Arts, Humanities, and Cultural Affairs Act of 1976
Public Law 94-462 · H.R. 12838 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 8, 1976 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Rep. John Brademas (D-IN-3)
Cosponsors (24): Rep. Albert Quie, Rep. Carl Perkins,
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.
Arts, Humanities, and Cultural Affairs Act - =Title I: Arts and Humanities= - Removes the restriction that projects and productions supported by the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts must be located within the United States.
Provides that the amount of each allotment to a State for any fiscal year shall be available to pay up to 50 percent of the cost of any project or production relating to the arts.
Requires Senate approval of Presidential appointment of members to the National Council on the Arts and the National Council on the Humanities.
Authorizes the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities to establish a grants-in-aid program to assist States in developing and promoting the humanities. Sets forth standards relating to program administration for plans submitted by States seeking assistance. Specifies a formula for alloting funds appropriated for grants-in-aid.
Provides that a group, individual, State, or State agency may not receive grants, under such Act, unless such group, individual, State, or State agency provides assurances to the Secretary of Labor that performers and professional personnel employed on the projects or productions involved will be paid not less than the prevailing minimum compensation as determined by such Secretary; to the health and safety of the employees.
Authorizes the appropriation to the National Endowment for the Arts and to the National Endowment for the Humanities of specified sums for fiscal years 1977 and 1978 and such funds as may be necessary for fiscal years 1979 and 1980.
=Title II: Museum Services= - Museum Services Act - Establishes, within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, an Institute of Museum Services, consisting of a National Museum Services Board and a Director of the Institute.
Authorizes the Director, subject to the policy direction of the Board, to make grants to museums to increase and improve museum services. Confers authority to the Institute to accept grants, gifts, or bequests of money for immediate disbursement in furtherance of the functions of the Institute.
Directs the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities to advise and consult with the Board and the Director on major problems incurred by the Institute and to coordinate the Institute's policies and activities with those of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Authorizes the appropriation of funds for grants by the Institute for fiscal years 1977 through 1980.
=Title III: Challenge Grant Program= - Authorizes the Chairmen of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to establish a program of contracts with, or grants-in-aid to, public agencies and private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of assisting cultural organizations and institutions and promoting citizen involvement with such bodies.
Authorizes the appropriation of funds through fiscal year 1980 to carry out such program. Permits the transfer of funds between the two Endowments.
=Title IV: American Bicentennial Photography and Film Project= - Establishes a two year bicentennial photographic and film project. Authorizes the appropriation to the National Endowment for the Arts of specified sums in fiscal years 1977 and 1978 to carry out such project.
=Title V: Arts Education Program= - Amends the Education Amendments of 1974 to authorize the appropriation of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1978 for elementary and secondary school education in the arts.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Oct 8, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-462.
- Sep 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Sep 22, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 20, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1260.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1260.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1631.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1631.
- Jun 30, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jun 18, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- May 20, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 3440.
- May 14, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Apr 27, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Apr 26, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #199 (279-59).House roll call 199
- Apr 9, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Education and Workforce Committee
- Mar 29, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce 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.