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Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1976

Public Law 94-121 · H.R. 8121 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 21, 1975 · Economics and Public Finance

Sponsor: Rep. John Slack (D-WV-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 212 yea, 201 nay212–201
  • 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.

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Summary

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

(Senate agreed to conference report)

Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act - =Title I: Department of State= - Department of State Appropriations Act - Makes specified appropriations for fiscal year 1976 and the transition period ending September 30, 1976 for: (1) the operations of the Department of State; (2) international commissions; and (3) mutual educational and cultural exchange activities.

States the sense of the Congress that any new Panama Canal treaty or agreement must protect the vital interests of the United States in the Canal Zone and in the operation, maintenance, property and defense of the Panama Canal.

=Title II: Department of Justice= - Department of Justice Appropriation Act - Makes specified appropriations for fiscal year 1976 and the transition period ending September 30, 1976 for: (1) the administration and legal activities of the Department of Justice; (2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; (3) the Immigration and Naturalization Service; (4) the Federal Prison System; (5) the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration; and (6) the Drug Enforcement Administration.

=Title III: Department of Commerce= - Department of Commerce Appropriations Act - Makes specified appropriations for fiscal year 1976 and the transition period ending September 30, 1976 for: (1) the operation and administration of the Department of Commerce; (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (3) the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration; (4) the Patent and Trademark Office; and (5) the Maritime Administration.

Provides that none of such appropriations shall be available for the Federal Fire Council following enactment of this Act.

=Title IV: The Judiciary= - Judiciary Appropriation Act - Makes specified appropriations for fiscal year 1976 and the transition period ending September 30, 1976 for: (1) the Supreme Court of the United States; (2) the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals; (3) the Customs Court; (4) the Court of Claims; (5) the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and other judicial services; (6) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; and (7) the Federal Judicial Center.

=Title V: Related Agencies= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1976 and the transition period ending September 30, 1976 for: (1) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; (2) the Board for International Broadcasting; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (5) the Federal Communications Commission; (6) the Federal Maritime Commission; (7) the Federal Trade Commission; (8) the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; (9) the International Trade Commission; (10) the Marine Mammal Commission; (11) the National Commission for the Review of Federal and State Laws Relating to Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance; (12) the Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations; (13) the Renegotiation Board; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) the Disaster Loan Fund; and (17) the United States Information Agency.

=Title VI: General Provisions= - Places specified limitations on the use of funds appropriated by this Act.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 220 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

220 yea209 nay5 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(170)

  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
  • Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
  • Rep. John MossD-CA-3
  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
  • Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
  • Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
  • Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
  • Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
  • Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
  • Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-15
  • Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
  • Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
  • Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
  • Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
  • Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
  • Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
  • Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
  • Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
  • Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
  • Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
  • Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
  • Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
  • Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
  • Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
  • Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
  • Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
  • Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
  • Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
  • Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
  • Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
  • Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
  • Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
  • Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
  • Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
  • Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
  • Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
  • Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
  • Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
  • Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
  • Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
  • Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
  • Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
  • Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-23
  • Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
  • Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
  • Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
  • Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
  • Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. Allan HoweD-UT-2
  • Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
  • Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
  • Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
  • Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
  • Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
  • Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
  • Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
  • Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
  • Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
  • Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
  • Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
  • Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
  • Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11

Republicans who voted yea(50)

  • Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
  • Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
  • Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
  • Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
  • Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
  • Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
  • Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
  • Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
  • Rep. Marvin EschR-MI-2
  • Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
  • Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
  • Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
  • Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
  • Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
  • Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. James HastingsR-NY-39
  • Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
  • Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
  • Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
  • Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
  • Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
  • Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
  • Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
  • Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
  • Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
  • Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
  • Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
  • Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 442 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.

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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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 39 actions.

  1. Oct 21, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public law 94-121.
  3. Oct 9, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Oct 8, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
  9. Oct 7, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded from its disagreement to certain Senate amendments, roll call #597 (212-201).House roll call 597
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendment with an amendment.
  11. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House receded from its disagreement to certain Senate amendments, roll call #597 (212-201).House roll call 597
  12. Oct 2, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-527.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-527.
  14. Sep 30, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  15. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House insisted on its disagreement to certain Senate amendment.
  16. Sep 26, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  17. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insisted on certain amendment.
  18. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to certain House amendments.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
  21. Sep 24, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendment.
  22. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
  23. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House insisted on its disagreement to certain Senate amendment.
  24. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House failed to recede from its disagreement to certain Senate amendments, roll call #542 (197-203).House roll call 542
  25. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
  26. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
  27. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to recommit Conf. Rept. to the Comm. of Conf. rejected in House, roll call #541 (193-200).House roll call 541
  28. Sep 18, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-495.
  29. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-495.
  30. Sep 17, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in 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.

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Official record

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