A bill to facilitate and encourage the production of oil from tar sand and other hydrocarbon deposits.
Public Law 97-78 · H.R. 3975 · 97th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 16, 1981 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. James Santini (D-NV)
Cosponsors (20): Rep. David Marriott, Rep. James Hansen,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 416 yea, 0 nay416–0
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Mineral Land Leasing Act of 1920 and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to expand the application of such Acts to include gilsonite and all vein-type solid hydrocarbons.
Provides that acreage in special tar sand areas shall not be chargeable against State acreage limitations applicable to oil and gas lease holders. Defines a special tar sand area as an area designated by the Secretary of the Interior as containing substantial deposits of tar sand.
Provides that oil and gas lands within a special tar sand area shall be leased by competitive bidding in units of not more than 5,120 acres. Provides that competitive leases in special tar sand areas shall be for a primary term of ten years.
Directs the Secretary to review, prior to the commencement of commercial operations, the royalty rates established in each combined hydrocarbon lease issued in special tar sand areas.
Permits the owner of: (1) an oil and gas lease issued prior to the enactment of the Combined Hydrocarbon Leasing Act of 1981; or (2) a valid claim to any hydrocarbon resources leasable under the Act based on a mineral location made prior to January 21, 1926, and located within a special tar sand area to convert such lease or claim to a combined hydrocarbon lease for a primary term of ten years.
Provides that nothing in this Act shall: (1) affect the existing tax status applicable to production from tar sand; or (2) apply to national parks, national monuments, or other lands where mineral leasing is prohibited. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to apply this Act to any unit of the national park system where mineral leasing is permitted, upon a finding that there will be no resulting significant adverse impacts on such unit or on other contiguous units.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 97th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 416 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
416 yea0 nay16 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(227)
- 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. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- 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. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- 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. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
- 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. John DingellD-MI-16- 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. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4- 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. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- 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. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- 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. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
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. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- 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. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Robert ShamanskyD-OH-12
- 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. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- 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. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- 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. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-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. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- 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. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- 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. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7- 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
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(188)
- 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. Charles DoughertyR-PA-4
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- 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. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-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. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. John NapierR-SC-6
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-7
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- 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. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-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. 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. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- 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. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- 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. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- 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. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- 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. Arlan StangelandR-MN-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. 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. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- 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. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- 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. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
- Rep. Hank BrownR-CO-4
- 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. James CollinsR-TX-3
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. Ron PaulR-TX-22
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 118 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.
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. 13 actions.
- Nov 16, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-78.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 4, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 29, 1981FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 23, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 21, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 15, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 14, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 416 - 0 (Record Vote No: 127).House roll call 127
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- Jul 13, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 24, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 18, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.