Congress · Laws

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Act

Public Law 94-466 · H.R. 13374 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 8, 1976 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN-8)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 337 yea, 40 nay337–40
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.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Act - Establishes the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to construct within such refuge a wildlife interpretation and education center.

Requires the Secretary to establish, in cooperation with the State, a wildlife recreation area. Requires the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers to assist local authorities in designating sites for deposit of spoil material so as to minimize the disruption of wildlife and scenic values within the refuge.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 338 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

338 yea40 nay52 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(244)

Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
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. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
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. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
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. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
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. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
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. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
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. 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. John MelcherD-MT-2
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-23
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. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
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. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Allan HoweD-UT-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. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
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. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
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. 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. 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. 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. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
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. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
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. 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

Republicans who voted yea(94)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
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. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
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. Norman LentR-NY-4
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. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
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. 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. 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. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
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. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
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. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1187 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.

Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to

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.

Oct 8, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 94-466.
Sep 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
Sep 27, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Sep 24, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Sep 22, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Sep 20, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #753 (337-40).House roll call 753
FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
Sep 2, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
Apr 28, 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.

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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.