Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1981
Public Law 96-527 · H.R. 8105 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 15, 1980 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Addabbo (D-NY-7)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 321 yea, 36 nay321–36
- SenateRecorded vote: 73 yea, 1 nay73–1
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.
Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1981 - =Title I: Military Personnel= - Appropriates specified sums for fiscal year 1981 to each of the armed forces for pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station travel, and expenses of temporary duty travel between permanent duty stations for military personnel on active duty.
Appropriates specified amounts to each Reserve and National Guard component of the armed forces for personnel costs.
=Title II: Retired Military Personnel= - Appropriates specified sums for retired and retainer pay for retired military personnel.
=Title III: Operation and Maintenance= - Appropriates specified sums for: (1) operation and maintenance expenses and the stock fund for each of the armed forces and their reserve components and for the defense agencies; (2) expenses of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice; (3) the payment of claims against the Department of Defense; and (4) salaries and expenses of the Court of Military Appeals.
Specifies an amount to be available for Navy shipyard work at the Ship Repair Facilities, Guam.
Authorizes subsistence and travel allowances to competitors at national rifle and pistol matches in excess of amounts currently provided under applicable law.
=Title IV; Procurement= - Appropriates specified sums to the various military departments and the defense agencies for the procurement of weapons and defense articles.
=Title V: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation= - Appropriates specified sums to each of the armed forces and to the defense agencies for research, development, test, and evaluation purposes.
=Title VI: Special Foreign Currency Program= - Appropriates a specified sum for payment in foreign currencies which the Treasury Department determines to be in excess of the normal requirements of the United States for expenses in carrying out the programs of the Department of Defense.
=Title VII: General Provisions= - Limits expenditures of appropriate funds under this Act for consultant contracts to those contracts to which are a matter of public record and available for public inspection. Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriations under this Act. Directs the Secretary of Defense to assist small and minority owned business to participate equitably in the furnishing of commodities and services financed with funds appropriated under this Act.
Prohibits the use of appropriations under this Act for the purchase of specified goods in amounts over $10,000 unless such goods are produced in the United States.
Includes services and supplies deemed to be medically or psychologically necessary by optometrists, podiatrists, certified psychiatric nurses, and other nurse practitioners within the CHAMPUS program's coverage.
Prohibits the use of funds used under this Act for: (1) the consolidation or realignment of advanced or undergraduate pilot training squadrons of the Navy as proposed by the DOD; (2) the transportation of household goods to or from Alaska or Hawaii under the Competitive Rate Program of the Department of Defense; and (3) abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or for victims of rape or incest when reported promptly to law enforcement or public health officials. Allows payments for drugs, devices, or medical procedures relative to preventing or terminating certain pregnancies. States that the States are free not to fund abortions to the extent that they in their sole discretion deem appropriate.
Directs that funds appropriated under this Act be made available to provide support in accordance with certain provisions of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 for certain DOD cryptologic personnel serving overseas.
Permits certain supplies to be sold to contractors to be used in DOD contracts.
Prohibits: (1) the payment of two disability retired pays (military and civil) to any person for the same disability; and (2) the use of funds for elective surgery for minor dermatological blemishes or marks.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for: (1) certain unsolicited, noncompetitive contract proposals for studies, analyses, or consulting services; and (2) salaries and expenses for the purpose of demilitarization of small firearms.
Permits the purchase of right-hand-drive vehicles at a specified price limitation.
Prohibits appropriations made available under this Act to be obligated in a manner that would exceed 20 percent of the total budget authority for the last two months of fiscal year 1981. Makes this provision inapplicable to obligations for training of the Reserve Officers Training Corps or the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, Army.
Prohibits the payment of a price differential on contracts made to relieve economic dislocations other than certain contracts made on a test basis by the Defense Logistics Agency.
Requires all unresolved audits currently pending within department to be resolved not later than September 30, 1981. Requires any new audits, involving questioned expenditures, after enactment of this Act to be resolved within six months after the completion of the initial audit report.
Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) the support of ROTC units which have not maintained the minimum enrollment standard for the four preceding years; (2) the purchase of insignia for resale unless the sales price is adjusted to recover the cost of purchase and related expenses; (3) the payment of anticipatory possession compensation claims to the Federal Republic of Germany other than the claims listed in the Global Agreement of 1973; and (4) the provision of medical care in the United States to foreign military and diplomatic personnel or their dependents, unless the DOD is reimbursed.
Directs each department to: (1) improve the collection of overdue debts; (2) bill interest on delinquent debts; and (3) reduce the amounts of debts written off as uncollectible.
Prohibits the transfer of funds from the foreign currency fluctuation account of the Defense Department to any available appropriations for military personnel expenses incurred after September 30, 1980.
Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for the second career training Program authorized for air traffic controllers.
Specifies the amount of funds to be used under CHAMPUS to conduct a test program for contracting medical care for members of the armed forces and their dependents.
Removes certain restriction on real property conveyed to the State of Maine by the Act of March 3, 1905, by allowing such land to be used for other public purposes.
Removes the restriction that requires a member of the armed forces to be on active duty in order to be eligible for a cash award for a suggestion, invention, or scientific achievement, provided such effort was made while the member was on active duty or in active reserve status.
=Title VIII: Related Agencies= - Makes appropriations for the Intelligence Community Staff and for expenses of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund in order to maintain a proper funding level for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.
Specifies an amount to be available for Navy shipped work at the Ship Repair Facilities, Guam.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 323 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
323 yea36 nay73 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(194)
- Rep. George CrockettD-MI-13
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- 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. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
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. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- 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. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
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. 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. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-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. 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. 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. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- 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. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- 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. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- 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. 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. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- 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. William BonerD-TN-5
- 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. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- 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. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- 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. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- 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. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-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. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(129)
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- 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. 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. 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. 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. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
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. 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. 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. John PorterR-IL-10
- 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. 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. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
- 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. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
- 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. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
- 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 1269 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. 27 actions.
- Dec 15, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-527.
- Dec 11, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 10, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 5, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #510 (73-1).Senate roll call 510
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report, roll call #510 (73-1).Senate roll call 510
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #673 (321-36).House roll call 673
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #673 (321-36).House roll call 673
- Dec 4, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1528.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1528.
- Dec 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion that certain portions of conference committee meeting be closed to the public passed House, roll call #653 (359-0).House roll call 653
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Nov 21, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #483 (73-1).Senate roll call 483
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Nov 19, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Sep 18, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Sep 16, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #549 (351-42).House roll call 549
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to Committee on Appropriations rejected in House.
- Sep 15, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Sep 11, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Appropriations 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.











