National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1979
Public Law 95-434 · H.R. 11400 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 10, 1978 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Olin Teague (D-TX-6)
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.
National Science Foundation Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for specified activities of the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1979.
Authorizes the Director of the Foundation (1) to determine the need to provide support under this Act for a study of the feasibility of transmitting solar energy to Earth using orbital structures manufactured from lunar or asteroidal materials, (2) to determine the impact of such a study on Foundation activities, and (3) if it is determined that a study is necessary, to conduct it directly or by means of grant or contract.
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.
- Oct 10, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-434.
- Oct 2, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 29, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Sep 19, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments.
- Jun 28, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2549.
- May 15, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Apr 19, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Apr 18, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #234 (364-37).House roll call 234
- Mar 20, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Mar 8, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.