Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1976
Public Law 94-212 · H.R. 9861 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Feb 9, 1976 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. George Mahon (D-TX-19)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Clair Burgener, Rep. Robert Drinan,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 323 yea, 99 nay323–99
- 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.
(Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment)
Department of Defense Appropriation Act - Makes appropriations for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 1976 and the period beginning July 1, 1976 and ending September 30, 1976.
=Title I: Military Personnel= - Makes appropriations for pay, allowances, clothing, and other expenses for the personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the reserve forces thereof and for the Army and Air Force National Guard.
=Title II: Retired Military Personnel= - Appropriates funds for retired pay.
=Title III: Operation and Maintenance= - Makes appropriations for expenses not otherwise provided for necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Armed Forces and their reserve forces, for the defense agencies, and for the National Guard.
Requires that funds provided in this Act for the operation and maintenance of the anti-ballistic-missile facility may be used only for the purpose of the expeditious termination and deactivation of all operations of that facility.
Authorizes appropriations for necessary expenses for construction and equipment of rifle ranges; instruction of citizens in marksmanship, promotion of rifle practice, and the travel of rifle teams.
=Title IV: Procurement= - Appropriates funds for weapons, ships, aircraft, missiles, ammunition, and other equipment and supplies required by the armed forces and defense agencies.
Limits the amount which may be spent on the Navy's Condor missile program until the Secretary of Defense determines and advises the Congress that the Condor missile system has successfully completed testing and can be released for production.
Prohibits any of the funds appropriated in this Act from being used for any activities involving Angola other than intelligence gathering.
=Title V: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation= - Makes appropriations of funds for programs of research, development, test, and evaluation by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense agencies.
=Title VI: Special Foreign Currency Program= - Appropriates funds for payment in foreign currencies which the Treasury Department determines to be excess to the normal requirements of the United States for expenses of carrying out programs of the Department of Defense.
=Title VII: General Provisions= - Sets forth regulations and restrictions governing the administration of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act.
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this Act for payment of a price differential on contracts hereafter made for the purpose of relieving economic dislocation, except where the Secretary of Defense has specifically determined that sufficient price competition exists to insure a reasonable price to the Government.
Sets forth prohibitions on the use of funds, appropriated under this Act for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, for specified treatments or services.
Disallows use of funds under this Act by the Army for design, procurement of plant equipment, or construction of new ammunition plant facilities except in areas in which existing ammunition plant facilities are being closed, placed in layaway, or at which production has been curtailed.
Requires through September 30, 1976, that all Federal employees be: (1) United States citizens; (2) persons who are eligible and have filed a declaration of intention to become a citizen; (3) persons who owe allegiance to the United States; (4) aliens from Cuba, Poland, or the Baltic countries lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or (5) South Vietnamese refugees paroled into the United States. States that an affadavit signed by any such person shall be prima facie evidence that such requirements have been met.
=Title VIII: Related Agency= - Appropriates funds for necessary expenses of the Defense Manpower Commission.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 324 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
324 yea100 nay8 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(252)
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. William BarrettD-PA-1
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- 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. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- 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. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
- 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. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
- 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. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- 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. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- Rep. John PatmanD-TX-1
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
- Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
- Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Wayne HaysD-OH-18
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- 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. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-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. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- 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. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
- Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(72)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- 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. Pierre du PontR-DE
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
- Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 626 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.
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. 26 actions.
- Feb 9, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-212.
- Jan 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jan 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendment, roll call #21 (323-99).House roll call 21
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to certain Senate amendment, roll call #21 (323-99).House roll call 21
- Dec 19, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment.
- Dec 17, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #602 (87-9).Senate roll call 602
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #602 (87-9).Senate roll call 602
- Dec 15, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
- Dec 12, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #777 (314-57).House roll call 777
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #777 (314-57).House roll call 777
- Dec 10, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-710.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-710.
- Dec 1, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Nov 18, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #505 (87-7).Senate roll call 505
- Nov 6, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Oct 3, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Oct 2, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #575 (353-61).House roll call 575
- Sep 25, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations 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.