A joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1980, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-123 · H.J.Res. 440 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 20, 1979 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS-1)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 155 yea, 63 nay155–63
- SenateRecorded vote: 51 yea, 23 nay51–23
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.
Appropriates such amounts as may be necessary in fiscal year 1980 to continue Federal activities provided for in the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1980, the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1980, and the Military Construction Appropriation Act, 1980. Funds such activities in the same manner and amounts provided in such Acts. States that if the Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed appropriations for an activity but in differing amounts, the lesser amount or more restrictive authority shall apply in the continuing appropriations. Declares that if an appropriations Act has passed only one House or if an activity has been funded in only one version of an Act passed by both Houses, the continuing appropriations shall not exceed the rate provided by the one House or the current rate, whichever is lower.
Provides continuing appropriations for activities conducted in fiscal year 1979 and provided for in the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1979, at the current rate or the rate of the budget estimate, whichever is lower.
Appropriates such sums as may be necessary to continue specified activities which were conducted in fiscal year 1979 but have not been provided for fiscal year 1980. Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from using such sums to promulgate trade regulation rules pursuant to its authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act or to initiate new activities. States that certain trade regulations rules promulgated by the Commission shall not become effective during the period covered by this resolution unless the Congress enacts authorizing legislation. Terminates the authority and funds provided to the Commission on March 15, 1980, notwithstanding other provisions of this resolution.
Specifies a funding rate for activities of the Department of State for Migration and Refugee Assistance. Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to continue activities conducted in fiscal year 1979 and provided for in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1979, or the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1979, at the current rate or the rate of the budget estimate, whichever is lower. Authorizes the Panama Canal Commission and the Interstate Commerce Commission to incur obligations at the rate provided in H.R. 4440 as passed the House of Representatives on September 18, 1979.
Provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Inspector for the Alaska Gas Pipeline at a rate not exceeding 35 percent of the budget estimate.
Makes continuing appropriations for activities provided for in the Departments of Labor, and Health, Education, and Welfare and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1980, (H.R. 4389) at the rate adopted by the House of Representatives on August 2, 1979.
Declares that the appropriations contained in this resolution, unless otherwise provided, shall remain available until the occurrence of one of the following: (1) enactment of an appropriation for any activity provided for in this resolution; (2) enactment of the applicable appropriations Act without any provision for such an activity; or (3) September 30, 1980.
Authorizes the use of appropriations contained in this resolution without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments required by law.
States that appropriations and authority contained in this resolution shall cover all obligations and expenditures incurred during the period for which funds are made available. Charges any expenditures made pursuant to this resolution to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization when a bill providing such an appropriation, fund, or authorization is enacted into law.
Prohibits the use of appropriations, unless otherwise provided, to initiate or resume any activity for which funds were not available in fiscal year 1979.
Prohibits the use of appropriations to reorganize or consolidate the Alaska Railroad Office of Chief Counsel, the Office of Real Estate, or the Office of Financial Planning.
Ratifies all obligations incurred in anticipation of appropriations and authority provided for in this resolution.
Prohibits funds provided in this resolution from being used to perform abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. Permits appropriations to be used to perform abortions where pregnancy resulted from promptly reported rape or incest. Stipulates that payments are not prohibited for drugs or devices to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum, or for medical procedures necessary for the termination of an ectopic pregnancy.
Prohibits the use of appropriations for military or economic aid to Iran.
Appropriates funds to the Executive Office of the President, Office of the Special Representative, for salaries and expenses. Allocates a portion of such funds for official reception and representation expenses.
Appropriates funds to carry out the Indochina Refugee Children Assistance Act of 1976, notwithstanding the level of funding provided in fiscal year 1979. States that such funds will become available for obligation only upon the submission to Congress of a budget estimate by the President.
Appropriates funds, to remain available until expended, for certain food aid programs.
Who voted for it
Every senator of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 53 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
53 yea23 nay24 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(31)
- Sen. Gaylord NelsonD-WI
- Sen. Howard MetzenbaumD-OH
- Sen. Edmund MuskieD-ME
Sen. Ted KennedyD-MA- Sen. Harrison WilliamsD-NJ
Sen. Robert ByrdD-WV- Sen. Paul SarbanesD-MD
- Sen. Spark MatsunagaD-HI
- Sen. Quentin BurdickD-ND
- Sen. Thomas EagletonD-MO
- Sen. Scoop JacksonD-WA
- Sen. Adlai StevensonD-IL
- Sen. Birch BayhD-IN
Sen. Carl LevinD-MI- Sen. Warren MagnusonD-WA
Sen. Daniel InouyeD-HI- Sen. Gary HartD-CO
- Sen. Daniel MoynihanD-NY
- Sen. Fritz HollingsD-SC
Sen. Patrick LeahyD-VT- Sen. Frank ChurchD-ID
- Sen. James SasserD-TN
- Sen. Howard CannonD-NV
- Sen. Robert MorganD-NC
- Sen. James ExonD-NE
- Sen. David PryorD-AR
- Sen. John JohnstonD-LA
- Sen. John StennisD-MS
- Sen. Lloyd BentsenD-TX
- Sen. David BorenD-OK
- Sen. Harry ByrdD-VA
Republicans who voted yea(22)
- Sen. Jacob JavitsR-NY
- Sen. Robert StaffordR-VT
- Sen. John ChafeeR-RI
- Sen. Robert PackwoodR-OR
- Sen. Charles PercyR-IL
- Sen. Mark HatfieldR-OR
- Sen. Henry HeinzR-PA
- Sen. Milton YoungR-ND
- Sen. John DanforthR-MO
- Sen. William CohenR-ME
- Sen. Richard SchweikerR-PA
Sen. Thad CochranR-MS- Sen. Nancy KassebaumR-KS
Sen. John WarnerR-VA
Sen. Ted StevensR-AK- Sen. Rudy BoschwitzR-MN
- Sen. Strom ThurmondR-SC
- Sen. Harrison SchmittR-NM
- Sen. Alan SimpsonR-WY
- Sen. John TowerR-TX
Sen. Richard LugarR-IN- Sen. Barry GoldwaterR-AZ
Data notes
The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 416 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. 25 actions.
- Nov 20, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-123.
- PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 16, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #417 (51-23).Senate roll call 417
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #417 (51-23).Senate roll call 417
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, division vote (155-63).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, division vote (155-63).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-646.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-646.
- Nov 15, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #412 (80-10).Senate roll call 412
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Nov 14, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Nov 13, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Nov 9, 1979CommitteeCommittee · 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.