An Act to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to extend the authorizations for a 2-year period, and for other purposes.
Public Law 93-423 · H.R. 14883 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 27, 1974 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. John Blatnik (D-MN-8)
Cosponsors (23): Rep. Robert Jones, Rep. William Harsha,
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.
Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1975 and 1976 to programs under the Public Works and Economic Assistance Act.
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to aid in financing the purchase or development of land and facilities for industrial or commercial usage, including the construction of new buildings, the rehabilitation of abandoned or unoccupied buildings, and the alteration, conversion or enlargement of existing buildings by: (1) purchasing evidences of indebtedness; (2) making loans; and (3) guaranteeing loans made to private borrowers by private lending institutions up to 90 percent of the unpaid balance.
Authorizes the Secretary to make: (1) working capital loans; (2) guarantee such loans up to 90 percent of the unpaid balance; and (3) guarantee rental payment of leases for buildings and equipment up to 90 percent of remaining rental payments.
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make direct grants to cities or other political subdivisions to pay up to 80 percent of the cost of economic development planning under the Act.
Authorizes $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1975 and 1976 to provide for assistance under the Act for Indian tribes.
Authorizes the Federal cochairman of regional commissions established under the Public Works and Economic Assistance Act to acquire excess property through the Administrator of General Services and dispose of such property to: (1) any State or political subdivision; (2) any tax-supported organization; (3) any Indian tribe or Alaskan village; (4) any tax-supported or non-profit hospital; and (5) any tax-supported or non-profit institution of higher education requiring a high school diploma for admission.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants directly to any eligible recipient in an area which the Secretary has determined has experienced, or may reasonably be foreseen to be about to experience, a special need to meet an expected rise in unemployment, or other economic adjustment problems.
Authorizes the appropriation of not in excess of $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1975 and $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 to carry out the special economic development and adjustment assistance programs of this Act.
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. 14 actions.
- Sep 27, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-423.
- Sep 16, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Aug 22, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Aug 21, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insisted on its amendments to the Measure.
- Aug 19, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Aug 2, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended in lieu of S. 3641.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jun 27, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jun 26, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #332 (402-11).House roll call 332
- Jun 6, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- May 20, 1974CommitteeCommittee · 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.