National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1981
Public Law 96-316 · S. 2240 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jul 30, 1980 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. Howard Cannon (D-NV)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Adlai Stevenson, Sen. Harrison Schmitt
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 384 yea, 21 nay384–21
- 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 Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1981 - Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for research and development, construction of facilities, and research and program management.
Permits appropriations for research and development to be used: (1) for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required at locations other than NASA installations for the performance of research and development contracts; and (2) for grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific research, for purchase or construction of additional research facilities.
Stipulates that when so specified and to the extent provided in any appropriation Act, any amount appropriated for "research and development" or for "construction of facilities" may remain available without fiscal year limitation.
Permits the funds for construction of any of specified facilities: (1) in the discretion of the NASA Administrator, to be varied upward ten percent; or (2) following a report by the Administrator to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the circumstances of such action, to be varied upward 25 percent to meet unusual cost variations. Limits the total cost of all construction work to the total of the amounts specified.
Permits one half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development to be transferred to the "construction of facilities" appropriation. Authorizes the expenditure of such funds, together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated for construction of facilities, to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations.
Disallows any amount appropriated pursuant to this Act from being used for any program in excess of the amount actually authorized for that particular program for research and development or research and program management. Disallows any amount from being used for any program which has not been presented to or requested of such committees, with certain exceptions.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest that consideration be given to geographical distribution of Federal research funds whenever feasible, and that NASA should explore ways and means of distributing its research and development funds whenever feasible.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 385 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
385 yea21 nay27 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(238)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Raphael MustoD-PA-11
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Anthony LeachD-LA-4
- Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
Republicans who voted yea(147)
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Charles DoughertyR-PA-4
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. William RoyerR-CA-11
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37- Rep. Jon HinsonR-MS-4
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-18
- Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
- Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
- Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
- Rep. Daniel CraneR-IL-22
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-22
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1026 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. 19 actions.
- Jul 30, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-316.
- Jul 22, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jul 21, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jul 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #392 (384-21).House roll call 392
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #392 (384-21).House roll call 392
- Jun 27, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1142.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1142.
- Jun 25, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 20, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jun 13, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R.6413.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 3, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 15, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jan 30, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.