Congress · Laws

National Missile Defense Act of 1999

Public Law 106-38 · H.R. 4 · 106th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jul 22, 1999 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA-7)

Cosponsors (97): Rep. John Spratt, Rep. Tom Bliley,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 345 yea, 71 nay345–71
SenateUnanimous consent

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.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

National Missile Defense Act of 1999 - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) deploy as soon as technologically possible a National Missile Defense (NMD) system capable of defending U.S. territory against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate), with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for NMD; and (2) seek continued negotiated reductions in Russian nuclear forces.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 106th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 345 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

345 yea71 nay18 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(132)

Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-30
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-46
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-24
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Joseph HoeffelD-PA-13
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Robert WeygandD-RI-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Rod BlagojevichD-IL-5
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-22
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Debbie StabenowD-MI-8
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. James MaloneyD-CT-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. David PhelpsD-IL-19
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5
Rep. Ronnie ShowsD-MS-4
Rep. Ken LucasD-KY-4
Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Virgil GoodeD-VA-5

Republicans who voted yea(213)

Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
Rep. Steven KuykendallR-CA-36
Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. John CookseyR-LA-5
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
Rep. Don SherwoodR-PA-10
Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
Rep. Doug OseR-CA-3
Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-22
Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18
Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Ernie FletcherR-KY-6
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-44
Rep. Johnny IsaksonR-GA-6
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-49
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-27
Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-15
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. John ThuneR-SD
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11
Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
Rep. Billy TauzinR-LA-3
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-20
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8
Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6
Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
Rep. Wes WatkinsR-OK-3
Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
Rep. Jay DickeyR-AR-4
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1
Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Asa HutchinsonR-AR-3
Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
Rep. Merrill CookR-UT-2
Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5
Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5
Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Edward PeaseR-IN-7
Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
Rep. Bob RileyR-AL-3
Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4
Rep. David McIntoshR-IN-2
Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. James RoganR-CA-27
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
Rep. Rick HillR-MT
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3
Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-41
Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Joe ScarboroughR-FL-1
Rep. John LinderR-GA-11
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-5
Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. John SununuR-NH-1
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Pat ToomeyR-PA-15
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39
Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. Bob SchafferR-CO-4
Rep. Thomas CoburnR-OK-2
Rep. Helen Chenoweth-HageR-ID-1
Rep. Mark SanfordR-SC-1
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 143 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.

Report a correction

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Armed Services Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
Foreign Affairs Committee · House · discharged from, referred to

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.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

Jul 22, 1999Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-38.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Jul 12, 1999PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
May 20, 1999Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 345 - 71 (Roll no. 144).House roll call 144
Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 179, the House moved to agree to the Senate amendment.
FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion offered by Mr. Spence to agree to the Senate amendment.
FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 179 passed House.
OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 345 - 71 (Roll no. 144).House roll call 144
May 19, 1999FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 179 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. Upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be order to take from the S…
May 18, 1999FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Mar 18, 1999FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 317 - 105 (Roll no. 59).House roll call 59
FloorFloor · On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 152 - 269, 1 Present (Roll no. 58).House roll call 58
FloorFloor · The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.
FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 120 passed House.
Mar 3, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Foreign Affairs Committee
Feb 25, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Armed Services Committee
Feb 4, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House

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.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.