An Act to amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-223 · H.R. 5512 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Feb 27, 1976 · Animals
Sponsor: Rep. John Dingell (D-MI-16)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Robert Leggett, Rep. Henry Reuss
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.
Provides that for the purpose of consolidating the authorities relating to the various categories of areas that are administered by the Secretary of the Interior for the conservation of fish and wildlife, including species that are threatened with extinction, all lands, waters, and interests therein administered by the Secretary as wildlife refuges, areas for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife that are threatened with extinction, wildlife ranges, game ranges, wildlife management areas, or waterfowl production areas are hereby designated as the "National Wildlife Refuge System.
States that no acquired lands which are or become a part of the System may be transferred or otherwise disposed of under any provision of law (except by exchange pursuant to this Act) unless the Secretary of the Interior determines with the approval of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission that such lands are no longer needed for the purposes for which the System was established; and such lands are transferred or otherwise disposed of for a designated amount.
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. 13 actions.
- Feb 27, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-223.
- Feb 18, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Feb 17, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Feb 4, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jan 26, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Nov 17, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Nov 14, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #701 (341-10).House roll call 701
- 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.