An Act to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to permit the donation of Federal surplus personal property to the States and local organizations for public purposes, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-519 · H.R. 14451 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 17, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX-9)
Cosponsors (8): Rep. William Randall, Rep. Frank Horton,
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.
Authorizes the Administrator of General Services, under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, to donate, without cost, any surplus personal property under the control of any executive agency to the State agency in each State designated as the body responsible for the distribution of such property.
States that such property may be donated for distribution to public agencies for promoting public health or safety, education, parks and recreation, conservation, and other public services. Includes within the definition of "public agency" Indian tribes or groups.
Permits the donation of such property to an institution or organization which is a public agency or is nonprofit and tax exempt if such property is to be used in connection with federally sponsored project grants.
Sets forth regulations governing such donation and distribution.
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in connection with the distribution of property under this Act or by recipients of property under this Act.
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. 15 actions.
- Oct 17, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-519.
- Oct 6, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 5, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Sep 28, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Aug 25, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Aug 24, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #651 (340-51).House roll call 651
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Aug 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Jun 18, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform 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.