A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
Public Law 94-68 · S. 555 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 5, 1975 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Sen. James Eastland (D-MS)
Cosponsors (4): Sen. John Stennis, Sen. Robert Dole,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 398 yea, 0 nay398–0
- 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 Secretary of Agriculture to designate, under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, any area in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands as an emergency area if he finds that a natural disaster has occurred in said area which substantially affected farming, ranching, or aquaculture operations.
Defines "aquaculture" to mean husbandry of aquatic organisms under a controlled or selected environment.
Permits loans to be made for crop or livestock changes deemed desirable by the applicant.
Provides that loans made or insured under such Act shall be at a rate of interest not in excess of 5 percent on loans up to the amount of the actual loss caused by the disaster.
States that if security is not available because of the disaster, the Secretary shall accept as security such collateral as is available, a portion or all of which may have depreciated in value due to the disaster and which in the opinion of the Secretary, together with his confidence in the repayment ability of the applicant, is adequate security for the loan. Provides that for any disaster occurring after January 1, 1975, the Secretary, if the loan is for an operating type purpose, may make the loan repayable at the end of a period of more than seven years, but not more than twenty years, if the Secretary determines that the need of the loan applicant justifies such a longer repayment period.
Permits the Secretary to delegate authority to any State director of the Farmers Home Administration to make emergency loans if the State director finds that a natural disaster has substantially affected twenty-five or less farming, ranching, or aquaculture operations in the area.
States that applicants seeking financial assistance based on production losses must show that a single enterprise which constitutes a basic part of his farming, ranching, or aquaculture operation has sustained at least a 20 percent loss of normal per acre or per animal production as a result of the disaster.
Allows subsequent loans to continue the farming, ranching, or aquaculture operation on an annual basis, for not to exceed five additional years.
Requires that on or before February 15 of each calendar year beginning with calendar year 1976, or such other date as may be specified by the appropriate Committee, the Secretary of Agriculture shall testify before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the House Committee on Agriculture and provide justification in detail of the amount requested in the budget to be appropriated for the next fiscal year for the purposes authorized in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, and of the amounts estimated to be utilized during such fiscal year from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund and the Rural Development Insurance Fund.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 401 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
401 yea0 nay33 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(266)
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
- Rep. John MossD-CA-3
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. William BarrettD-PA-1
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
- Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
- Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- Rep. John PatmanD-TX-1
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
- Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
- Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Wayne HaysD-OH-18
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-23
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Allan HoweD-UT-2
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Robert StephensD-GA-10
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Robert CaseyD-TX-22
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
- Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
- Rep. Felix HébertD-LA-1
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(135)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Marvin EschR-MI-2
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Andrew HinshawR-CA-40
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. James HastingsR-NY-39
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
- Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
- Rep. John ConlanR-AZ-4
- Rep. Sam SteigerR-AZ-3
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
- Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 320 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
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. 22 actions.
- Aug 5, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-68.
- Jul 25, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #431 (398-0).House roll call 431
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #431 (398-0).House roll call 431
- Jul 22, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-378.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-378.
- Jul 21, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-290.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-290.
- Jul 14, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 11, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jul 9, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #367 (403-0).House roll call 367
- May 14, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
- Apr 7, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 26, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Mar 24, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Feb 5, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 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.