Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1980
Public Law 96-154 · H.R. 5359 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 21, 1979 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Addabbo (D-NY-7)
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.
(House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendment)
Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1980 - =Title I: Military Personnel= - Appropriates specified sums for fiscal year 1979 to each of the armed forces for pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station travel, and expenses of temporary duty travel between permanent duty stations for military personnel on active duty.
Appropriates specified amounts to each Reserve and National Guard component of the armed forces for personnel costs.
=Title II: Retired Military Personnel= - Appropriates specified sums for retired and retainer pay for retired military personnel.
=Title III: Operation and Maintenance= - Appropriates specified sums for: (1) operation and maintenance expenses for each of the armed forces and their reserve components and for the defense agencies; (2) expenses of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice; (3) the payment of claims against the Department of Defense; (4) salaries and expenses of the Court of Military Appeals; (5) maintenance of budgeted levels of military personnel and operation or maintenance expenses disrupted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and (6) logistical support and personnel services to the XIII Olympic Winter Games.
=Title IV: Procurement= - Appropriates specified sums to the various military departments and the defense agencies for the procurement of weapons and defense articles.
=Title V: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation= - Appropriates specified sums to each of the armed forces and to the defense agencies for research, development, test, and evaluation purposes.
Prohibits appropriated funds for development of the MX missile to be used in a way that would commit the United States to only one basing mode for such missile system.
=Title VI: Special Foreign Currency Program= - Appropriates a specified sum for payment in foreign currencies which the Treasury Department determines to be excess to the normal requirements of the United States for expenses in carrying out the programs of the Department of Defense.
=Title VII: General Provisions= - Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriations under this Act. Directs the Secretary of Defense to assist small and minority-owned businesses to participate equitably in the furnishing of commodities and services financed with funds appropriated under this Act.
Prohibits the use of appropriations under this Act for the purchase of specified goods in amounts over $10,000 unless such goods are produced in the United States.
Includes services and supplies deemed to be medically or psychologically necessary by optometrists, certified psychiatric nurses, and other nurse practitioners within the CHAMPUS program's coverage.
Prohibits the use of funds used under this Act for: (1) the consolidation or realignment of advanced or undergraduate pilot training squadrons of the Navy as proposed by the DOD; (2) the support of ROTC units which have not maintained the minimum enrollment standard for the four preceding years; and (3) abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or for victims of rape or incest when reported promptly to law enforcement or public health officials.
Directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to recover a portion of the care and handling costs of surplus property (as authorized under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act).
Directs that funds appropriated under this Act be made available to provide support in accordance with certain provisions of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 for certain DOD cryptologic personnel serving overseas.
Permits certain supplies to be sold to contractors to be used in DOD contracts.
Prohibits: (1) the payment of two disability retired pays (military and civil) to any person for the same disability; and (2) the use of funds for elective surgery for minor dermatological blemishes or marks.
Provides for the installation of a civilian early warning system at Titan II missile sites.
=Title VIII: Related Agencies= - Makes appropriations for expenses of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund in order to maintain a proper funding level for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.
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.
- Dec 21, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-154.
- Dec 14, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 13, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Dec 12, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Dec 11, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-696.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-696.
- Nov 13, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion that certain portions of the conference committee meeting be closed to the public passed House, roll call #654 (381-0).House roll call 654
- Nov 9, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #401 (72-3).Senate roll call 401
- Nov 6, 1979FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Nov 1, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Oct 1, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Sep 28, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #522 (305-49).House roll call 522
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations rejected in House.
- Sep 20, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by 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.