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Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978

Public Law 95-155 · H.R. 5101 · 95th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 8, 1977 · Environmental Protection

Sponsor: Rep. George Brown (D-CA-36)

Cosponsors (8): Rep. Manuel Luján, Rep. Timothy Wirth,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 343 yea, 19 nay343–19
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.

Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Environmental Protection agency for environmental research, development, and demonstration activities for fiscal year 1978. Specifies amounts authorized for air quality, water quality, water supply, pesticides, solid waste, toxic substances, radiation, energy, and interdisciplinary activities.

Prohibits transfers of funds among listed categories above a specified amount without prior Congressional approval by the appropriate committees.

Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 for grants to assist public agencies in the development and demonstration of projects relating to the providing of safe drinking water to the public.

Directs the Administrator to establish a Science Advisory Board to provide such scientific advice as the Administrator requests. Requests the Board to conduct a review of and submit a report to the Administrator, the President, and Congress concerning the health effects research authorized by this Act and other law focusing special attention on the procedural safeguards required to preserve the scientific integrity of such research and to insure reporting and use of the results of such research in subsequent recommendations.

Directs the Administrator to coordinate environmental research, developments, and demonstration programs of the EPA with the heads of other Federal agencies in order to minimize unnecessary duplication of programs, projects, and research facilities. Directs the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to report to the Congress and the President regarding coordination of environmental research and development.

Directs the Administrator to implement the recommendations of a report prepared for the House Committee on Science and Technology entitled "The Environmental Protection Agency Program with primary emphasis on the Community Health and Environmental Surveillance System (CHESS); An Investigative Report.

Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to increase to 862 the number of personnel positions in the Health and Ecological Effects program in 1978.

Sets forth financial disclosure requirements for officers and employees of the Agency. Provides criminal penalties for the violation of such requirements.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 344 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

344 yea19 nay71 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(238)

Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Joseph AmmermanD-PA-23
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. David CornwellD-IN-8
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Robert GammageD-TX-22
Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5

Republicans who voted yea(106)

Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 639 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
Environment and Public Works Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to

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. 20 actions.

Nov 8, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-155.
Oct 27, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
Oct 26, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Oct 25, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #694 (343-19).House roll call 694
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #694 (343-19).House roll call 694
Oct 20, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Oct 19, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-722.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-722.
Sep 30, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Sep 23, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
May 27, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1417.
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Apr 20, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Apr 19, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #138 (358-31).House roll call 138
Apr 1, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Mar 16, 1977CommitteeCommittee · 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.