District of Columbia Appropriation Act, 1978
Public Law 95-288 · H.R. 9005 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jun 5, 1978 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. William Natcher (D-KY-2)
Cosponsors: None
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.
District of Columbia Appropriation Act - =Title I: Temporary Commission on Financial Oversight of the District of Columbia= - Appropriates to the District of Columbia for fiscal year 1978, $3,000,000 for salaries and expenses for the Temporary Commission on Financial Oversight of the District of Columbia.
=Title II: District of Columbia= - Appropriates to the District of Columbia for fiscal year 1978: (1) $276,000,000 as the Federal payment for the District and $28,116,000 in lieu of reimbursement for water and sewer services furnished to the United States Government facilities; (2) $92,000,000 for capital outlay loans; (3) $90,862,600 for general operating expenses, of which $799,300 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund; (4) $625,100 for an additional amount for general operating expenses; (5) $263,771,800 for public safety; (6) $2,151,000 for an additional amount for public safety; (7) $264,679,200 for education of which $7,722,800 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund; and $4,000,000 from funds received under the Public Works Employment Act; (8) $2,800,000 for an additional amount for education; (9) $283,462,300 for human resources, of which $6,520,000 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund; (10) $59,713,900 for transportation, of which $6,262,300 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund; (11) $1,309,100 for an additional amount for transportation; (12) $68,191,900 for environmental services, of which $1,500,000 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund; (13) $65,549,400 for an additional amount for personal services for fiscal year 1977; (14) $58,000 for an additional amount for the settlement of claims and suits for fiscal year 1977; (15) $125,668,500 for repayment of Federal loans; (16) $129,173,400 for reimbursement to the United States of funds loaned for capital outlay (construction projects); and (17) $17,551,000 for recreation, of which $208,200 shall be payable from the revenue sharing trust fund.
Authorizes: (1) obligational authority of $1,279,070 for expenditures in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, and the period July 1, 1976 through September 30, 1976, for Federal disability payments; (2) obligational authority of $449,500 for such period for the District's unemployment compensation; and (3) obligational authority of $700,000 for expenses under the Criminal Justice Act of 1974 incurred in fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977.
Requires vouchers for expenditures under this Title to be audited before payment by the designated certifying official, and such vouchers to be paid by checks issued by the designated disbursing official.
Stipulates that under this title when an amount is specified within an appropriation for a particular purpose it shall be considered as the maximum available for such purpose rather than an amount set apart exclusively therefore.
Appropriates from the District's applicable funds sums necessary for the payment of judgments against the District.
Prohibits the use of any funds for certain purposes.
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. 24 actions.
- Jun 5, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-288.
- May 24, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 23, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- May 16, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- May 11, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1139.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1139.
- Oct 6, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Oct 4, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Sep 19, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Sep 16, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #559 (298-64).House roll call 559
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Sep 8, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations 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.