Congress · Laws

Community Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1977

Public Law 95-31 · S. 1279 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 23, 1977 · Emergency Management

Sponsor: Sen. Quentin Burdick (D-ND)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 395 yea, 2 nay395–2
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.

Community Emergency Drought Relief Act - =Title I:= Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants and loans to eligible States, localities, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations to assist areas adversely affected by drought and water shortages. Provides that projects assisted under this Act shall be only those whose work can be completed by April 30, 1978.

Establishes criteria for the allocation of assistance to emergency drought impact areas as designated under this Act.

Authorizes appropriations for emergency grants and loans and administrative purposes through fiscal year 1978.

States that funds available under this Act shall be available for expenditure for drought impact projects conducted heretofore by eligible applicants during fiscal year 1977 if such projects are compatible with the broad purposes of this Act.

=Title II:= Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act Amendments of 1976 to authorize a six-month delay in the convening date of a White House Conference on Balanced Growth and Economic Development.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 396 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

396 yea2 nay34 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(261)

Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
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. 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. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
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. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
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. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
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. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
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. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Joseph AmmermanD-PA-23
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
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. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
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. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
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. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
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. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
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. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
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. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
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. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
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. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Olin TeagueD-TX-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. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3

Republicans who voted yea(135)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
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. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-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. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
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. James QuillenR-TN-1
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. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
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. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
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. Gary MyersR-PA-25
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. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
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. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
Rep. William ArmstrongR-CO-5
Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 230 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.

Environment and Public Works 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. 12 actions.

May 23, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-31.
May 19, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
May 17, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #251 (395-2).House roll call 251
FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
May 11, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
May 2, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Apr 7, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works 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.

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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.