Congress · Laws

Department of Energy National Security and Military Applications of Nuclear Energy Authorization Act of 1982

Public Law 97-90 · H.R. 3413 · 97th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 4, 1981 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Samuel Stratton (D-NY-28)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Marjorie Holt

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 335 yea, 55 nay335–55
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.

Report a correction

Summary

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

Department of Energy National Security and Military Applications of Nuclear Energy Authorization Act of 1982 - Title I: National Security Programs - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982 to the Department of Energy for operating expenses and plant and capital equipment costs incurred in carrying out national security programs, including scientific research and development, strategic and critical materials necessary for common defense, and military applications of nuclear energy, as specified.

Title II: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds authorized under this Act where the costs of the program exceed 105 percent of the program authorization or the costs exceed by more than $10,000,000 the amount authorized by this Act, whichever is the lesser. Prohibits the use of authorized funds for programs which have not been presented to or requested of Congress unless 30 calendar days have elapsed since the Secretary of Energy has presented to all the appropriate congressional committees a full and complete statement of the action proposed. Allows the written waiver of such requirement as specified.

Imposes specified limits on the cost and cost overruns of general plant projects and construction projects.

Allows the transfer of funds from specified projects to other Federal agencies for the performance of work for which the appropriation is made.

Authorizes the Secretary to perform construction design services for proposed construction projects with amounts authorized for plant engineering and design, and to perform such services using available funds for any Department of Energy defense activity construction project in the event of any national emergency.

Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Energy to prescribe regulations prohibiting the dissemination of specific unclassified information concerning atomic energy defense programs which could have a significant adverse affect on the health, safety, and security of the public. Directs the Secretary to prepare a quarterly report detailing the application of such guidelines.

Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to grant the power of arrest to employees authorized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to carry firearms for security reasons in the discharge of their official duties.

Prohibits the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for the preparation of an environmental impact statement concerning the operation of any defense facility of the Department of Energy unless such statement is already in process or is required by law.

Directs the President to report to the appropriate committees of Congress by June 30, 1983, on plans for the permanent disposal of high-level and transuranic wastes resulting from atomic energy defense activities.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 97th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 338 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

338 yea58 nay37 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(171)

Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-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. 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. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Joseph SmithD-PA-3
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-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. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
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. 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. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
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. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
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. 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. 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

Republicans who voted yea(166)

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. 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. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
Rep. James NelliganR-PA-11
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
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. 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 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. 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. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Edward WeberR-OH-9
Rep. George WortleyR-NY-32
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
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. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
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. 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. 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. 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. Clint RobertsR-SD-2
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
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. 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. Walter JohnstonR-NC-6

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 305 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.

Report a correction

Committees

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

Armed Services Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
Armed Services Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to

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. 25 actions.

Dec 4, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-90.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Nov 23, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Nov 19, 1981Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 335 - 55 (Record Vote No: 322).House roll call 322
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 335 - 55 (Record Vote No: 322).House roll call 322
Nov 18, 1981Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 97-342 Filed in House.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 97-342 Filed in House.
Nov 17, 1981Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Nov 12, 1981Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Request for Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Price, Stratton, Byron, Mavroules, Dickinson, Holt, Hillis.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 3, 1981Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate requests a conference. Appoints conferees. Tower; Warner; Thurmond; Goldwater; Cohen; Quayle; Stennis; Jackson; Cannon; Nunn; Hart; Exon.
FloorFloor · Senate insists on its amendments by Voice Vote.
FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1549 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Armed Services Committee
Jun 15, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
Jun 11, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
FloorFloor · House Agreed to Amendments Adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
May 15, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
May 12, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Armed Services Committee
May 4, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services 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.

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.