Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act
Public Law 93-239 · H.R. 11372 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Jan 2, 1974 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. James Howard (D-NJ-3)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. James Cleveland, Rep. Marion Snyder
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act - Provides that the Secretary of Transportation shall not approve any project within the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in any State which has a maximum speed limit on any public highway within its jurisdiction in excess of 55 miles per hour.
States that in order to conserve fuel, decrease traffic congestion during rush hours, improve air quality, and enhance the use of existing highways and parking facilities, the Secretary shall approve projects designed to encourage the use of carpools in urban areas throughout the country while not adversely affecting bus and other mass transportation ridership in such areas.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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. 15 actions.
- Jan 2, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-239.
- Dec 22, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 21, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from certain of its amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to certain Senate amendments.
- Dec 14, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Dec 13, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Dec 4, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Dec 3, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Nov 29, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Nov 8, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.