A bill to clarify the authority for employment of personnel in the White House Office and the Executive Residence at the White House, to clarify the authority for employment of personnel by the President to meet unanticipated needs, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-570 · H.R. 11003 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 2, 1978 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Herbert Harris (D-VA-8)
Cosponsors (7): Rep. Morris Udall, Rep. Patricia Schroeder,
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.
Limits the number and salaries of persons who may be employed in the White House Office, the Executive Residence at the White House or by the Vice President, the Domestic Policy Staff, or the Office of Administration, at salary levels equivalent to those above GS-16 of the General Schedule.
Authorizes to be appropriated each fiscal year such sums as are necessary to the President and Vice President for: (1) official expenses; (2) official entertainment expenses; and (3) subsistence travel expenses. Authorizes to be appropriated to the President such sums as are necessary for the care, maintenance and alteration of the Executive Residence.
Authorizes the Comptroller General to inspect all documents and records relating to expenditures made by the President to verify that all such expenditures are related to the expenses authorized by this Act.
Directs the Comptroller General to certify to Congress the fact of such verification and to report any such expenses not expended for authorized purposes.
Authorizes the personnel assistance permitted by this Act to the President and Vice President to be rendered to their respective spouses when such spouses are assisting the President or Vice President, respectively, in carrying out their duties.
Authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000 to be used by the President at his discretion to meet unanticipated needs, including personnel needs. Permits the detailing of employees of Federal Agencies to the offices specified in this Act.
Increases the President's travel allowance from $40,000 to $100,000.
Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the number of staff employed by the Executive Office and the aggregate amount paid to such employees; the number of employees detailed in excess of 30 days in a fiscal year, the days they were detailed and the aggregate amount of reimbursement made for such individuals; and the number of consultants and the aggregate amount paid to procure their services. Stipulates that such information be reported separately for each office and as a total by category.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · 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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.
- Nov 2, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-570.
- Oct 24, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 14, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Oct 7, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 28, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1258.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1258.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1639.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1639.
- Aug 16, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jul 27, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 14, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jul 13, 1978FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 15, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Apr 17, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Apr 13, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #222 (265-134).House roll call 222
- Apr 4, 1978FloorFloor · Measure failed of passage in House under suspension of rules, roll call #190 (207-188).House roll call 190
- FloorFloor · Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: Measure failed of passage in House under suspension of rules, roll call #190 (207-188).House roll call 190
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 16, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Feb 20, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service 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.