A bill to amend the Act of August 29, 1974 (88 Stat. 795; 10 U.S.C. 8202 note), relating to the authorized numbers for the grades of lieutenant colonel and colonel in the Air Force and to authorize the President to suspend certain provisions of law when he determines that the needs of the Armed Forces so require, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-377 · S. 3454 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 19, 1978 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Sen. Samuel Nunn (D-GA)
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.
Authorizes, through fiscal year 1979, an increase in the authorization for the number of colonels and lieutenant colonels serving on active duty in the Air Force.
Authorizes the President during such fiscal year to suspend specified provisions of law if the needs of the armed forces so require which: (1) prescribe requirements for sea or foreign service duty for certain officers of the Regular Navy; (2) limit the zone selection of Navy and Marine Corps Permanent regular officers; (3) establish service and grade eligibility requirements for consideration of selection boards for the promotion of certain Navy and Marine Corps officers; and (4) limit the promotion of certain Navy and Marine Corps officers, who are junior in lineal rank to the junior officer in the appropriate promotion zone, to no more than five percent.
Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned for such fiscal year to retire and grant retired pay to disabled members of the armed forces whose disability was incurred in the line of duty from September 15, 1978 through September 30, 1979 if the President issues an Executive Order to such effect.
Authorizes the temporary promotion of unrestricted Naval line officers in the grade of lieutenant who possess skills in critical shortage, and are serving in lieutenant commander billets, to the grade of lieutenant commander. Stipulates that such spot promotions shall be made by the President alone and the authority to make such appointments shall expire on September 30, 1979.
Authorizes temporary major generals in the Marine Corps to sit on selection boards convened to select brigadier generals to the grade of major general.
Authorizes the temporary promotion of Navy and Marine Corps officers designated for limited duty. Terminates such authority after September 30, 1979.
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. 10 actions.
- Sep 19, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-377.
- Sep 14, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 13, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 12, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Sep 7, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Aug 23, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Armed Services 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.