InsideGov
Congress · Laws

A bill to provide for a temporary increase in the public debt limit, and to amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to make possible the establishment of the public debt limit in the future as a part of the congressional budget process.

Public Law 96-78 · H.R. 5369 · 96th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 29, 1979 · Economics and Public Finance

Sponsor: Rep. Albert Ullman (D-OR-2)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 219 yea, 198 nay219–198
  • SenateRecorded vote: 49 yea, 29 nay49–29
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.

Report a correction

Summary

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

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #511 (219-198))

=Title I: Temporary Increase in Public Debt Limit; Exception to Interest Rate Ceiling on Bonds= - Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to temporarily increase the public debt limit by $479,000,000,000 until May 31, 1980.

Increases the face amount of bonds with interest rates exceeding four and one-half percent which may be outstanding at any time to $50,000,000,000.

=Title II: Establishment of Public Debt Limit as Part of Congressional Budget Process= - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the enrolling clerk of the House to prepare an engrossment of a joint resolution establishing the statutory limit on the public debt consistent with the level set forth in each concurrent resolution on the budget adopted by the Congress pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Declares that such joint resolution shall be deemed adopted by the House by the same vote that agreed to the concurrent resolution on the budget and shall be transmitted to the Senate for further legislative action.

Requires each report accompanying any concurrent resolution on the budget to contain a clear statement of its effect on the statutory limit on the public debt.

States that the Rule established by this Act shall not affect the power of the House to amend the public debt limit by existing procedures.

Declares that any amendment to the level of the public debt set forth in a concurrent resolution on the budget shall be deemed out of order in the House or the Committee of the Whole, except those amendments necessary to achieve mathematical consistency.

States that these amendments shall take effect beginning in fiscal year 1981.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 225 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

225 yea204 nay5 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(220)

  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
  • 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. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • 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. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
  • Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
  • Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
  • Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
  • 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. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • 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. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
  • Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
  • Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
  • 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. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
  • Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
  • Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
  • Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
  • Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
  • Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
  • Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
  • Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
  • Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-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. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
  • 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. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
  • Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
  • Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • 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. John JenretteD-SC-6
  • Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
  • Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
  • 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. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • 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. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
  • Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
  • Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
  • 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. William BonerD-TN-5
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • 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. James JonesD-OK-1
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
  • Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
  • 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. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
  • Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
  • Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
  • Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
  • Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
  • Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
  • Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
  • Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
  • Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
  • Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25

Republicans who voted yea(5)

  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 465 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.

Report a correction

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.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.

  1. Sep 29, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-78.
  3. PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Sep 28, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, roll call #322 (49-29).Senate roll call 322
  7. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  8. Sep 26, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #511 (219-198).House roll call 511
  9. Sep 24, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  10. Sep 21, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Rules Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
  12. 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.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.