Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1979
Public Law 95-391 · H.R. 12935 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 30, 1978 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. George Shipley (D-IL-22)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 255 yea, 123 nay255–123
- 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.
Legislative Branch Appropriation Act - =Title I: Congressional Operations= - Appropriates funds for fiscal year 1979 for the operations of the Senate and the operations of the House of Representatives, the expenses of specified joint committees, the Capitol Police, the Office of Technology Assessment, the Congressional Budget Office, the Architect of the Capitol, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Printing Office.
Provides that sets of the bound Congressional Record be distributed to Members of Congress only when a request for such distribution is made in writing.
=Title II: Related Agencies= - Appropriates funds for the Botanic Garden, the Library of Congress, the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, the Government Printing Office, the General Accounting Office, and the Cost-Accounting Standards Board.
=Title III: General Provisions= - Sets forth restrictions on expenditures made pursuant to this Act.
Prohibits the use of funds to implement a system for televising and broadcasting the proceedings of the House under which the TV cameras purchased by the House are controlled and operated by persons not in the employ of the House.
Prohibits the use of funds to provide or maintain utility or custodial services for any office of an organization requested by the Speaker of the House of Representatives during 1977 to vacate such premises, effective December 1, 1978.
Provides that no funds shall be used to provide legal representation for any employee without the specific authorization of the Congress.
Prohibits the use of funds to provide House Wall Calendars, U.S. Historical Society Calendars, Agriculture Yearbooks, plants from the U.S. Botanic Garden, and shipping trunks, to Members of the House without reimbursement for such items from Members' official Office Expenses Allowances.
Provides that telephone operators and members of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall be paid, during any period of continuous creditable service, additional annual compensation (longevity compensation), as is provided for those individuals whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
Requires that five percent of the total budget authority, for payments not required by law be withheld from obligations and expenditure.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 261 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
261 yea126 nay45 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(206)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- 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. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
- Rep. John MossD-CA-3
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- 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. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- 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. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
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. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
- 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. 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. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- 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. 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. 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. 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. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- 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. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- 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. 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. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- 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. 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. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- 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. 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. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- 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. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
Republicans who voted yea(55)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- 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. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- 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 JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- 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. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1337 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.
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.
- Sep 30, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-391.
- Sep 21, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Sep 20, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 19, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Aug 17, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #717 (255-123).House roll call 717
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #717 (255-123).House roll call 717
- Aug 9, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1457.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1457.
- Aug 8, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Aug 7, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #289 (67-20).Senate roll call 289
- Aug 4, 1978FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jul 19, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 19, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 14, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #459 (279-90).House roll call 459
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations rejected in House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 1, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to 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.