National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1977
Public Law 94-471 · H.R. 12566 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 11, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Olin Teague (D-TX-6)
Cosponsors (22): Rep. Charles Mosher, Rep. Kenneth Hechler,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateRecorded vote: 67 yea, 0 nay67–0
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.
National Science Foundation Authorization Act - Authorizes the appropriation of $810,700,000 to the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1977.
Sets forth regulations with respect to the use of such funds.
Directs the National Science Foundation to: (1) support basic and applied research and education programs; (2) encourage and promote the conduct of interdisciplinary research through broadly based undergraduate interdisciplinary education programs; and (3) conduct an experimental "Science for Citizens Program" and an augmented "Public Understanding of Science Program.
Requires the Foundation to initiate a program of continuing education in science and technology including the development of special curricula, and the awarding of fellowships to scientists and engineers.
Directs the Foundation to intensify its search for qualified women, minorities, and handicapped individuals to fill executive level positions in the Foundation. Requires improving the representation of minorities, women, and handicapped individuals on advisory committees, review panels, and other mechanisms by which the scientific community provides assistance to the Foundation.
Directs the Foundation to establish an Office of Small Business Research and Development to foster communication between the Foundation and the small business community.
Amends the National Science Foundation Act to assure that the policies which the National Science Board establishes are within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress.
Requires the Director to keep the appropriate Congressional committees informed with respect to all activities of the Foundation.
Who voted for it
Every senator of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 68 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
68 yea0 nay32 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(43)
- Sen. James AbourezkD-SD
- Sen. William ProxmireD-WI
- Sen. Dick ClarkD-IA
- Sen. Gaylord NelsonD-WI
- Sen. George McGovernD-SD
Sen. Joseph BidenD-DE- Sen. John CulverD-IA
- Sen. Gary HartD-CO
Sen. Ted KennedyD-MA- Sen. William HathawayD-ME
- Sen. John DurkinD-NH
- Sen. Birch BayhD-IN
- Sen. Thomas EagletonD-MO
- Sen. Edmund MuskieD-ME
- Sen. Frank ChurchD-ID
- Sen. Fritz HollingsD-SC
- Sen. Hubert HumphreyD-MN
- Sen. Stuart SymingtonD-MO
- Sen. Thomas McIntyreD-NH
- Sen. Quentin BurdickD-ND
- Sen. Claiborne PellD-RI
- Sen. Dee HuddlestonD-KY
Sen. Robert ByrdD-WV- Sen. Harrison WilliamsD-NJ
- Sen. Scoop JacksonD-WA
- Sen. Warren MagnusonD-WA
- Sen. Abraham RibicoffD-CT
- Sen. Wendell FordD-KY
- Sen. John PastoreD-RI
- Sen. Howard CannonD-NV
Sen. Daniel InouyeD-HI- Sen. Robert MorganD-NC
- Sen. Jennings RandolphD-WV
- Sen. Mike GravelD-AK
- Sen. John JohnstonD-LA
- Sen. Samuel NunnD-GA
- Sen. John SparkmanD-AL
- Sen. Russell LongD-LA
- Sen. John StennisD-MS
- Sen. John McClellanD-AR
- Sen. James EastlandD-MS
- Sen. Harry ByrdD-VA
- Sen. James AllenD-AL
Republicans who voted yea(25)
- Sen. Clifford CaseR-NJ
- Sen. Edward BrookeR-MA
- Sen. Richard SchweikerR-PA
- Sen. Jacob JavitsR-NY
- Sen. Charles PercyR-IL
- Sen. Mark HatfieldR-OR
- Sen. Lowell WeickerR-CT
- Sen. Hugh ScottR-PA
- Sen. Robert PackwoodR-OR
- Sen. Hiram FongR-HI
Sen. Ted StevensR-AK- Sen. Milton YoungR-ND
- Sen. William RothR-DE
- Sen. Howard BakerR-TN
- Sen. Robert GriffinR-MI
- Sen. Strom ThurmondR-SC
- Sen. Dewey BartlettR-OK
- Sen. Roman HruskaR-NE
- Sen. Jake GarnR-UT
- Sen. Paul LaxaltR-NV
- Sen. William ScottR-VA
- Sen. Clifford HansenR-WY
- Sen. John TowerR-TX
- Sen. Paul FanninR-AZ
- Sen. Jesse HelmsR-NC
Data notes
The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1258 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.
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. 20 actions.
- Oct 11, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-471.
- Oct 1, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 30, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Sep 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1689.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1689.
- Sep 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #647 (67-0).Senate roll call 647
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #647 (67-0).Senate roll call 647
- Jun 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- May 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 3202.
- May 14, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Mar 29, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Mar 25, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #137 (358-33).House roll call 137
- Mar 18, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Mar 16, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.