An Act to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for the procurement of vessels and aircraft and construction of shore and offshore establishments, to authorize for the Coast Guard a year-end strength for active duty personnel, to authorize for the Coast Guard average military student loads, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-406 · H.R. 11670 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 10, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Leonor Sullivan (D-MO-3)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Philip Ruppe, Rep. Mario Biaggi,
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 appropriations for fiscal year 1977 for the use of the Coast Guard for procurement of vessels and aircraft.
Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1977 for construction of shore and offshore establishments for the Coast Guard. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1977 for procurement of vessels and aircraft for carrying out Coast Guard missions, including fishery law enforcement.
Authorizes an end strength active duty personnel for fiscal year 1977 for the Coast Guard of 38,918. Authorizes average military training student loads for fiscal year 1977 for the Coast Guard.
Prohibits the exercise of specified powers relating to leasing and hiring of Coast Guard quarters and rental of inadequate Coast Guard housing.
Provides that for each fiscal year after fiscal year 1977, the Congress shall authorize the end strength as of the end of each fiscal year for active duty personnel of the Coast Guard, and shall authorize the average military training student load for the Coast Guard.
Prohibits use of funds for operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard for enforcement of the Federal Boat Safety Act on specified lakes and waterways in New Hampshire during fiscal year 1977 or when the question of Coast Guard jurisdiction over such lakes or waterways is before a Federal or State court.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue exemptions and special permits to specified vessels operating in remote areas of Alaska that transport cargo, including bulk fuel and that are not in compliance with the Coast Guard regulations.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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. 23 actions.
- Sep 10, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-406.
- Sep 1, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Aug 31, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Aug 30, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Aug 2, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jul 28, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1054.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1054.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1374.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1374.
- Jun 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jun 22, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 16, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 6, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 5, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #168 (358-9).House roll call 168
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 31, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 3, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 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.