National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1976
Public Law 94-39 · H.R. 4700 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jun 19, 1975 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Rep. Olin Teague (D-TX-6)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Charles Mosher
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.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for research and development, construction of facilities, and for research and program management. Permits research and development funds to be used for grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific research, for purchase or construction of additional research facilities.
Allows authorized amounts for construction of facilities to vary upward 10 percent, and to vary upward 25 percent following a report by the Administrator of NASA to specified congressional committees to meet unusual cost variations, but limits the total of such amounts to the total authorized for such purpose.
Permits one-half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development to be transferred to the construction of facilities, together with $10,000,000 of the funds for construction of facilities, to be used to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations when the Administrator determines that such action is necessary because of changes in the national program of aeronautical and space activities. Grants Congress the power to disapprove such action.
Prohibits amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act from being used for any program deleted originally by the Congress or for any program which has not been presented to the appropriate committees, unless the Congress has had an opportunity to disapprove such action.
Authorizes NASA, when provided in an appropriation Act, to enter into contracts for tracking and data relay satellite services.
Authorizes appropriations for the transition period through September 1976.
Adds title IV, "Upper Atmospheric Research," to the National Aeronautics and Space Act. Directs NASA, under such new title, to develop and carry out a comprehensive program of research, technology, and monitoring of the phenomena of the upper atmosphere so as to provide for an understanding of, and to maintain the chemical and physical integrity of, the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Aeronautical and Space Sciences 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. 21 actions.
- Jun 19, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-39.
- Jun 10, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jun 9, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Jun 4, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-259.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-259.
- May 14, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- May 12, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 5, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee
- Apr 10, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee
- Apr 9, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #107 (318-72).House roll call 107
- Mar 19, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Mar 12, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.