Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act Amendments of 1976
Public Law 94-477 · H.R. 12168 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 11, 1976 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. Harley Staggers (D-WV-2)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. John Dingell
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 199 yea, 151 nay199–151
- 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.
Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act Amendments - Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the provisions of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act and for Federal grants-in-aid under such Act, through fiscal year 1978.
Excludes from the definition of the term "interstate transmission facilities" as set forth in the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 any facility which transports gas from an interstate gas pipeline to a direct sales customer purchasing gas for its own consumption.
Defines "intrastate pipeline transportation," under such Act, to mean pipeline facilities and transportation of gas within a State which are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission under the Natural Gas Act, except that it shall include pipeline facilities within a State which trasport gas from an interstate gas pipeline to a direct sales customer within such State purchasing gas for its own consumption.
Permits States to adopt additional or more stringent standards for intrastate pipeline transportation.
Adds to existing certification requirements the requirement that a State agency encourage and promote programs designed to prevent damage to natural gas pipelines and other subsurface utility equipment.
Provides for payment to the States by the Secretary of Transportation of the cost of not more than three full time natural gas pipeline safety inspectors for each State.
Requires all persons engaged in the transportation of gas to conduct a program to educate the public on the possible hazards associated with gas leaks and on the importance of reporting gas odors and leaks to appropriate authorities.
Permits any person to bring a civil action for mandatory or prohibitive injunctive relief against any person who is alleged to be in violation of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act or an order or regulation issued under the Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 200 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
200 yea151 nay79 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(176)
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
- 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. 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. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- 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. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- 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. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
- 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. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
- Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- 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. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- 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. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- 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. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- 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. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- 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. 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. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- 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. 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. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Republicans who voted yea(24)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
- 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. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1236 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. 19 actions.
- Oct 11, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-477.
- Oct 1, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 29, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 28, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate amendments.
- Sep 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments, roll call #813 (199-151).House roll call 813
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments, roll call #813 (199-151).House roll call 813
- Sep 22, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1660.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1660.
- Aug 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 30, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended (Provisions of S. 2042 included as passed Senate).
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 3, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #229 (277-88).House roll call 229
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Apr 27, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 26, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce 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.