment No. 88.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 95-3. Record Vote No: 450.Senate roll call 450
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2699 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Motion to table SP 2699 rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 36-62. Record Vote No: 449.Senate roll call 449
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.