An Act to amend chapter 7, title 5, United States Code, with respect to procedure for judicial review of certain administrative agency action, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-574 · S. 800 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 21, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Charles Mathias
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.
Abolishes the defense of sovereign immunity with respect to actions in Federal courts seeking relief other than money damages and stating a claim against a Federal administrative agency or officer acting in an official capacity. Permits a plantiff in judicial review proceedings to name as defendant the United States, the agency, the appropriate officer, or any combination of them. Changes the venue requirements for such action. Eliminates the requirement that there be at least $10,000 in controversy for Federal question jurisdiction.
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. 13 actions.
- Oct 21, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-574.
- Oct 12, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 8, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Sep 22, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Jul 19, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- Jul 1, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 26, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Feb 22, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.