A bill to provide for an amendment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact to provide for the protection of the patrons, personnel, and property of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Public Law 94-306 · H.R. 8719 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jun 4, 1976 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Gilbert Gude (R-MD-8)
Cosponsors (8): Rep. James Mann, Rep. Williamson Stuckey,
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.
Authorizes the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to establish and maintain a regular police force to provide protection for patrons, personnel, and transit facilities. States that the jurisdiction of the Metro Transit Police shall be limited to all the transit facilities owned, controlled, or operated by the Authority. Provides that a member of the Metro Transit Police shall have the same powers, including the power to arrest, and shall be subject to the same limitations, including regulatory limitations, in the performance of his duties as a member of the duly constituted police force of the political subdivision in which the Metro Transit Police member is engaged in the performance of his duties.
Grants the Authority power to adopt rules and regulations for the safe, convenient, and orderly use of the transit facilities owned, controlled, or operated by the Authority, including the payment and the manner of the payment of fares or charges therefor, the protection of the transit facilities, the control of traffic and parking upon the transit facilities, and the safety and protection of the riding public.
States that the Superior Court has jurisdiction with respect to any violation committed in the District of Columbia of the rules and regulations of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Provides that the Council of the District of Columbia shall have authority to enact any Act adopting on behalf of the District of Columbia amendments to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact, but that in no case shall any such amendment become effective until after it has been approved by Congress.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
District of Columbia Committee · House · referred to, reported by
District of Columbia Committee · Senate · 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. 14 actions.
- Jun 4, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-306.
- May 26, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- May 25, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- May 18, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jul 29, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jul 28, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jul 22, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
- Jul 17, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia 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.