An Act to provide for increases in appropriation ceilings and boundary changes in certain units of the national park system, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-578 · H.R. 13713 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 21, 1976 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Roy Taylor (D-NC-11)
Cosponsors (24): Rep. Keith Sebelius, Rep. Robert Bauman,
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.
(Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate amendments with amendment)
=Title I: Acquisition Ceiling Increases= - Increases the limitations on appropriations for the acquisition of lands and interests therein within the following units of the National Park System: (1) Arches National Park, Utah; (2) Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia; (3) Buffalo National River, Arkansas; (4) Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; (5) Fire Island National Seashore, New York; (6) Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi; (7) Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois; (8) Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado; (9) North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Washington; (10) Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire; (11) Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska; (12) Canyonlands National Park, Utah; and (13) Padre Island National Seashore, Texas.
=Title II: Development Ceiling Increases= - Increases the limitation on appropriations for development of the following units of the Nation Park System: (1) Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Tennessee; (2) Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas; (3) Chamizal National Memorial, Texas; (4) Fort Larned National Historic Site, Kansas; (5) Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah; (6) Jefferson National Expansion Military Park, Mississippi; (7) Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire; (8) Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi; (9) Channel Islands National Monument, California; and (10) Nez Perce National Historical Park, Idaho.
=Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions= - Repeals provisions relating to beach erosion control, hurrican protection, and purchase of public utility facilities within Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a comprehensive plan for the protection, management, and use of such seashore.
Authorizes the Secretary to designate specified areas for addition to the Colorado National Monument, Colorado.
Increases the maximum amount authorized to be appropriated for acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of sites of specified events which occurred in Kansas during the decade prior to and during the Civil War.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer specified lands to the jurisdiction of the Director of the National Park Service in Montgomery County, Maryland. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to transfer specified lands in such county to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire up to 64 acres of land for addition to the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire.
Enlarges the boundaries of the Saguaro National Monument, Arizona, and authorizes appropriations for such purpose.
Authorizes the use of appropriated funds to acquire additional acres for the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. Authorizes the use of appropriated funds to acquire 7,310 acres outside the existing boundary of the Bandelier National Monument. Permits the use of appropriated funds for the acquisition and development of land for the Edison National Historic Site.
Removes the proximity restriction on lands which may be included within the boundary of Fort Smith National Historic Site.
Permits the use of appropriated funds for land acquisition in Haleakala National Park.
Extends the operation and maintenance authorization for the Kennedy Center through fiscal year 1979.
Adds 135 acres to the boundary of Morristown National Historical Park.
Increases the acquisition ceiling for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Adds 23.5 acres to the boundary of Pecos National Monument.
Revises the boundary of the Zion National Park by means of a new map reference.
Authorizes the acquisition of an additional 640 acres for the Monocacy National Battlefield.
Revises the boundaries of the Olympic National Park.
Authorizes the appropriation of funds for emergency repairs to the El Morro fortress at the San Juan National Historic Site.
Authorizes the acquisition of an additional 900 acres for the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.
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. 17 actions.
- Oct 21, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-578.
- 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.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate amendments with amendment.
- Sep 29, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments with amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments.
- Aug 26, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Aug 20, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 10, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 8, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- May 15, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- May 11, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.