Congress · Laws

An Act to provide for the regulation of mining activity within, and to repeal the application of mining laws to, areas of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Public Law 94-429 · S. 2371 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 28, 1976 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Lee Metcalf (D-MT)

Cosponsors (9): Sen. Scoop Jackson, Sen. John Johnston,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 352 yea, 9 nay352–9
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.

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #728 (352-9))

Subjects all activities resulting from the exercise of valid existing mineral rights within any area of the National Park System to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior for the preservation and management of those areas.

Imposes a four-year moratorium on further surface disturbance within Death Valley and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monuments and Mount McKinley National Park.

Requires the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to report within two years on the actual or potential effects of surface mining activities on natural and historical landmarks.

States that the holder of any patented or unpatented mining claim subject to this Act who believes he has suffered a loss by operation of this Act, or by orders or regulations issued pursuant thereto, may bring an action in a United States district court to recover just compensation, which shall be awarded if the court finds that such loss constitutes a taking of property compensable under the Constitution.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to acquire lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of any unit of the National Park System. Directs the Secretary to give careful consideration to any offer to sell any property interest in the lands on which a moratorium has been imposed under this Act, and where continued private ownership would result in undue hardship.

Requires each employee of the Secretary of the Interior who: (1) performs any functions under this Act concerning the regulation of mining within the National Park System; and (2) has any known financial interest in any person subject to this Act or any person who holds a mining claim within the National Park System to file an annual statement with the Secretary concerning all such interests held during the preceding year.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 353 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

353 yea9 nay68 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(231)

Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
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. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
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. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. John DentD-PA-21
Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
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. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
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. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
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. Leo RyanD-CA-11
Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-23
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
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. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
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. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
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. 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. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
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. John RoushD-IN-4
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
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. Robert StephensD-GA-10
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. 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. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
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. James HaleyD-FL-8
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
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. John FlyntD-GA-6
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5

Republicans who voted yea(122)

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. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
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. 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. Charles MosherR-OH-13
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. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
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. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
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. Alphonzo BellR-CA-27
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. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
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. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
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. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
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. 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. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
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. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1167 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.

Natural Resources Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Energy and Natural Resources 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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

Sep 28, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 94-429.
Sep 21, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
Sep 20, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Sep 17, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
Sep 14, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #728 (352-9).House roll call 728
Aug 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
Feb 5, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
Feb 4, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #25 (70-16).Senate roll call 25
Dec 16, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Sep 18, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
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.

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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.