National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1980
Public Law 96-48 · H.R. 1786 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 8, 1979 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Rep. Don Fuqua (D-FL-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 72 yea, 0 nay72–0
- 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, 1980 - 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 an 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 deleted by the Congress from requests as originally made to either the House Committee on Science and Technology or the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Disallows any amounts 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.
Makes this Act effective October 1, 1979.
Authorizes NASA to provide liability insurance for any user of a space vehicle to compensate all or a portion of claims by third parties for death, bodily injury or loss or damage to property resulting from activities carried on in connection with the launch, operations, or recovery of the space vehicle.
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. 23 actions.
- Aug 8, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-48.
- Jul 30, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 27, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, division vote (72-0).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, division vote (72-0).
- Jul 23, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jul 20, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-252.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-252.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-371.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-371.
- Jul 11, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jul 10, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 14, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 2, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Mar 28, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #65 (323-57).House roll call 65
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Science and Technology rejected in House.
- Mar 19, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Feb 1, 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.