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Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1977

Public Law 94-419 · H.R. 14262 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 22, 1976 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. George Mahon (D-TX-19)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 323 yea, 45 nay323–45
  • 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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Department of Defense Appropriation Act - Makes appropriations for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 1977.

=Title I: Military Personnel= - Makes appropriations for pay, allowances, clothing, and other expenses for the personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the reserve forces thereof and for the Army and Air Force National Guard.

=Title II: Retired Military Personnel= - Appropriates funds for retired pay.

=Title III: Operation and Maintenance= - Makes appropriations (for expenses not otherwise provided for) necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Armed Forces and their reserve forces, for the defense agencies, and for the National Guard.

=Title IV: Procurement= - Appropriates funds for weapons, ships, aircraft, missiles, ammunition, and other equipment and supplies required by the Armed Forces and defense agencies.

=Title V: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation= - Makes appropriations of funds for programs of research, development, test, and evaluation by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense agencies.

=Title VI: Special Foreign Currency Program= - Appropriates funds for payment in foreign currencies which the Treasury Department determines to be excess to the normal requirements of the United States for expenses of carrying out programs of the Department of Defense.

=Title VII: General Provisions= - Sets forth regulations and restrictions governing the administration of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act.

=Title VIII: Related Agency= - Appropriates funds for intelligence community oversight. Appropriates funds for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. Appropriates funds for intelligence and intelligence-related programs and consolidated telecommunications and command control programs.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 324 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

324 yea45 nay61 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(203)

  • Rep. John MossD-CA-3
  • Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
  • Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
  • Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-15
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
  • Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
  • Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
  • Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
  • Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
  • Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
  • Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
  • Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
  • Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
  • Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
  • Rep. John DentD-PA-21
  • Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
  • Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
  • Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
  • Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
  • Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
  • Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
  • Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
  • Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
  • Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
  • Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
  • Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
  • Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
  • Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
  • Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
  • Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
  • Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
  • Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
  • Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
  • Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
  • Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
  • Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
  • Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
  • Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
  • Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
  • Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
  • Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
  • Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
  • Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
  • Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
  • Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
  • Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
  • Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
  • Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
  • Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
  • Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
  • Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
  • Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
  • Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
  • Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
  • Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
  • Rep. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
  • Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
  • Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
  • Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
  • Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
  • Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
  • Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
  • Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
  • Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
  • Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
  • Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
  • Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
  • Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
  • Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
  • Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. Olin TeagueD-TX-6
  • Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
  • Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
  • Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
  • Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
  • Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
  • Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
  • Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
  • Rep. James MannD-SC-4
  • Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
  • Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
  • Rep. Felix HébertD-LA-1
  • Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
  • Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
  • Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
  • Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
  • Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
  • Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
  • Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
  • Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7

Republicans who voted yea(121)

  • Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
  • Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
  • Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
  • Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
  • Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
  • Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
  • Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
  • Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
  • Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
  • Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
  • Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
  • Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
  • Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
  • Rep. Marvin EschR-MI-2
  • Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
  • Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
  • Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
  • Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
  • Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
  • Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
  • Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
  • Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
  • Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
  • Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
  • Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
  • Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
  • Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
  • Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
  • Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
  • Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
  • Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
  • Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
  • Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
  • Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
  • Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
  • Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
  • Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
  • Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
  • Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
  • Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
  • Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
  • Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
  • Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
  • Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
  • Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
  • Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
  • Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
  • Rep. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
  • Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
  • Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
  • Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
  • Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
  • Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
  • Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
  • Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
  • Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
  • Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
  • Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
  • Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
  • Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
  • Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
  • Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
  • Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
  • Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
  • Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
  • Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
  • Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
  • Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
  • Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
  • Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
  • Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
  • Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
  • Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
  • Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
  • Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
  • Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
  • Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
  • Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
  • Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
  • Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
  • Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
  • Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-22
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1146 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

  1. Sep 22, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public law 94-419.
  3. Sep 14, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Sep 13, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House Amendments to certain Senate Amendments.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
  9. Sep 9, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #702 (323-45).House roll call 702
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #702 (323-45).House roll call 702
  13. Sep 3, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1475.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1475.
  15. Aug 25, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  16. Aug 9, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  17. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #511 (82-6).Senate roll call 511
  18. Aug 2, 1976FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  19. Jul 22, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
  20. Jun 18, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
  21. Jun 17, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #401 (331-53).House roll call 401
  22. FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations rejected in House.
  23. Jun 8, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
  24. 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.