Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977
Public Law 95-192 · S. 106 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 18, 1977 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Sen. Dee Huddleston (D-KY)
Cosponsors (8): Sen. James Eastland, Sen. Herman Talmadge,
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 with an amendment)
Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act - Declares the policy of the United States that resource conservation programs within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture shall reflect the long-term needs of the Nation. Directs the Secretary to conduct a continuing appraisal of the Nation's soil, water, and related resources. Requires that the reports of such appraisal be completed by December 31, 1979, and each five years thereafter.
Requires the development of a national soil and water conservation program by the Secretary in cooperation with other organizations and agencies. Requires that such program include analysis of land and water resource problems and alternative solutions to such problems. Requires completion of such plan by December 31, 1979, to be updated each five years thereafter.
Directs the President to submit such reports to Congress together with a detailed policy statement. Requires annual reports by the Secretary of Agriculture on the effectiveness of authorized programs to accompany budget requests, commencing with fiscal year 1982.
Stipulates that the provisions of this Act shall terminate on December 31, 1985.
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.
- Nov 18, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-192.
- Nov 8, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 4, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 3, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Nov 2, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Jun 6, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 75.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 24, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 23, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Mar 18, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Jan 10, 1977CommitteeCommittee · 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.