An Act to amend the Social Security Act with respect to food stamp purchases by welfare recipients.
Public Law 94-585 · H.R. 13500 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 21, 1976 · Social Welfare
Sponsor: Rep. Barber Conable (R-NY-35)
Cosponsors (14): Rep. Skip Bafalis, Rep. James Burke,
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.
Amends the Social Security Act to make public assistance Withholding procedures optional (formerly required) for any State plan for aid and services to needy families with children where a recipient household requests that such procedures be utilized. Requires States, on or after June 30, 1977, to pass through cost-of-living increases to recipients of Supplemental Security Income benefits.
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. 14 actions.
- Oct 21, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-585.
- Oct 13, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 12, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 8, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 29, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Finance Committee
- Jun 10, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Finance Committee
- Jun 8, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #339 (355-14).House roll call 339
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 2, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
- May 3, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means 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.