An act to authorize appropriations for activities for the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1980, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-44 · H.R. 2729 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 2, 1979 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. George Brown (D-CA-36)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Harold Hollenbeck
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.
National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1980 - Authorizes appropriations for activities of the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1980, including the following categories: (1) mathematical and physical sciences and engineering; (2) astronomical, atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences; (3) United States Antarctic Program; (4) biological, behavioral, and social sciences; (5) science education programs; (6) applied science and research applications, including the program of Science and Technology to aid the Handicapped; (7) scientific, technological, and international affairs; and (8) program development and management.
Provides that not less than four percent of the total authorized appropriation for specified categories shall be available to two- and four-year colleges for equipment and instrumentation costing $25,000 or less.
Provides that not more $3,500 of the total authorized appropriation for the National Science Foundation may be used for official consultation, representation, and extraordinary expenses at the discretion of the Director.
Limits the transfer of funds from one category to another.
Directs the National Science Foundation to develop indices, correlates, or other suitable measures or indicators of the status of scientific instrumentation in the United States and of the current and projected need for scientific and technological instrumentation.
Directs the Foundation to conduct a Flood Hazard Mitigation Study and report to Congress, by the end of fiscal year 1980, specific program recommendations.
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. 20 actions.
- Aug 2, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-44.
- Jul 23, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 18, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jul 13, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Jul 10, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-321.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-321.
- May 29, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- May 15, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- May 8, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 527.
- May 1, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Mar 28, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Mar 27, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Mar 21, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Mar 8, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology 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.