A bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies programs for fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-528 · H.R. 7591 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 15, 1980 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS-1)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 325 yea, 25 nay325–25
- 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.
Appropriates funds for agriculture, rural development, and related agencies programs for fiscal year 1981.
=Title I: Agricultural Programs= - Appropriates funds for: (1) necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) departmental administration; (3) governmental and public affairs; (4) necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General; (5) Office of the General Counsel; (6) Federal Grain Inspection Service; (7) science and education administration; (8) scientific activities overseas (special foreign currency program); (9) cooperative research; (10) extension activities; (11) technical information systems; (12) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (13) buildings and facilities; (14) Food Safety and Quality Service; (15) funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply; (16) Economics and Statistics Service; (17) Agricultural Cooperative Service; (18) World Food and Agricultural Outlook and Situation Board; (19) Agricultural Marketing Service; (20) payments to States and Possessions; (21) Office of Transportation; (22) the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Services; (23) Dairy and Beekeeper Indemnity Programs; (24) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; (25) Commodity Credit Corporation. Requires the General Sales Manager to report guarterly to the appropriate committees of Congress on the effectiveness of relying upon loan guarantees as opposed to direct loans for financing commercial export sales of agricultural commodities out of private stocks.
=Title II: Rural Development Programs= - Makes appropriations for: (1) Farmers Home Administration; (2) Rural Housing Insurance Fund; (3) Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund; (4) Rural Development Insurance Fund; (5) rural water and waste disposal grants; (6) very low-income housig repair grants; (7) rural housing for domestic farm labor; (8) Self-Help Housing Land Development Fund; (9) rural community fire protection grants; (10) rural development planning grants; (11) rural housing supervisory assistance grants; (12) Rural Electrification Administration; (13) Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolving Fund loan authorizations; (14) Rural Telephone Bank; (15) Rural Communication Development Fund; (16) Soil Conservation Service; (17) river basin surveys and investigations; (18) watershed planning and flood prevention; (19) resource conservation and development; (20) Great Plains conservation program; (21) Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service; (22) agricultural conservation program; (23) rural clean water program; (24) forestry incentives program; (25) water bank program; and (26) emergency conservation program.
=Title III: Domestic Food Programs= - Appropriates funds for: (1) child nutrition programs; (2) special milk program; (3) special supplemental food programs; (4) food stamp program; (5) food donations programs; and (6) food program administration.
=Title IV: International Programs= - Makes appropriations for: (1) Foreign agricultural service; (2) Office of International Cooperation and Development; and (3) Public Law 480 (under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954).
=Title V: Related Agencies= Appropriates funds for the: (1) Food and Drug Administration; (2) Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and (3) Farm Credit Administration.
=Title VI: General Provisions= - Limits the use of funds appropriated under this Act for any consulting services through procurement, contract to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record.
Makes funds authorized and appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 1981 available for: (1) the purchase of a specified number of passenger motor vehicles; (2) the hire of such vehicles; (3) uniforms or uniform allowances; and (4) certain research and service work contracts. Prohibits the use of such funds to make production or other payments to persons or corporations who harvest for illegal use, marihuana or other prohibited drug-producing plants. Permits advances of money to be made to chiefs of field parties. Limits the cumualature total of transfers to the Working Capital Fund. Limits the amount of the appropriations available for orientation and language training. Permits employees agencies within the Department to be utilized without reimbursement by other agencies within the Department.
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this Act for any contracts for services which are not in full compliance with the Federal Procurement Policy Act.
Restricts the obligation of appropriations during the last quarter of fiscal year 1981. Requires the head of each department and establishment to submit to the Committees on Appropriations and to the Director of OMB a quarterly report specifying the amount of obligations and the percent of total available budget authority for the 1981 fiscal year incurred in the quarter.
Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act to implement or enforce any regulation which has been vetoed by Congress. Requires such agencies and departments for fiscal year 1982 and for each year thereafter to submit to Congress: (1) an estimate of the amount of funds requested for consulting services; and (2) an evaluation of the agency's progress to institute effective management controls.
Requires certificates of beneficial ownership sold by the Farmers Home Administration, in connection with the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, Rural Housing Insurance Fund, and the Rural Development Insurance Fund, to be not less than 75 percent of the value of the loans closed during the fiscal year.
Limits overhead changes on cooperative agreements between the Department of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions to ten percent.
Requires the Department of Energy to transfer a specified amount to the Department of Agriculture for biomass and alcohol fuels research.
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to be used to require producers to remain within their normal crop acreage to be eligible for price-support loans, target price protection, or disaster assistance with regard to the 1981 programs for cotton, wheat, feed grains, and rice under the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977.
Requires departments and related agencies receiving appropriations in excess of a specified amount to submit to the appropriate committees of Congress containing a schedule of anticipated outlays for each month of fiscal year 1981.
Exempts specified watershed projects from specific requirements.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 326 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
326 yea26 nay80 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(213)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. George CrockettD-MI-13
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- 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. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- 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. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- 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. 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. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- 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. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- 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. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- 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. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- 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. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- 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. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- 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. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- 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. 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. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- 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. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- 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. 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. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- 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. 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. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
Republicans who voted yea(113)
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
- 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. 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. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- 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. William RoyerR-CA-11
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-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. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- 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. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- 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. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- 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. 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. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- 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. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
- Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1265 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. 25 actions.
- Dec 15, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-528.
- Dec 11, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 10, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 4, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #669 (325-25).House roll call 669
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #669 (325-25).House roll call 669
- Dec 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1519.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1519.
- Dec 1, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Nov 25, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #495 (58-11).Senate roll call 495
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Nov 24, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jul 31, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jul 30, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jul 29, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 17, 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.