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Military Construction Appropriation Act, 1981

Public Law 96-436 · H.R. 7592 · 96th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 13, 1980 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Koln McKay (D-UT-1)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 342 yea, 29 nay342–29
  • 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.

(House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendment)

Military Construction Appropriation Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Defense for military construction for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense agencies, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and reserve components generally. Sets forth the amount of funds available to each department to be used for activities related to the conversion of facilities to alternative fuels.

Makes appropriations for expenses of family housing for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Defense agencies, and for the United States' share of costs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Sets forth limitations on the use of funds appropriated by this Act, including limitations on funds for the installation of solar energy systems, space transportation system facilities, and the MX missile system.

Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to transfer or move chemical or gas weapons into MX impacted areas.

Prohibits the use of such funds to compensate any alien who has not been lawfully admitted to the United States.

Limits expenditures for consulting services through procurement contracts to those contracts which are a matter of public record and available for public inspection.

Declares that any funds appropriated to a military department or defense agency for construction of military projects may be obligated at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year such funds were appropriated, under certain conditions.

Limits spending to 30 percent of the total budget, or 15 percent for any month, for the last quarter of fiscal year 1981.

Directs the head of each such department and establishment to report to the Congressional committees on Appropriations and to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) not later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, on the obligations incurred during such quarter. Requires the Director of OMB to report to such committees and the Comptroller General by December 31, 1981, on his oversight findings of spending by military departments. Directs the Comptroller General to submit an analysis of such report and recommendations pursuant thereto to such committees.

Directs Federal agencies to take immediate action toward improving collection of overdue debts, billing interest on delinquent debts, and reducing the amounts of such debts written off as uncollectible.

Requires each Federal agency, beginning in fiscal year 1982, to submit annually to the Congressional Appropriations Committees, as part of its budget justification, the estimated amount of funds requested for consulting services and a description of the need for such services. Directs the Inspector General of each agency, or comparable official, to submit with the budget justification, an evaluation of the agency's progress toward effective management controls and improvements in accuracy and completeness of data provided to the Federal Procurement Data System regarding consulting service contracts.

Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this Act: (1) for the purchase of foreign steel for construction of shelters or bases of the proposed MX missile system; (2) for dredging in the Indian Ocean by foreign contractors; (3) to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation; or (4) to construct a Naval medical center in San Diego, California, unless the United States has fee title interests.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 343 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

343 yea29 nay60 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(206)

  • Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • 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. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-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. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • 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. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • 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. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • 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. 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. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
  • Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
  • Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
  • Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
  • Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
  • Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-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. 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. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • 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. 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. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • 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. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
  • Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
  • 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. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
  • Rep. John HutchinsonD-WV-3
  • Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • 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. 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. 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. 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. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • 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. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • 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. Kent HanceD-TX-19
  • 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. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
  • Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
  • Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7
  • Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
  • 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. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
  • Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
  • Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
  • Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
  • Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7

Republicans who voted yea(137)

  • 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. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-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. 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. John RhodesR-AZ-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. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
  • Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
  • Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
  • 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. 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. John PorterR-IL-10
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
  • 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. 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. 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. 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. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
  • Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
  • Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
  • Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
  • Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
  • Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
  • Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
  • Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
  • Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
  • Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
  • Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
  • Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
  • Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
  • Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
  • Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
  • Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
  • Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
  • Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
  • 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. Daniel CraneR-IL-22
  • Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1207 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 13, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-436.
  3. Oct 3, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Oct 2, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Sep 30, 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 amendment.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #606 (342-29).House roll call 606
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #606 (342-29).House roll call 606
  13. Sep 29, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1433.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1433.
  15. Sep 23, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  16. Sep 17, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  17. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #420 (84-3).Senate roll call 420
  18. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  19. Sep 9, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
  20. Jun 30, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
  21. Jun 27, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #381 (308-19).House roll call 381
  22. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
  23. Jun 17, 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.