A joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1981, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-536 · H.J.Res. 644 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 16, 1980 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS-1)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 177 yea, 26 nay177–26
- SenateRecorded vote: 34 yea, 20 nay34–20
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 fiscal year 1981 funds for necessary activites contained in the following appropriation Acts: (1) Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1981; (2) Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1981; and (3) Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriation Act, 1981. Stipulates that such funds shall be available: (1) in the lesser amount as passed by the House of Representatives or the Senate as of October 1, 1980; (2) at rates no higher than the current rates for items included in only one version of an Act passed by both Houses; and (3) at the lower of current rates or the rate permitted by the House of Representatives for activities included in an Act passed only by the House of Representatives as of October 1, 1980, with specified exceptions. Requires provisions to be identical in bills passed by both Houses in order to be applicable, if such provisions were not included in the fiscal year 1980 appropriation Acts and are applicable to more than one appropriation.
Appropriates continuing funds for projects conducted during fiscal year 1980 and provided for by the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriation Act, 1981, at the fiscal year 1980 rate.
Appropriates continuing funds, at the fiscal year 1980 rate, for: (1) the Council on Wage and Price Stability; (2) the Senate; (3) the National Health Service Corps; (4) nursing research; (5) health professions education and nurse training; (6) Community Mental Health Centers; (7) the National Arthritis Advisory Board and the National Diabetes Advisory Board; and (8) youth community conservation and improvement projects, youth employment and training, private sector employment opportunities, and the Young Adult Conservation Corps (at a specified rate). Prohibits the use of such appropriations for activities not authorized during fiscal year 1980.
Appropriates funds for necessary payments as provided by fiscal year 1980 appropriation Acts for: (1) black lung benefits; (2) Social Security benefits; (3) retirement pay and medical benefits for Public Health Service officers; (4) student loan programs; (5) unemployment benefits; and (6) Department of Labor special benefits. Postpones until July 1, 1981, an increase in interest rates on student loans.
Appropriates the necessary funds to: (1) continue the breeder reactor demonstration project or such project alternative as may be approved by Congress; (2) process Cuban and Haitian entrants, but not to exceed estimated amounts; and (3) make payments to local governmental units under the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.
Appropriates additional funds for Operating Expenses and Plant and Capital Equipment of Atomic Energy Defense Activities in the Department of Energy. Authorizes appropriations for law enforcement services at water resources development projects to continue indefinitely. Continues Appalachian Regional Development Programs.
Appropriates a specified amount for the low-income energy assistance program as passed by the House of Representatives, with specified exceptions concerning State allocations and total assistance to any one household.
Appropriates funds for necessary activities contained in the following appropriation Acts as enacted by Congress: (1) Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1981; (2) District of Columbia Appropriation Act, 1981; (3) Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1981; (4) Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1981; (5) Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1981, with a specified exception; and (6) Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1981.
Makes such appropriations available until the earlier of enactment of the applicable appropriation Act or June 5, 1981. Exempts such appropriations from specified limitations for submission and approval of apportionments. Charges expenditures made pursuant to this joint resolution to the applicable appropriation Act when enacted. Declares that any fiscal year 1981 appropriation requiring additional authorizing legislation shall not become effective before June 5, 1981.
Makes specified salary pay cap limitations applicable during fiscal year 1981.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to perform abortions, except to save the life of the mother or for victims of a rape or incest reported within 72 hours, unless otherwise restricted by a State.
Who voted for it
Every senator of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 34 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
34 yea20 nay46 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(28)
- Sen. Gaylord NelsonD-WI
- Sen. Howard MetzenbaumD-OH
- Sen. Paul TsongasD-MA
- Sen. Harrison WilliamsD-NJ
Sen. Robert ByrdD-WV- Sen. Alan CranstonD-CA
- Sen. Paul SarbanesD-MD
- Sen. Spark MatsunagaD-HI
- Sen. Bill BradleyD-NJ
- Sen. Donald RiegleD-MI
- Sen. Quentin BurdickD-ND
- Sen. George MitchellD-ME
- Sen. Scoop JacksonD-WA
- Sen. Adlai StevensonD-IL
- Sen. Birch BayhD-IN
- Sen. Jennings RandolphD-WV
- Sen. Warren MagnusonD-WA
Sen. Daniel InouyeD-HI- Sen. Gary HartD-CO
- Sen. Claiborne PellD-RI
- Sen. Daniel MoynihanD-NY
- Sen. Donald StewartD-AL
Sen. Patrick LeahyD-VT- Sen. James SasserD-TN
- Sen. John GlennD-OH
- Sen. John StennisD-MS
- Sen. Russell LongD-LA
- Sen. Dick StoneD-FL
Republicans who voted yea(6)
- Sen. John ChafeeR-RI
- Sen. Henry HeinzR-PA
Sen. John WarnerR-VA- Sen. Howard BakerR-TN
- Sen. Strom ThurmondR-SC
- Sen. Samuel HayakawaR-CA
Data notes
The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1054 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 record shows no committee referral for this bill.
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. 13 actions.
- Dec 16, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-536.
- PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 15, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment, roll call #546 (34-20).Senate roll call 546
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment under suspension of rules, division vote (177-26).
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment, roll call #546 (34-20).Senate roll call 546
- Dec 13, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- 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.