District of Columbia Appropriation Act, 1976
Public Law 94-333 · H.R. 13965 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jun 30, 1976 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. William Natcher (D-KY-2)
Cosponsors: None
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.
District of Columbia Appropriation Act - Appropriates funds for fiscal year 1976 and the transitional quarter for the Federal payment to the District of Columbia as authorized by the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act. Appropriates additional funds for loans to the District of Columbia pursuant to such Act.
Appropriates designated amounts out of the general fund of the District of Columbia for fiscal year 1976 and the transitional quarter for the following categories of uses: (1) general operating expenses; (2) public safety; (3) education; (4) recreation; (5) human resources; (6) transportation; (7) environmental services; (8) personal services; (9) settlement of claims and suits; (10) repayment of loans and interest; (11) Bicentennial services; and (12) capital outlay.
Sets limits on the amount of funds appropriated by the Act which may be made available for travel expenses.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds in connection with the preparation or enforcement of any regulation or order of the Public Service Commission requiring installation of meters in taxicabs, or in connection with the licensing of any vehicle to be operated as a taxicab except for operation in accordance with a system of uniform zones and rates.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to pay for electricity for street lighting at a rate exceeding two cents per kilowatt-hour.
Makes funds available for public assistance without reference to provisions in the District of Columbia Code requiring that each person receiving such assistance receive an amount not less than that determined by the District of Columbia Council to be necessary to meet such individual's minimum needs.
Limits the percentage of funds appropriated for personal compensation which may be used to pay the cost of overtime or temporary positions.
Prohibits the use of funds to compensate any District of Columbia employee (1) who is appointed as a full-time employee to a permanent position when the total number of such employees exceeds 39,619 or (2) who is appointed as a temporary or part-time employee during any month in which the number of such employees exceeds the number of such employees for the same month in the preceding year.
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. 23 actions.
- Jun 30, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-333.
- PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jun 28, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendment with amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Jun 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1293.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1293.
- Jun 18, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 17, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 14, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- May 27, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- May 26, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #306 (350-13).House roll call 306
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 21, 1976CommitteeCommittee · 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.