Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976
Public Law 94-258 · H.R. 49 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Apr 5, 1976 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. John Melcher (D-MT-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 390 yea, 5 nay390–5
- 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.
Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act - =Title I: National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska= - Defines the term petroleum to include crude oil, gases (including natural gas), natural gasoline, and other related hydrocarbons, oil shale, and the products of such sources.
Transfers Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4 in Alaska to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior from the Secretary of the Navy. Redesignates such area as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Withdraws such reserve from all forms of entry and disposition under the public land laws.
Prohibits production of petroleum from the reserve and any development leading to production of petroleum from the reserve until authorized by an Act of Congress.
Requires that exploration activities be conducted in a manner which will minimize the adverse impact on the environment.
Directs that the study authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act be completed and transmitted to the House and Senate Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs. Requires the President to make a detailed study of the petroleum resources in the reserve to determine the best procedures for the development, production, transportation and distribution of such petroleum resources.
Establishes a task force to conduct a study to determine the values of, and best uses for, the lands within the reserve.
Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
=Title II: Naval Petroleum Reserves= - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to produce the petroleum in Naval Petroleum Reserves 1, 2 and 3. Authorizes the Secretary either to produce such petroleum or to have it produced under a contractual arrangement. Authorizes the Secretary to construct, acquire, or contract for the use of any necessary storage or shipping facilities.
Authorizes the Secretary in connection with the petroleum produced at the reserves to use, store, or sell such petroleum. Requires all sales of petroleum by the Secretary be made at public sale to the highest qualified bidder after appropriate public notice. Limits such sales contracts to periods of one year or less. Prohibits the acquisition of more than 20 percent of the Federal share of production of petroleum from Elk Hills by a single purchaser. Requires the structuring of bids to allow all potential qualified purchasers to bid on the Federal petroleum to be sold. Requires the approval of the Attorney General prior to the execution of any such sale contract.
Requires any pipeline which accepts, conveys, or transports any petroleum produced from Naval Petroleum Reserves Numbered 1 or 3 to accept, convey, and transport without discrimination and at reasonable rates any such petroleum as a common carrier.
Permits petroleum from the naval petroleum reserves to be exported if in compliance with the Export Administration Act and if the President determines that such export will not adversely affect the United States.
Establishes a special account in the Treasury into which all proceeds from the disposition of petroleum from the naval petroleum reserves will be deposited.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 392 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
392 yea5 nay35 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(257)
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
- 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. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- 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. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- 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 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. 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. 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. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
- 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. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- 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. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- 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. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- 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. 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. James SymingtonD-MO-2
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- 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. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- 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. 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. John MurthaD-PA-12- 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. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- 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. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
- 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. 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. Robert StephensD-GA-10
- 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. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- 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. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
- Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
- Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Felix HébertD-LA-1
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(135)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- 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. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
- 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. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. Alphonzo BellR-CA-27
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
- Rep. John ConlanR-AZ-4
- Rep. Sam SteigerR-AZ-3
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
- Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 718 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. 22 actions.
- Apr 5, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-258.
- Apr 1, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Mar 31, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #149 (390-5).House roll call 149
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #149 (390-5).House roll call 149
- Mar 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Mar 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-708.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-708.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-942.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-942.
- Oct 2, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Sep 17, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 29, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2173.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jul 8, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #365 (391-20).House roll call 365
- Apr 22, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 18, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Jan 14, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.