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District of Columbia Appropriation Act, 1981

Public Law 96-530 · H.R. 8061 · 96th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 15, 1980 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Rep. Julian Dixon (D-CA-28)

Cosponsors: None

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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

District of Columbia Appropriation Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for the Federal payment and loans for capital outlay to the District of Columbia for fiscal year 1981. Makes appropriations for the Federal contribution to the Police Officers and Fire Fighters', Teachers', and Judges' Retirement Funds, and for reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in connection with inauguration activities, and with demonstration activities.

Appropriates amounts out of the general fund for the District of Columbia for the following: (1) governmental direction and support, with limitations on expenditures for official purposes by the Mayor and the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia; (2) economic development and regulation; (3) public safety and justice; (4) the public education system; (5) human support services; (6) transportation services and assistance; (7) environmental services and supply; (8) repayment of inaugural expenses; (9) demonstration expenses; (10) establishment of a water and sewer enterprise fund; and (11) capital outlay.

Limits the expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through procurement contract to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law.

Requires that vouchers for expenditures be audited before payment by the designated certifying official, and that such vouchers be paid by checks issued by the designated disbursing official. Specifies that amounts appropriated for particular purposes shall be considered the maximum amounts which may be expended. Sets forth limitations on mileage allowances for privately owned vehicles used for the performance of official duties. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this Act for regulations or orders requiring the installation of meters in taxicabs. Appropriates from the District's applicable fund such sums as may be necessary for the payment of judgments against the District. Makes appropriations available for the payment of public assistance.

Prohibits any part of any appropriation contained in this Act from being available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year, unless expressly so provided. Limits the use of funds for compensation of overtime and temporary positions and for authorized travel and per diem costs outside the District, Maryland, Virginia.

Sets forth limitations on the number of employees for the District of Columbia. Prohibits the use of funds for educational purposes for partisan political activities.

Requires the District to submit the fiscal year 1982 budget requests to Congress not later than February 1, 1981.

Appropriates from applicable funds of the District such sums as may be necessary for payments authorized by the District of Columbia Revenue Recovery Act of 1977.

Prohibits the use of funds contained in this Act to pay the salary of any employee of the government of the District of Columbia whose name and salary are not available for public inspection.

Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for publicity of propaganda purposes designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress or any State legislature.

Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to perform abortions except: (1) where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term; or (2) for the medical procedures necessary for the victims of rape or incest, when such rape or incest has been promptly reported to a law enforcement agency or public health service. Allows the use of funds to pay for drugs or devices to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum or for medical procedures necessary for the termination of an ectopic pregnancy.

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. Dec 15, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-530.
  3. Dec 5, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Dec 4, 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. Dec 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendments.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
  13. Nov 21, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1477.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1477.
  15. Nov 18, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  16. Nov 17, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  17. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #470 (70-17).Senate roll call 470
  18. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  19. Sep 19, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
  20. Sep 8, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
  21. Sep 3, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #511 (215-158).House roll call 511
  22. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
  23. Aug 28, 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.