Congress · Laws
An Act to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to water resources research and saline water conversion programs, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-84 · H.R. 4746 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 2, 1977 · Water Resources Development
Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Meeds (D-WA-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 401 yea, 1 nay401–1
- 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.
Amends the Water Resources Research Act and the Saline Water Conversion Act to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to specified water resources programs.
Authorizes $21,950,000 to be appropriated for fiscal year 1978 for purposes of the Saline Water Conversion Act and the Water Resources Research Act.
Authorizes and directs the Secretary to operate and maintain desalting plants utilizing membrane and phase change desalting processes at no more than four locations in the United States. Authorizes the appropriation of $40,000,000 for the construction of such plants, and such sums as are necessary for the operating expenses of such plants.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 403 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
403 yea1 nay29 present or did not vote
Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative
Democrats who voted yea(265)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- 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. James CormanD-CA-21
- 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. 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. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- 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. 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. 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. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- 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. 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. 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. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
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. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- 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. 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. 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. 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. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- 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. 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. 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. 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. William PoageD-TX-11
- 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. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- 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(138)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
- 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. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- 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. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- 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. 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. 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. 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. James AbdnorR-SD-2
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. 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. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. John CunninghamR-WA-7
- 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. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- 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. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
- 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 412 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. 21 actions.
- Aug 2, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-84.
- Jul 22, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jul 21, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 20, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #441 (401-1).House roll call 441
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #441 (401-1).House roll call 441
- Jul 13, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-497.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-497.
- Jun 8, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- May 25, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 846.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 24, 1977FloorFloor · Placed on Calendar in Senate under Measures Cleared to be Considered by Unanimous Consent.
- May 17, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #243 (397-2).House roll call 243
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- May 13, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 9, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.