Wetlands Loan Extension Act of 1976
Public Law 94-215 · H.R. 5608 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Feb 17, 1976 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN-8)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Robert Leggett, Rep. John Dingell
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.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Wetlands Loan Extension Act - Extends for a period of seven years (from June 30, 1976, to September 30, 1983) the authorization, under the Wetlands Loan Act, that allows appropriations to be made to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund in the form of interest free loans for the purpose of acquiring wetlands for migratory waterfowl.
Extends from fiscal year 1977 to fiscal year 1983 the date when monies appropriated to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund would be required to be repaid to the Treasury of the United States from duck stamp receipts.
Changes, under the Hunting Stamp Tax Act, the name of the "migratory bird hunting stamp" to the "migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp".
Authorizes the sale of duck stamps at places other than post offices; and provides that anyone can redeem unused stamps under prescribed conditions.
Requires the Department of the Interior, as well as the Postal Service, to deposit the revenues it has collected from duck stamp sales into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund account.
Allows the Secretary of the Interior to purchase or rent interests in land, water, or land and water, which have been recommended for purchase or rental by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission.
Revises, under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, the exchange authority of the Secretary of the Interior to allow him to dispose of interests in acquired or public lands within the System by land exchange.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred to, reported by
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.
- Feb 17, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-215.
- Feb 5, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Feb 4, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Feb 3, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment with amendments.
- Jan 29, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jan 26, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 9, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 8, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #363 (400-0).House roll call 363
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 27, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 26, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.