A joint resolution providing for the expression to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, of the appreciation of the people of the United States for the bequest of James Smithson to the United States, enabling the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution.
Public Law 94-338 · S.J.Res. 196 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jul 5, 1976 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Sen. Frank Moss (D-UT)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Hugh Scott, Sen. Scoop Jackson
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.
Expresses the appreciation and gratitude of the people of the United States to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II for the bequest of James Smithson which provided for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service 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.
- Jul 5, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-338.
- Jun 29, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jun 25, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Jun 22, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 17, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- May 17, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- May 13, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.