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Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1981

Public Law 96-367 · H.R. 7590 · 96th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 1, 1980 · Economics and Public Finance

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Bevill (D-AL-4)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 273 yea, 117 nay273–117
  • 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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1981 - =Title I: Department of Energy= - Appropriates funds for fiscal year 1981 within the Department of Energy for the following: (1) operating expenses; (2) plant and capital equipment; (3) power marketing operations; (4) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and (5) the Geothermal Resources Development Fund.

Prohibits any funds appropriated from being available for: (1) the issuing of a license to operate the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Delaware Basin, New Mexico; (2) the storage at such plant of radioactive waste not resulting from the national defense activities of the Department of Energy; and, generally, (3) the implementation of authorized price support or loan guarantee programs, unless specifically provided in an appropriation Act.

Allows up to five percent of any appropriations made available for the current fiscal year for specified activities of the Department to be transferred between such appropriations. Disallows an increase or decrease of such appropriations by more than five percent by any such transfer. Requires that proposed transfers be submitted to the appropriate authorizing committees of Congress for approval.

=Title II: Department of Defense-Civil= - Makes appropriations within the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, for fiscal year 1981 for the following: (1) general investigations; (2) construction (general); (3) flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries; (4) operation and maintenance (general); (5) revolving fund; (6) general expenses; and (7) special recreation use fees. Authorizes the design and construction of flood control measures relating to the Levisa and Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River and Cumberland River, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia project.

Stipulates that none of the funds available for the civil works program shall be available, except on a voluntary basis, for the acquisition of land or easements for the impoundment of floodwaters, or the enlarging of the four Yazoo Basin reservoirs in Mississippi.

=Title III: Department of the Interior= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 as follows for the Water and Power Resources Service: (1) general investigations; (2) construction program, including archaeological research and recovery operations; (3) operation and maintenance; (4) loan program; (5) general administrative expenses; and (6) special funds.

=Title IV: Independent Agencies= - Appropriates funds for fiscal year 1981 to the following: (1) the Appalachian Regional Commission (including funds for the Appalachian Regional Development Programs); (2) the Delaware River Basin Commission; (3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin; (4) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (5) the Nuclear Safety Oversight Committee; (6) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission; (7) the Tennessee Valley Authority; (8) Columbia Dam and Reservoir; and (9) the Water Resources Council.

=Title V: General Provisions= - States that no part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 1981 unless expressly provided. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to compensate parties intervening in proceedings funded by this Act. Requires procurement contracts for consulting services to be available for public inspection, unless otherwise provided.

Limits spending by any agency during the last quarter of 1981 to no more than 30 percent of the total annual budget.

Appropriates a specified amount for payment to Dorothy Runnels, widow of Harold Runnels, late a Representative from the State of New Mexico.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 275 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

275 yea117 nay40 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(180)

  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
  • 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. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-15
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
  • Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • 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. 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. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
  • Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
  • Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
  • Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
  • 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. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
  • Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
  • Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
  • Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
  • Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
  • Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
  • Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • 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. Dick GephardtD-MO-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. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • 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. John HutchinsonD-WV-3
  • Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • 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. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
  • 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. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
  • Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-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. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
  • Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
  • Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
  • Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
  • Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
  • Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Anthony LeachD-LA-4
  • Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
  • Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
  • Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
  • Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
  • Rep. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
  • Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7
  • Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
  • Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
  • Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3

Republicans who voted yea(95)

  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
  • 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. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
  • 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. Donald ClausenR-CA-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. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
  • Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
  • Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
  • Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
  • Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
  • Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
  • Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
  • Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
  • Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
  • Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
  • Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
  • Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
  • Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
  • Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
  • Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
  • Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
  • Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
  • Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
  • Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
  • Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
  • Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
  • 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. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
  • Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
  • Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
  • Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
  • 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. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
  • Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
  • Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
  • Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
  • Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
  • Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34
  • Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
  • Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
  • Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
  • Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
  • Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1183 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.

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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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 25 actions.

  1. Oct 1, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-367.
  3. Sep 25, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Sep 24, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to certain Senate amendments.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #580 (273-117).House roll call 580
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #580 (273-117).House roll call 580
  13. Sep 22, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1366.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1366.
  15. Sep 17, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  16. Sep 10, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  17. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #398 (83-9).Senate roll call 398
  18. Sep 9, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  19. Sep 5, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
  20. Jun 26, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
  21. Jun 25, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #368 (334-87).House roll call 368
  22. FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to Committee on Appropriations with instructions rejected in House.
  23. Jun 16, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
  24. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Appropriations Committee
  25. 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.