Federal Records Management Amendments of 197
Public Law 94-575 · H.R. 13828 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 21, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. William Randall (D-MO-4)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Jack Brooks, Rep. Richard White,
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.
Federal Records Management Amendments - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to establish standards and procedures to assure efficient and effective records management.
Directs the Administrator of General Services to provide guidance and assistance to Federal agencies with respect to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition. Requires the Administrator to direct the continuing attention of Federal agencies and the Congress to the burden placed on the Federal Government by unnecessary paperwork, and to the need for adequate policies governing records creation, maintenance and use, and disposition.
Authorizes the Administrator to inspect the records or the records management practices and programs of any Federal agency solely for the purpose of rendering recommendations for the improvement of records management practices and programs.
Authorizes the Administrator to establish, maintain, and operate records centers and centralized microfilming services for Federal agencies.
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. 18 actions.
- Oct 21, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-575.
- Oct 12, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 8, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Senate vitiated its previous action on passage.
- 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, roll call #650 (394-0).House roll call 650
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Aug 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- May 17, 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.