A bill to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to make permanent certain provisions of the Dependents Assistance Act of 1950, as amended, and for other purposes.
Public Law 93-64 · H.R. 8537 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Jul 9, 1973 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Felix Hébert (D-LA-1)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. James Howard
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.
Title I: Amendments to Make Permanent Certain Provisions of the Dependents Assistance Act of 1950, as amended - Permits, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Armed Forces concerned, a regular enlisted member of an Armed Force who has dependents to be discharged for hardship. Revises the definition of the word "parent" for purposes of determining the entitlement of quarters allowances. Sets forth the monthly basic allowance for quarter for enlisted members in specified pay grades. Permits the Secretary concerned to make any determination necessary to administer this title with regard to enlisted members, including determinations of dependency and relationship, and to reconsider and change or modify any such determination.
Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends to June 30, 1975, those provisions of law authorizing special pay for physicians, dentists, optometrists and veterinarian ordered to active duty after June 30, 1973. Extends to June 30, 1975, those provisions of law providing for the payment of an enlistment bonus to a person who enlists in a combat element of an Armed Force for at least three years.
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. 20 actions.
- Jul 9, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-64.
- Jun 30, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jun 29, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-361.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-361.
- Jun 28, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to instruct conferees to insist on House's disagreement to title III of Senate amendment, roll call #306 (238-175).House roll call 306
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 26, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Objection to unanimous consent that House agree to Senate amendment.
- Jun 22, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended in lieu of S. 1916.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Armed Services Committee
- Jun 20, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
- Jun 19, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jun 14, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Jun 7, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services 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.