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A bill to amend the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act and the charter of the District of Columbia with respect to the provisions allowing the District of Columbia to issue general obligation bonds and notes and revenue bonds, notes, and other obligations.

Public Law 97-105 · H.R. 4910 · 97th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 23, 1981 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA-3)

Cosponsors (8): Rep. Ronald Dellums,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 375 yea, 6 nay375–6
  • SenateVoice vote
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.

Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to add items to the definition of "capital project" so that they may be financed by District bonds.

Exempts specified provisions from the requirement that Congress must approve obligations of District funds before the funds are obligated.

Authorizes the Mayor to make the required payments on the interest and principal of general obligation bonds and notes issued to finance capital projects. Authorizes the Mayor to take certain actions concerning bonds that created a security interest in District revenues.

Changes the times at which the interest on District bonds issued for capital projects is payable.

Requires that the District must hold elections on whether to issue bonds for capital projects. Requires such elections to be held before the legislation authorizing the issuance of the bonds is sent to Congress.

Requires the Mayor to publish a notice in a District newspaper whenever legislation authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds is enacted.

Sets forth the limitation period between the time such legislation is enacted and the time it is deemed immune from certain court challenges.

Authorizes the Mayor to issue the bonds after the Council of the District of Columbia authorizes their issuance. Sets forth the methods of payment, execution, and authentication of such bonds.

Authorizes the Mayor to sell bonds by private as well as public sale if the bonds are sold after a specified date and if they are secured by District revenues.

Authorizes the Council to create a security interest in District revenues to secure bonds for capital projects. Sets forth the priority of such security interest.

Authorizes the Council to issue short-term general obligation notes to meet appropriations made by Congress if no unappropriated revenues are available to meet such appropriations. Authorizes the Council to issue such notes in anticipation of collecting or receiving revenues.

Retains the current provisions creating a special debt service fund by levying a special tax, requiring an audit of such fund, and pledging the District's full faith and credit to pay the principal of and interest on certain general obligation bonds.

Directs the Council to provide in each annual District budget for payment of the principal of and interest on bonds issued for capital projects, meeting appropriations, or revenue anticipation. Directs the Mayor to insure payment of such principal and interest.

Requires using the annual Federal payment to pay such principal and interest if no other funds are available.

States that the full faith and credit of the United States is not pledged for bonds issued by the District under its borrowing authority.

Revises the provisions for the issuance of revenue bonds and other obligations by the Council.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 97th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 377 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

377 yea6 nay50 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(204)

  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
  • Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
  • Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
  • Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
  • Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
  • Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
  • Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
  • Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
  • Rep. Harold WashingtonD-IL-1
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
  • Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
  • Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
  • Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
  • Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
  • Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
  • Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
  • Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
  • Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
  • Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
  • Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
  • Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-16
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
  • Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-15
  • Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
  • Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
  • Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
  • Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Joseph SmithD-PA-3
  • Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
  • Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
  • Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
  • Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
  • Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
  • Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
  • Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
  • Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
  • Rep. Dennis EckartD-OH-22
  • Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
  • Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
  • Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
  • Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Byron DorganD-ND
  • Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
  • Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
  • Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
  • Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
  • Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
  • Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
  • Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
  • Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
  • Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
  • Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
  • Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
  • Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
  • Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
  • Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
  • Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
  • Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
  • Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
  • Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
  • Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
  • Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
  • Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
  • Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. William PatmanD-TX-14
  • Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
  • Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
  • Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
  • Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
  • Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
  • Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
  • Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
  • Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
  • Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
  • Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
  • Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
  • Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
  • Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
  • Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
  • Rep. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
  • Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
  • Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
  • Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
  • Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
  • Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
  • Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
  • Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
  • Rep. Buddy RoemerD-LA-4
  • Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
  • Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3

Republicans who voted yea(172)

  • Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
  • Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
  • Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
  • Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Rep. Lawrence DeNardisR-CT-3
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
  • Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
  • Rep. Eugene AtkinsonR-PA-25
  • Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
  • Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
  • Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
  • Rep. James NelliganR-PA-11
  • Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
  • Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
  • Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
  • Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
  • Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
  • Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
  • Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
  • Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
  • Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
  • Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
  • Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-17
  • Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. John NapierR-SC-6
  • Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. James DunnR-MI-6
  • Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
  • Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
  • Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
  • Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
  • Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
  • Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
  • Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
  • Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
  • Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
  • Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
  • Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
  • Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
  • Rep. James CoyneR-PA-8
  • Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
  • Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
  • Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
  • Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
  • Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
  • Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
  • Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
  • Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
  • Rep. Edward WeberR-OH-9
  • Rep. George WortleyR-NY-32
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
  • Rep. David MartinR-NY-30
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
  • Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
  • Rep. Cleveland BenedictR-WV-2
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
  • Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. Thomas EvansR-IA-3
  • Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
  • Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
  • Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
  • Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
  • Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
  • Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
  • Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
  • Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
  • Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
  • Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-12
  • Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
  • Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
  • Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
  • Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
  • Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
  • Rep. David StatonR-WV-3
  • Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
  • Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
  • Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-42
  • Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
  • Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
  • Rep. Gregory CarmanR-NY-3
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
  • Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
  • Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
  • Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
  • Rep. Eugene ChappieR-CA-1
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. John LeBoutillierR-NY-6
  • Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1
  • Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
  • Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
  • Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
  • Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
  • Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-18
  • Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
  • Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
  • Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
  • Rep. William HendonR-NC-11
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37
  • Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
  • Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4
  • Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
  • Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
  • Rep. Mark SiljanderR-MI-4
  • Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
  • Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
  • Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
  • Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
  • Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
  • Rep. Clint RobertsR-SD-2
  • Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2
  • Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
  • Rep. John WeberR-MN-6
  • Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
  • Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
  • Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
  • Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
  • Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
  • Rep. Albert SmithR-AL-6
  • Rep. Wendell BaileyR-MO-8
  • Rep. Thomas HartnettR-SC-1
  • Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
  • Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-10
  • Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
  • Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
  • Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
  • Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34
  • Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
  • Rep. Larry CraigR-ID-1
  • Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
  • Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
  • Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
  • Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
  • Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
  • Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
  • Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
  • Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-35
  • Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
  • Rep. Denny SmithR-OR-2
  • Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
  • Rep. Daniel CraneR-IL-22
  • Rep. Walter JohnstonR-NC-6
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 340 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. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. 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.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • District of Columbia Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Fiscal Affairs and Health Subcommittee
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. 12 actions.

  1. Dec 23, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-105.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 17, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 15, 1981FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Dec 14, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 375 - 6 (Record Vote No: 358).House roll call 358
  6. Dec 4, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
  7. Nov 17, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House District of Columbia Committee
  8. Nov 12, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Fiscal Affairs and Health Subcommittee of the House District of Columbia Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Fiscal Affairs and Health Subcommittee of the House District of Columbia Committee
  10. Nov 7, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fiscal Affairs and Health Subcommittee of the House District of Columbia Committee
  11. Nov 5, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia 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.

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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.