Congress · Laws

National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976

Public Law 94-86 · H.R. 4723 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 9, 1975 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Rep. Olin Teague (D-TX-6)

Cosponsors (2): Rep. Charles Mosher, Rep. James Symington

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 321 yea, 79 nay321–79
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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

National Science Foundation Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1976.

Provides that the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall require, as a condition of any award made by the National Science Foundation for the purpose of precollege science curriculum development activities, that the awardee, and any subcontractors involved in the distribution, marketing, or selling of such science curricula, shall include in any testing agreement, sales contract, or other comparable legal instrument a provision requiring that all instructional materials, including teacher's manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary instructional materials developed or provided under such award, subcontract, or other legal instrument, will be made available within the school district using such materials for inspection by parents or guardians of children engaged in educational programs or projects of that school district.

Directs the National Science Foundation to conduct a Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education program, which shall have the purpose of strengthening the science education capabilities of predominantly undergraduate educational institutions and departments or groups of departments thereof through awards.

Directs the National Science Foundation to conduct a Research Initiation and Support program, which shall have the purpose of strengthening programs of training and research for young scientists at the graduate and post-graduate levels at educational institutions.

Directs the Director of the National Science Foundation to prepare a comprehensive plan for the establishment and conduct of a "Science for Citizens Program," which shall be designed to improve public understanding of public policy issues involving science and technology; and to facilitate the participation of experienced scientists and engineers as well as graduate and undergraduate students in public activities, including community and citizen group activities, aimed at the resolution of public policy issues having significant scientific and technical aspects.

Authorizes the National Science Foundation to establish the Alan T. Waterman Award for research or advanced study in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, social, or other sciences.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 321 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

321 yea79 nay34 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(239)

Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
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. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
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. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
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 DingellD-MI-16
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. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
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. Robert LeggettD-CA-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. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
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. 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. Philip HayesD-IN-8
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
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. 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. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
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. 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. 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. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
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. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
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. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
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. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Robert CaseyD-TX-22
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17

Republicans who voted yea(82)

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. 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. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
Rep. Andrew HinshawR-CA-40
Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
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. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
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. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 364 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.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

Aug 9, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 94-86.
Aug 2, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
Aug 1, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #483 (321-79).House roll call 483
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #483 (321-79).House roll call 483
Jul 30, 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 House, H. Rept. 94-422.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-422.
Jul 29, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-339.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-339.
Jun 18, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Jun 17, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to instruct Conferees rejected in House, roll call #309 (127-284).House roll call 309
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
May 13, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, (provisions of S. 1539 as reported inserted in lieu).
May 9, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Apr 10, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Apr 9, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #111 (390-22).House roll call 111
Mar 20, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Mar 17, 1975FloorFloor · Measure by unanimous consent was recommitted to the Committee on Science and Technology.
Mar 12, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.